Managing talent in sports clubs : expectations and perceived benefits of short-term international assignments
Furcht, Emil (2014)
Kuvaus
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Tiivistelmä
Existing academic research on international assignments has been catered around traditional business. This study extends traditional academic research on international assignments to the sporting world in order to analyze what principles can cross over from one area to the other. The empirical findings show not only what existing academic theories can benefit sporting clubs; they shed light on what traditional business can learn from how sporting clubs utilize international assignments in talent management. From both a player and club director lens, the perceived benefits of an international assignment for soccer players are explored along with seeing where the different parties’ interests are aligned. The extent to which the assignment influences any alteration in either party’s psychological contract is also contextualized.
Qualitative data was gathered through a series of eleven semi-structured interviews with both club directors and players. For club directors and players, the goals of an assignment were to obtain a transfer, benchmark the player against his peers, improve brand reputation, and personal development of some kind. Prior to an assignment, the pre-existing psychological contract does not hold the clubs responsible to arrange an assignment, despite the value placed on it by players.
However, players expect the clubs to allow them to go on an assignment if the opportunity presents itself. Additionally, the psychological contract exists in that players generally assume that should the host club in an assignment offer a contract, they will be sold, regardless of the economic benefit to the player’s home club. Contrary to traditional businesses, there is little evidence supporting any post-assignment alteration to either the player or club’s psychological contract as a result of the assignment.
International assignments for soccer players have a broad range of potential benefits. Club directors are wise to control the process and take consideration to the complexities surrounding the appearingly simple endeavour. While it is not sufficient to categorize all interviewees similarly, there is a generally narrow view of the assignment by both clubs and assignees. The sporting world can benefit from examining the range of potential benefits from an international assignment in the way traditional business have. At the same time, in relation to psychological contracts, traditional business may benefit from sporting clubs in how they manage player\employee expectations pre and post assignment.
Qualitative data was gathered through a series of eleven semi-structured interviews with both club directors and players. For club directors and players, the goals of an assignment were to obtain a transfer, benchmark the player against his peers, improve brand reputation, and personal development of some kind. Prior to an assignment, the pre-existing psychological contract does not hold the clubs responsible to arrange an assignment, despite the value placed on it by players.
However, players expect the clubs to allow them to go on an assignment if the opportunity presents itself. Additionally, the psychological contract exists in that players generally assume that should the host club in an assignment offer a contract, they will be sold, regardless of the economic benefit to the player’s home club. Contrary to traditional businesses, there is little evidence supporting any post-assignment alteration to either the player or club’s psychological contract as a result of the assignment.
International assignments for soccer players have a broad range of potential benefits. Club directors are wise to control the process and take consideration to the complexities surrounding the appearingly simple endeavour. While it is not sufficient to categorize all interviewees similarly, there is a generally narrow view of the assignment by both clubs and assignees. The sporting world can benefit from examining the range of potential benefits from an international assignment in the way traditional business have. At the same time, in relation to psychological contracts, traditional business may benefit from sporting clubs in how they manage player\employee expectations pre and post assignment.