Corporate social responsibility in sport: Stakeholder management in the UK football industry

2010 ◽  
Vol 16 (4) ◽  
pp. 566-586 ◽  
Author(s):  
Geoff Walters ◽  
Richard Tacon
Keyword(s):  
Corporate Social Responsibility ◽  
Social Responsibility ◽  
Stakeholder Theory ◽  
Stakeholder Management ◽  
Professional Football ◽  
Football Club ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
The Uk ◽  
Corporate Social ◽  
Football Industry

AbstractCorporate social responsibility (CSR) has become increasingly significant for a wide range of organisations and for the managers that work within them. This is particularly true in the sport industry, where CSR is now an important area of focus for sport organisations, sport events and individual athletes. This article demonstrates how CSR can inform both theoretical debates and management practice within sport organisations. It does so by focusing on stakeholder theory, which overlaps considerably with CSR. In this article, stakeholder theory is used to examine three major CSR issues: stakeholder definition and salience, firm actions and responses, and stakeholder actions and responses. These three issues are considered in the context of the UK football industry. The article draws on 15 semi-structured qualitative interviews with senior representatives from a number of different organisations. These include the director of a large professional football club; a chief executive of a medium-sized professional football club in addition to the supporter-elected director; and the vice-chairman of a small professional football club. Additional interviews were undertaken with five representatives from national supporter organisations, two board members at two large supporter associations, two representatives from the Football League, one representative from the Independent Football Commission, and a prominent sports journalist. The analysis of the interview data illustrates ways in which CSR can be implemented by sport organisations through stakeholder management strategies. The article concludes that stakeholder theory has both conceptual and empirical value and can be used to illuminate key issues in sport management.

Corporate social responsibility in sport: Stakeholder management in the UK football industry

2010 ◽  
Vol 16 (4) ◽  
pp. 566-586 ◽  
Author(s):  
Geoff Walters ◽  
Richard Tacon
Keyword(s):  
Corporate Social Responsibility ◽  
Social Responsibility ◽  
Stakeholder Theory ◽  
Stakeholder Management ◽  
Professional Football ◽  
Football Club ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
The Uk ◽  
Corporate Social ◽  
Football Industry

AbstractCorporate social responsibility (CSR) has become increasingly significant for a wide range of organisations and for the managers that work within them. This is particularly true in the sport industry, where CSR is now an important area of focus for sport organisations, sport events and individual athletes. This article demonstrates how CSR can inform both theoretical debates and management practice within sport organisations. It does so by focusing on stakeholder theory, which overlaps considerably with CSR. In this article, stakeholder theory is used to examine three major CSR issues: stakeholder definition and salience, firm actions and responses, and stakeholder actions and responses. These three issues are considered in the context of the UK football industry. The article draws on 15 semi-structured qualitative interviews with senior representatives from a number of different organisations. These include the director of a large professional football club; a chief executive of a medium-sized professional football club in addition to the supporter-elected director; and the vice-chairman of a small professional football club. Additional interviews were undertaken with five representatives from national supporter organisations, two board members at two large supporter associations, two representatives from the Football League, one representative from the Independent Football Commission, and a prominent sports journalist. The analysis of the interview data illustrates ways in which CSR can be implemented by sport organisations through stakeholder management strategies. The article concludes that stakeholder theory has both conceptual and empirical value and can be used to illuminate key issues in sport management.

scholarly journals Respecting Stakeholders and Their Engagement to Decision Making – The Way of Successful Corporate Social Responsibility Strategy

2012 ◽  
Vol 20 (Special-Number) ◽  
pp. 165-173
Author(s):  
Katarína Drieniková ◽  
Peter Sakál
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Sustainable Development ◽  
Corporate Social Responsibility ◽  
Social Responsibility ◽  
Stakeholder Theory ◽  
Stakeholder Management ◽  
Added Value ◽  
Dynamic Development ◽  
Corporate Social ◽  
The Way

