Benchmarking of élite sport systems

Abstract

Purpose

This paper aims to evaluate the applicability of the concept of benchmarking as a research tool for furthering understanding of the management of élite sport systems.

Design/methodology/approach

The research used semi‐structured interviews and documentary analysis to investigate the élite sport services offered by two successful Scandinavian sports.

Findings

It was found that a number of the services that led to the success of the two investigated systems are strongly context dependent. This suggests that benchmarking is only appropriate as a tool to further understanding of élite sport systems if it is approached as a way of learning, rather than copying.

Research limitations/implications

The research does not consider all élite sport system services.

Practical implications

The research suggests that managers should be careful about tranferring practices directly from other élite sport systems.

Originality/value

This is the first research study to apply benchmarking to the élite sport system context.

Citation

Böhlke, N. and Robinson, L. (2009), "Benchmarking of élite sport systems", Management Decision, Vol. 47 No. 1, pp. 67-84. https://doi.org/10.1108/00251740910929704