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Strategic Management and Governance in Sports

Code: 45766
Credits: 6
2026/2027
Degree programme Type Course
Sports Management OB 1

Contact lecturer

Name :
Ricard Esparza Masana
Email :
ricard.esparza@uab.cat

Teaching staff (external to UAB)

Jordi Viñas

Group languages

You can consult this information at the end of the document.

Prerequisites

No prerequisites.

Objectives

Strategic management provides the management tools needed for a strategic planning process, distinguishing it from operational management. Adopting a strategic vision is essential in the decision-making process of a sports organization. On the other hand, governance is key for sports institutions. The main objectives of the course are:

  • To introduce the tools of strategic analysis, examining the strategy and purpose of the sports organization.
  • To implement the most suitable strategy to establish a business model within the sports sector.
  • To analyze sports governance models and assess how they influence transparency, participation, and the efficiency of sports organizations.

Learning outcomes

  • CA18 (Rationalise the decisions linked to the governance and management of sports entities, taking into account aspects of the legislation in force in Europe and internationally.) Rationalise the decisions linked to the governance and management of sports entities, taking into account aspects of the legislation in force in Europe and internationally.
  • KA02 (Identify the role played by institutions in the governance of sports organisations/companies.) Identify the role played by institutions in the governance of sports organisations/companies.
  • KA03 (Recognise the types of strategies, tactics and operations of organisations/companies in the sports sector.) Recognise the types of strategies, tactics and operations of organisations/companies in the sports sector.
  • SA02 (Design a strategic plan for organisations/companies in the sports sector.) Design a strategic plan for organisations/companies in the sports sector.
  • SA03 (Formulate the business strategies of organisations/companies in the sports sector in changing environments and contexts.) Formulate the business strategies of organisations/companies in the sports sector in changing environments and contexts.

Contents


Learning activities and methodology

Title Hours ECTS Learning outcomes
Office hours 3 0.12 CA18, KA02, KA03, SA02, SA03
Study, assignments, teamwork, etc. 97 3.88 CA18, KA02, KA03, SA02, SA03
Content sessions 40 1.6 CA18, KA02, KA03, SA02, SA03

In the case of online delivery, the methodology will be adapted so that students can achieve all the learning outcomes specified in this guide while also developing the competencies and skills specific to the subject being taught.

To this end, the available resources in the virtual classrooms will be optimised in order to maximise student engagement and motivation (forums, debates, simulation games, case studies, online presentations, etc.).

Annotation: within the schedule set by the centre or degree programme, 15 minutes of one class will be reserved for students to evaluate their lecturers and their courses or modules through questionnaires.

Assessment

Continuous assessment activities

Title Weight Hours ECTS Learning outcomes
Theoretical-practical tests/tasks 30% 4 0.16 CA18, KA02, KA03, SA02, SA03
Individual theoretical and practical activities 40% 4 0.16 CA18, KA02, KA03, SA02, SA03
Exam 30% 2 0.08 CA18, KA02, KA03, SA02, SA03

Theoretical-practical assessments: submission, presentation, and defence of the exercises and assignments completed (they may be individual and/or group-based).

Individual theoretical-practical assignments: submission of exercises and assignments completed, as well as participation in forums and debates.

The teaching team will detail the specific activities at the beginning of the course.

Bibliography

Paris, F. (2016) La planificación estratégica en las organizaciones deportivas. Ed. Paidotribo. Barcelona. Slack, T. (2006). Understanding sport organizations: The application of organization theory. Human Kinetics, Champaign, IL. Kaplan & Norton (2002) Mapas estratégicos. Ed. Gestión 2000. Barcelona. Lambin, JJ. (2003) Marketing Estratégico. Esic Editorial. Madrid. Bibliografia y/o webgrafia complementària Part Economia de l'Esport: Bar-Eli, M.; Plessner, H.; Raab, M. (2011), Judgement, Decision Making and Success in Sport, Wiley-Blackwell. Dixit, A.K.; Nalebuff, B.J. (2008), The Art of Strategy, Norton. Gladwell, M. (2008), Outliers. The Story of Success, Little Brown. Kahneman, D. (2011), Thinking, Fast and Slow, FSG. Szymanski, S.; Zimbalist, A. (2006), National Passtime: How Americans Play Baseball and the Rest of the World Plays Soccer, Brookings Institution Press. Shmanske, S.; Kahane, L. H. (2012), The Oxford Handbook of Sports Economics, Volumes 1 & 2, Oxford University Press. Silver, N. (2012), The Signal and the Noise. Why So Many Predictions Fail but Some. Don't, Penguin. Taleb, N.N. (2004), Fooled by Randomness. The Hidden Role of Chance in Life and in the Markets, Penguin Books. Trillas, F. (2018), Pan y Fútbol. El deporte rey, espejo de la economía global. Alternativas Económicas. Zimbalist, A. (2015), Circus Maximus, Brookings Institution Press. Part Gestió Estratègica: Horvath & Partners (2003). Dominar el Cuadro de Mando Integral. Ed. Gestión 2000. Barcelona. International, K. and International, K. (2016). The 8-Step Process for Leading Change - Kotter International. [online] Kotter International. Available at: http://www.kotterinternational.com/the-8-step-process-for-leading-change/ Kaplan & Norton (2000). Cómo utilizar el Cuadro de Mando Integral. Ed. Gestión 2000. Barcelona. Robinson L. & Palmer D. (2011). Managing voluntary sport organisations. Ed. Routledge. Londres. Thepalladiumgroup.com. (2016). Palladium delivers positive impact solutions: International Development, Strategy Execution & Impact Investment. [online] Available at: http://www.thepalladiumgroup.com/

Software

N/A

Course groups and languages

The information provided is provisional until November 30. After this date, you will be able to consult the language of each group through this link. To access the information, you will need to enter the course CODE

Type of teaching Group Language Semester Shift
(TEm) Theory (master) 1 Spanish first semester afternoon
(TEm) Theory (master) 5 English first semester afternoon
(TEm) Theory (master) 10 Spanish first semester morning-mixed
(TEm) Theory (master) 50 English first semester morning-mixed