Abstract Current world situation characterized by constant dynamic development and changes in all spheres enforced us to view the business not only as a profit creator but as creator of added value to the society. The paper deals with the stakeholders as the integral part of corporate social responsibility (CSR) concept. It mentions the topic of stakeholder theory and stakeholder management in consideration of sustainable development and sustainable competitiveness of business. Within the paper are mentioned outputs of pilot research carried on among Slovak companies focusing on stakeholders and decision making within responsible business.

scholarly journals Community perceptions of a CSR programme: A case study of a professional football club

2017 ◽  
Vol 14 (3) ◽  
pp. 197-203 ◽  
Author(s):  
Simeon E.H. Davies ◽  
Talent Moyo
Keyword(s):  
Corporate Social Responsibility ◽  
Social Responsibility ◽  
Professional Sport ◽  
Community Perceptions ◽  
Professional Football ◽  
Football Club ◽  
Professional Soccer ◽  
Football Clubs ◽  
Corporate Social

Professional sport organisations, especially football clubs have been historically characterised by committed and loyal support from local communities an example of such a relationship can be traced to 1888, when the leading Scottish club Celtic FC implemented a unique governance system that included allowing their fans to have a say in the running of the organisation (Carr, Findlay, Hamil, Hill and Morrow, 2000); such an accommodation could be viewed as an early example of a corporate social responsibility initiative at a professional football club. It is therefore not surprising that many present day professional football clubs are increasingly integrating Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) as part of their overall business and operational strategy in order to facilitate sustainable success in a competitive and often volatile environment. However, little if any research has been conducted in an African context regarding CSR programmes and professional sport organisations. In response to this shortcoming the aim of this research was to conduct a case study of community perceptions of the CSR programme at Ajax Cape Town Football Club who play in the Professional Soccer League (PSL). This study employed a mixed methods design in order to generate both quantitative and qualitative data for a nuanced and relevant data analysis. It should be noted that a number of established high profile European football clubs have recognised the importance CSR, for example Barcelona FC whose exemplary CSR structure has been beneficial to the club, as well as their immediate community (Hamil, Walters and Watson, 2010). Furthermore, it has been previously reported that research can facilitate a better understanding of how and if sport organisations can maximise their organisational performance from their CSR and furthermore also show the social and economic benefits of sport (Moyo and Davies, 2015).

scholarly journals Perceived corporate social responsibility performance in professional football and its impact on fan-based patronage intentions

2019 ◽  
Vol 20 (2) ◽  
pp. 353-370 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dongfeng Liu ◽  
Rob Wilson ◽  
Daniel Plumley ◽  
Xiaofeng Chen
Keyword(s):  
Corporate Social Responsibility ◽  
Community Development ◽  
Social Responsibility ◽  
Professional Football ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Football Club ◽  
Youth Education ◽  
Football Clubs ◽  
Corporate Social ◽  
Patronage Intentions

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to analyze fans’ perceptions of the corporate social responsibility (CSR) activities of a professional football club, specifically whether or not perceived CSR performances are then likely to influence patronage intentions of the fans in relation to the football club. Design/methodology/approach The paper uses the example of a professional football club in China as a case study for data analysis. Based on a sample of 451 home team fans, analysis was conducted through calculation of descriptive statistics, and exploratory factor analysis. Regression analysis was conducted to determine the impact of perceived CSR performance on fans’ patronage intentions. Findings The results revealed that factor 3 (“CSR to customer and employee”) and factor 4 (“Community development and youth education”) were significantly predictive of all the three patronage intention variables, i.e. repeat purchase, word-of-mouth and merchandise consumption. In addition, factor 2 (“charity”) would also affect merchandise consumption intention, but have no effect on any other dimensions. Originality/value A scale measuring perceived CSR performance in professional football clubs by the fans in the Chinese context has been developed. In addition, the authors have identified that the two main CSR factors that would influence fans’ patronage intentions are: “CSR to the customer and employee” and “community development and youth education.” Thus, if football clubs are to use CSR strategically to leverage spend, then it is these two areas that they should focus on, explicitly in relation to CSR activities. This paper adds value to an area that is currently under-researched in respect of CSR activities in Chinese professional football.

