A Conceptual Model to Understand and Assess International Sport Federations’ Organizational Performance

Abstract

While national sport federations’ organizational performance has received considerable academic attention both in terms of conceptual and empirical studies, organizational performance of international sport federations remains undefined and thus unmeasurable. Due to repeated governance scandals in international sport federations, stakeholders’ calls for greater accountability intensified, raising the question of what should be measured and monitored and how. Considering the important role of international sport federations from a social, economic, and environmental perspective, this paper tries to remedy the lack of a conceptual model to understand and measure their organizational performance holistically. To grasp the complexity of international sport federations’ activities and environment, definitions, performance dimensions and examples of appropriate measures were identified through a literature review and combined in the multi-dimensional process model. The proposed model includes four variables (input, throughput, outcome, feedback) and 12 dimensions. It addresses persisting theoretical, methodological, and empirical challenges in measuring international sport federations’ organizational performance. Several interviews with experts from within and outside international sport federations were conducted to test and adjust the conceptual model. The paper provides the first comprehensive analytical model that conceptualizes international sport federations’ organizational performance. It allows academics and practitioners to understand, monitor and manage international sport federations organizational performance holistically.