Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Thesis Format

Monograph

Degree

Master of Arts

Program

Kinesiology

Supervisor

Doherty, Alison

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic has presented community sport organizations with many complex challenges, but also unique opportunities to reflect and rethink their practices (Fullagar, 2020). This study presents an autoethnography of my experiences working as a Technical Leader for a community sport organization (CSO) throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. The research questions were: 1) What were the features of organizational capacity that were most important to the CSO’s effectiveness, survival and resilience during the pandemic? and 2) What were the capacity features that were most impactful to my own ability to carry out my role effectively within the club? Through the autoethnographic process, I observed leader dedication, redundancy, dedicated staff, shared values and open communication to be essential features of organizational capacity and resilience during the pandemic. I also observed environmental instability, failures to retain staff and conflict to limit the club’s ability to be effective during return to play, and my own effectiveness within my role. Through sharing my experiences, community sport organizations may gain a greater understanding of the capacity features and necessary steps for efficient functioning and survival. Leaders and managers of CSOs may also gain valuable insight into how to effectively manage an organization through environmental uncertainty.

Summary for Lay Audience

The COVID-19 pandemic has presented community sport organizations with unique opportunities to reflect and rethink their practices (Fullagar, 2020). This study presents an autoethnography, in which I study myself within my context as a Technical Leader for a community sport organization (CSO) during the COVID-19 pandemic. This study attempted to identify factors that impact and improve CSO effectiveness, survival and resilience during the pandemic. Additionally, I explored the features that were most impactful to my ability to carry out my role and be effective for the club. Through the autoethnographic process, I observed leader dedication, tight coordination and control, dedicated staff, and open communication to be essential features of organizational capacity and resilience during the pandemic. I also observed environmental instability, failures to retain staff and inter-organizational conflict to limit the club’s ability to be effective during return to play, and my own effectiveness within my role. Through sharing my experiences, sporting organizations may gain a greater understanding of the features and necessary steps for efficient functioning and survival during an external environmental threat, such as a pandemic. Leaders and managers of CSOs may also gain valuable insight into how to effectively manage an organization through environmental uncertainty.

Creative Commons License

Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial 4.0 License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial 4.0 License

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