Sport Operations Management and Development: An Applied Approach

This essential textbook introduces the work of sport management and sport development from the perspective of the day-to-day operational challenges faced by managers and sport development officers. It addresses the practicalities of designing and delivering sport services safely, efficiently and effectively, for profit or in non-profit contexts.

The book covers core topics such as time management, project management, customer care, developing partnerships, fundraising, crisis management and research. It adopts a problem-based learning approach, with a strong, practical focus on putting theory into practice, to illustrate good practice and to help the reader develop sound operational skills, knowledge and decision-making, underpinned by the principles of safety, effectiveness and efficiency. It features a range of diverse international case studies, covering different sports and operational management challenges, including global pandemics and terrorism. Connecting theories, ideas and scientific disciplines, the book helps managers approach operations management more creatively, combining both management and development work to show areas of difference and overlap. It also introduces systems theory and the principals of marginal gains or small wins, to help managers develop working cultures which can be utilised in all areas of management, encouraging a culture of learning, reflection and ethical action. Sport Operations Management and Development is designed for both practitioners and students working in sport management, development, coaching or aspects of sport science.

Mark Piekarz is Associate Head of School at Coventry University, UK. He has taught and developed courses in sport management and development. Before beginning teaching, he worked as a sport facility manager and community sport development officer.