1. Loughborough London School of Sport & Exercise Sciences Evaluating the Competencies of Sports Managers in Taiwan: A Delphi Approach Ling-Mei Ko Professor Ian Henry Professor Joe Chin-Hsung Kao

2. Structure of the presentation Introduction –The definition of competency –The development of competency-based approach in sports management –The deficiencies of previous competency-based approach in sports management The Delphi method and its applications in this study –The Delphi Method –Delphi process in this study Findings and discussion Conclusion

3. Introduction The definition of competency –“Competencies are the combination of knowledge, skills, abilities, and personal traits which are utilized to perform a variety of activities and behaviors effectively.” The development of competency-based approach in sports management –The purpose is to identify the body of required competencies for a sports manager which could be used for education and training purpose. –Most competency studies use quantitative survey techniques.

4. Introduction The deficiencies of previous competency-based approach in sports management –Quantitative survey has been argued to limit the response of respondents in a simple checklist. –Most previous studies mainly focused on particular settings; therefore, there is not much information regarding the generalized competencies across different settings in sports industry.

5. The Delphi method and its applications in this study The Delphi Method –Taylor and Meinhardt (1985) claimed that “since there are no “right” answers, a consensus of opinions is an acceptable second choice” (cited in Mitchell 1991). –Aims to obtain the most reliable consensus of opinions from a group of experts without group discussion. –It uses a series of intensive written questionnaires with controlled feedback to facilitate the development of a group consensus.

6. The Delphi method and its applications in this study This study was aimed to identify the important competencies required of a successful sports manager in Taiwan. 1. Set objectives 2. Select knowledgeable experts 3. Conduct Round 1 Questionnaire 6. Further analyze 4. Conduct Round 2 Questionnaire 5. Conduct Round 3 Questionnaire

7. The Delphi method and its applications in this study Taiwan Society of Sports Management (TASSM) was invited to collaborate as partner in this study. 27 experts participated in this study. –2 from the government –12 from sports industry –13 from sports management academic institutions 1. Set objectives 2. Select knowledgeable experts 3. Conduct Round 1 Questionnaire 6. Further analyze 4. Conduct Round 2 Questionnaire 5. Conduct Round 3 Questionnaire

8. The Delphi method and its applications in this study Round 1 Questionnaire : Identify competencies of sports managers After receiving the responses from the first round, all competencies were combined and refined into Round 2 questionnaire. 1. Set objectives 2. Select knowledgeable experts 3. Conduct Round 1 Questionnaire 6. Further analyze 4. Conduct Round 2 Questionnaire 5. Conduct Round 3 Questionnaire

9. The Delphi method and its applications in this study Round 2 Questionnaire: Competencies importance ratings After receiving the responses from the second round, the average of each competency was computed and reported in Round 3 questionnaire. 1. Set objectives 2. Select knowledgeable experts 3. Conduct Round 1 Questionnaire 6. Further analyze 4. Conduct Round 2 Questionnaire 5. Conduct Round 3 Questionnaire Competency Frequency no.% Ability to lead is important to conduct sports manager job. Strongly disagree 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Strongly agree 27 100

10. The Delphi method and its applications in this study Round 3 Questionnaire : Competencies importance ratings reconsidered In Round 3 questionnaire, each statement was provided with each expert’s own score and the group means obtained from round 2. 1. Set objectives 2. Select knowledgeable experts 3. Conduct Round 1 Questionnaire 6. Further analyze 4. Conduct Round 2 Questionnaire 5. Conduct Round 3 Questionnaire Competency Score AverageYour score Ability to lead is important to the successful conducting of a sports manager job. Strongly disagree 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Strongly agree 6.74 5

11. The Delphi method and its applications in this study Following the return of round 3 questionnaires, the average of each competency was computed again. Information obtained through 3 rounds of this Delphi study was further analyzed. 1. Set objectives 2. Select knowledgeable experts 3. Conduct Round 1 Questionnaire 6. Further analyze 4. Conduct Round 2 Questionnaire 5. Conduct Round 3 Questionnaire

12. Findings and Discussion Delphi Round 1 – Identify competencies of sports managers –Findings: In the first round, 27 questionnaires were received from the participants. The competencies suggested by experts were carefully analysed and then a list of 79 competencies was developed.

13. Findings and Discussion Classification of 79 Competencies

14. Findings and Discussion Delphi Round 2 – Competencies importance ratings –Findings The second round had a 100% response rate with 27 experts responding. Ranking of the most “important” and “unimportant” competencies (Table 1 and Table 2).

15. Findings and Discussion - Table 1 Round Two ranking of the most “important” competencies Mean Score All (n=27) Officer (n=2) Academy (n=13) Practitioner (n=12) 1. Ability to communicate6.747.00 (1) 6.92 (1) 6.50 (1) 2. Skilled at planning6.707.00 (2) 6.92 (2) 6.42 (2) 3. Ability to coordinate6.446.50 (4) 6.62 (3) 6.25 (3) 4. Skilled at marketing6.266.50 (5) 6.62 (4) 5.83 (13) 5. Skilled at problem solving6.266.00 (7) 6.38 (6) 6.17 (4) 6. Knowledge of sports industry environment 6.225.00 (22) 6.62 (5) 6.00 (8) 7. Skilled at crisis response6.154.50 (33) 6.38 (7) 6.17 (5) 8. Ability to implement6.116.00 (8) 6.08 (21) 6.17 (6) 9. Positive personal characteristics6.114.50 (34) 6.38 (8) 6.08 (7) 10. Ability to lead6.076.50 (6) 6.23 (15) 5.83 (14)

