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Non-profit sport collaboration effectiveness: how do the partner selection factors and the collaboration process matter?

Arthur Lefebvre (Louvain Research Institute in Management and Organizations, Université Catholique de Louvain, Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium) (School of Human Kinetics, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Canada)
Géraldine Zeimers (Louvain Research Institute in Management and Organizations, Université Catholique de Louvain, Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium)
Thierry Zintz (Louvain Research Institute in Management and Organizations, Université Catholique de Louvain, Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium)

Sport, Business and Management

ISSN: 2042-678X

Article publication date: 24 February 2022

Issue publication date: 2 January 2023

204

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to investigate the relationship between partner selection factors and effectiveness of collaboration between sport clubs, as well as the mediating role of collaboration process dimensions on this relationship.

Design/methodology/approach

Data were collected via an online survey targeting representatives of sport clubs in Belgium (n = 631). Hierarchical multiple linear regression and mediation analyses were conducted using SPSS macro PROCESS.

Findings

The results indicate that two partner selection factors – shared vision and pre-existing relationships – are related to collaboration effectiveness. Moreover, this association is mediated by the collaboration process and, more particularly, by two informal (social) dimensions of this process: mutuality and trust.

Practical implications

Practically, this study suggests sport clubs representatives to chiefly pay attention to partner selection characteristics when deciding to collaborate with other sport clubs. They should assess their potential partners and eventually choose sport clubs that share a similar vision and/or with whom they already have pre-existing relationships.

Originality/value

This paper extends knowledge on non-profit sport collaboration effectiveness by empirically examining its relationship to the partner selection factors and collaboration process. It helps establish the distinctiveness of this collaboration form. The paper also brings new knowledge on the interconnections between antecedents, process and effectiveness of sport collaboration.

Keywords

Citation

Lefebvre, A., Zeimers, G. and Zintz, T. (2023), "Non-profit sport collaboration effectiveness: how do the partner selection factors and the collaboration process matter?", Sport, Business and Management, Vol. 13 No. 1, pp. 1-18. https://doi.org/10.1108/SBM-09-2021-0108

Publisher

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Emerald Publishing Limited

Copyright © 2022, Emerald Publishing Limited

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