A META-ORGANIZATIONAL APPROACH TO FACILITATING INNOVATIONS IN PROFESSIONAL SPORTS ORGANIZATIONS

Abstract

This paper aims to assess the feasibility of a meta-organizational approach to implementing and incentivizing innovations in professional sports organizations.The author adopts a case study method approach. Data collection was conducted via semi-structured interviews with representatives of Russian professional sports organizations. The results of the interviews were codified using a manual content analysis framework.This study reviews the case of creating a ‘Unified supporter base’ in the Kontinental Hockey League in partnership with SAP. The project was implemented in five phases. This approach helped ensure a gradual innovation adoption process within the meta-organization. Among the key success factors the author highlights the high relevance of the proposed innovative solution as well the league’s role in minimizing resource barriers by implementing a financial incentive scheme.This is the first attempt in the Russian academic literature to conduct an empirical analysis on innovation in professional sports organizations. The author also proposes a novel approach to studying innovation using meta-organization theory.

Keywords

• innovation process
• meta-organization
• innovation in sports
• сontinental hockey league
• innovation process of sports organizations
• sports management