16. Findings and Discussion - Table 2 Round Two ranking of the most “unimportant” competencies Mean Score All (n=27) Officer (n=2) Academy (n=13) Practitioner (n=12) 70. Knowledge of exercise physiology4.374.50 (47) 4.46 (74) 4.25 (70) 71. Sports related license 4.352.50 (76) 4.85 (69) 4.09 (75) 72. Skilled at advertising4.333.50 (58) 4.62 (72) 4.17 (73) 73. Skilled at sports major4.263.50 (59) 4.92 (66) 3.67 (79) 74. Knowledge of sports science4.263.50 (60) 4.54 (73) 4.08 (76) 75. Skilled at sports instruction4.112.50 (77) 4.23 (77) 4.25 (71) 76. Knowledge of sports rules 4.112.00 (79) 4.31 (76) 4.25 (72) 77. Knowledge of sports sociology4.042.50 (78) 4.38 (75) 3.92 (78) 78. Knowledge of physical education and sports in China 4.002.50 (72) 4.00 (78) 4.17 (74) 79. Knowledge of Taiwan history and relationship between China and Taiwan 3.782.50 (73) 3.62 (79) 4.08 (77)

17. Findings and Discussion Delphi Round 3 – Competencies importance ratings reconsidered –Findings The third round also had a 100% return rate with 27 questionnaires received. Ranking of the most “important” and “unimportant” competencies (Table 3 and Table 4).

18. Findings and Discussion – Table 3 Round Three ranking of the most “important” competencies Mean Score All (n=27) Officer (n=2) Academy (n=13) Practitioner (n=12) 1. Ability to communicate6.897.00 (1) 6.92 (1) 6.83 (1) 2. Skilled at planning6.787.00 (2) 6.92 (2) 6.58 (3) 3. Ability to coordinate6.676.50 (4) 6.69 (3) 6.67 (2) 4. Skilled at problem solving6.567.00 (3) 6.62 (4) 6.42 (5) 5. Skilled at crisis response6.446.00 (8) 6.46 (7) 6.50 (4) 6. Positive personal characteristics6.415.50 (25) 6.54 (5) 6.42 (6) 7. Skilled at marketing6.306.50 (5) 6.54 (6) 6.00 (12) 8. Knowledge of sports industry environment 6.266.00 (9) 6.38 (10) 6.17 (8) 9. Ability to implement6.266.50 (6) 6.08 (23) 6.42 (7) 10. Ability to think and analyze6.226.00 (10) 6.46 (8) 6.00 (13)

19. Findings and Discussion - Table 4 Round Three ranking of the most “unimportant” competencies Mean Score All (n=27) Officer (n=2) Academy (n=13) Practitioner (n=12) 70. Knowledge of sports psychology4.444.00 (68) 4.69 (71) 4.25 (70) 71. Skilled at sports major4.413.50 (74) 4.85 (69) 4.08 (72) 72. Sports related license 4.374.00 (69) 4.69 (72) 4.08 (73) 73. Knowledge of exercise physiology4.333.50 (75) 4.54 (74) 4.25 (71) 74. Knowledge of sports science4.223.50 (76) 4.62 (73) 3.92 (75) 75. Knowledge of physical education and sports in China 4.194.00 (70) 4.31 (76) 4.08 (74) 76. Knowledge of sports rules 4.193.50 (77) 4.54 (75) 3.92 (76) 77. Knowledge of sports sociology4.074.00 (71) 4.31 (77) 3.83 (78) 78. Skilled at sports instruction3.933.00 (79) 4.08 (78) 3.92 (77) 79. Knowledge of Taiwan history and relationship between China and Taiwan 3.743.50 (78) 3.69 (79) 3.83 (79)

20. Findings and Discussion Round TwoRound Three 1. Ability to communicate 2. Skilled at planning 3. Ability to coordinate 4. Skilled at marketing4. Skilled at problem solving 5. Skilled at problem solving5. Skilled at crisis response 6. Knowledge of sports industry environment 6. Positive personal characteristics 7. Skilled at crisis response7. Skilled at marketing 8. Ability to implement8. Knowledge of sports industry environment 9. Positive personal characteristics9. Ability to implement 10. Ability to lead (R3-12)10. Ability to think and analyze (R2-15) Ranking of the most “important” competencies

21. Findings and Discussion Round TwoRound Three 70. Knowledge of exercise physiology70. Knowledge of sports psychology (R2-69) 71. Sports related license71. Skilled at sports major 72. Skilled at advertising (R3-68)72. Sports related license 73. Skilled at sports major73. Knowledge of exercise physiology 74. Knowledge of sports science 75. Skilled at sports instruction75. Knowledge of physical education and sports in China 76. Knowledge of sports rules 77. Knowledge of sports sociology 78. Knowledge of physical education and sports in China 78. Skilled at sports instruction 79. Knowledge of Taiwan history and relationship between China and Taiwan Ranking of the most “unimportant” competencies

22. Findings and Discussion According to ANOVAs test, there were only 4 significant differences among the 79 competencies between academy and practitioner groups in Round 3 Skilled at time management Skilled at Chinese and Taiwanese Knowledge of law Ability to search for sponsorship It means that on average, the academic and practitioner groups have similar opinions on the degree of importance of each competency.

23. Conclusion This study was undertaken with 100% retention across the three rounds of fieldwork which is relatively high for this type of research. This study produced a clear consensus about the competencies important to the successful conducting of a sports manager job in Taiwan. However, although such a consensus points to the types of competences required across a range of sports management roles, further work is still required to develop an understanding of core competencies in different sports specialist contexts.

25. Thank you!