scholarly journals Corporate social responsibility and organisational performance of a professional football club in South Africa

2015 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
pp. 605-613 ◽  
Author(s):  
Talent Moyo ◽  
Simeon E.H. Davies ◽  
E. Joubert
Keyword(s):  
Corporate Social Responsibility ◽  
Social Responsibility ◽  
South African ◽  
Cape Town ◽  
Target Market ◽  
Professional Football ◽  
Organisational Performance ◽  
Football Club ◽  
Corporate Social ◽  
The Relationship

This research investigated the relationship between Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and organisational performance at Ajax Cape Town FC a professional football club in the South African Premier Soccer League (PSL). The data collected suggested that Ajax Cape Town FC employed CSR initiatives and consequently enjoyed various benefits from these activities. The CSR activities facilitated access to the club’s target market, developed and improved mutually beneficial relations with the community and consequently Ajax Cape Town FC experienced increased trust, a positive brand image and stronger loyalty from their fans. The outcomes of this study provide an insight into a South African professional football club and demonstrate how CSR initiatives can be used to successfully improve organisational performance.

scholarly journals Does CSR Activity Amount to Socially Responsible Management?

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. John Foster
Keyword(s):  
Corporate Social Responsibility ◽  
Social Responsibility ◽  
Local Community ◽  
Annual Reports ◽  
Socially Responsible ◽  
Responsible Management ◽  
Exploratory Investigation ◽  
Research Questions ◽  
The Uk ◽  
Corporate Social

AbstractIn essence firms or companies are usually thought to exist to make products for or provide services of some sort to third parties, other companies or individuals. The philosophical question which naturally arises then is ‘to the benefit of whom should a firm’s activities be aimed?’ Possible answers include the owners of the firm, the firm’s employees or wider society, the firm’s local community or their host nation. It is because of firms’ location within a wider society that the issue of corporate social responsibility arises. The issue is do they contribute in a positive way to the fabric of society. In this paper we conduct an exploratory investigation whose research questions, broadly, are whether there is public evidence of corporate social responsibility activity by firms listed in the UK and to what extent, if any, such activities may amount to genuinely socially responsible management by the firms. We examined the most up to date annual reports of a split sample of 36 firms listed in the FTSE 350. The short answers to the two research questions above are: to some degree and no by some margin, based on data from the sample firms.

scholarly journals Theoretical Perspectives on Corporate Social Responsibility Disclosure: A Critical Review

2015 ◽  
Vol 5 (2) ◽  
pp. 38 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mohamed A. Omran ◽  
Dineshwar Ramdhony
Keyword(s):  
Corporate Social Responsibility ◽  
Social Responsibility ◽  
Stakeholder Theory ◽  
Social Contract ◽  
Critical Review ◽  
Developed Countries ◽  
Legitimacy Theory ◽  
Theoretical Perspectives ◽  
Csr Disclosure ◽  
Corporate Social

This study provides an extensive critical review of the theoretical perspectives applied on corporate social responsibility (CSR) disclosure literature. From a CSR standpoint we review and discuss, in detail, legitimacy theory, stakeholder theory, social contract theory, and signalling theory to identify the situations that suit each of these perspectives. The findings show that there is no universal theory applicable on corporate social responsibility disclosure for all situations or societies. While legitimacy theory suggests CSR disclosures are part of a process of legitimation, stakeholder theory offers an explanation of CSR accountability to stakeholders. Legitimacy theory seems to be more suitable for organizations working in developed countries, on the other hand, stakeholder theory appears to be most suitable for organizations working in developing countries; where a corporation can manage its stakeholders and the pressure to comply with existing legislation is less as compared to the developed countries. Social contract theory is appropriate for developed/emerged economies, as CSR disclosure exists due to an implicit social contract between business and society, which implies some indirect obligations of business towards society. Signalling theory will suit a situation where firms are competing for resources. A firm willing to demarcate from other firms will engage in more CSR practices. It is also important that the signal reaches the target audience by reporting on CSR. 

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