A psychological analysis of complexity in sport: A chronology of destructive decision making at Hapoel Tel-Aviv FC

Abstract

The current article aims to advance the use of complexity theory and organizational-level analyses in the psychology of sport literature. Consistent with this premise, it presents a case-study that utilizes the logic and the terminology of complexity theory to explain a chronology of destructive decision making at Hapoel Tel Aviv, a prominent football club in the Israeli Super League. Using a qualitative research strategy, the study relates the financial crisis and the professional failure of the club between 2015 and 2017 to the shortcoming of owners, managers and active fans in coping with complexity. Specifically, the findings highlight three mismanaged organizational inconsistencies referred to as the “order-disorder”, the “love-hate” and the “strong-weak” paradoxes. The analysis illustrates the role of complexity in shaping the psychological dynamics of making decisions in sport organizations.

Keywords

• Organizational complexity
• Football
• Decision making
• Psychology of sport