An administrative mess: A case study from the officiating community

• Published in: Sport management review 2012-08, Vol.15 (3), p.368-380
• Main Authors: Warner, Stacy, Tingle, Jacob K., Kellett, Pamm
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Case studies; Human resource management; Management theory; Organisational behaviour; Recruitment; Referee; Retention; Sports management; Sports officiating; Strategic management; Studies
• ISSN: 1441-3523; 1839-2083
• DOI: 10.1016/j.smr.2011.11.003

► Teaching case study focused on management of officials. ► Useful for strategic management, organisational behaviour, HRM, or officiating courses. ► Issues involve leadership, strategy, policy, PR, work-family and sexual harassment. ► Case is based on observation, interviews, and conversation with numerous officials. This case is written for instructors of classes focused on strategic management, organisational behaviour, human resource management, and/or an officiating course. The case highlights the numerous administrative processes a new employee in a sport organisation would face. Although the case is fictional it is based on the authors’ personal and professional experiences in athletics administration and officiating, and further draws upon the authors’ research in the area of officiating. Consequently, this case study was constructed based on first-hand observation, interviews and conversation with numerous officials and administrators, and through the examination of documents frequently used to manage officials. As a result, the case provides an opportunity for students to critically evaluate and address: (1) a sport organisation's policies and procedures; (2) issues related to human resource management within a sport setting; (3) the managerial response after an organisational failure.