Three Sport Business Doctoral Researchers to present at the European Sport Management Conference

Doctoral Researchers from the Institute for Sport Business, Daniel Read, Laura Bradshaw and Peter Sear, have all been selected to present their papers focusing on a range of topics in Sport Business at the European Sport Management Conference taking place later this year.

Daniel’s paper entitled ‘A Multi-Level Legitimacy Analysis of The World Anti-Doping Agency’ investigates the role of legitimacy management in anti-doping policy development. Focussing on the recent exposure of systematic doping in Russia, Daniel’s paper suggests that anti-doping policy is reactive to scandals and that anti-doping policy is prioritised according to certain stakeholder expectations.

Daniel is studying for a PhD in the Institute for Sport Business, and the paper came from his thesis which focusses more broadly on the development of the World Anti-Doping Agency.

Laura’s paper explores a phenomenological study of organisational innovation in elite sport, offering a multiple case study of high performing organisations in sport, space and business. Laura’s paper suggests that innovation in sport is becoming increasingly necessary for organisations to gain a competitive advantage. Laura’s qualitative research investigates how high performing organisations are using innovation, through a multi-faceted view of an elite organisation and their unique ‘ways of doing things’ to improve performance.

Her research illustrates the importance of implanting innovation not only within the infrastructure, strategy, structure, systems and processes of an organisation but through embedding an innovative DNA through organisational values and vision. This enables employees to feel their professional contribution is the most important strand within this innovative DNA which ultimately makes up the organisations genetic code.

Laura is in her final year of a PhD in Sports Business Innovation, and her paper has been developed as part of her research which included visits to organisations such as NASA, The United Nations, Military Special Forces, FC Barcelona among other high-profile organisations.

Peter’s paper discusses 'Empathetic Leadership in Sport' - a topic that has been reported in other domains, but not, yet, in sport. Reported advantages of empathy in leadership include a positive influence on the emotional climate of a team or organisation, and Peter's research looks at this in relation to sport leadership.

Peter is studying for a PhD in the Institute for Sport Business, has a background in psychology and is interested in emotional environments within organisations, especially the influence of empathic leadership within sport.

Professor James Skinner, Director of the Institute for Sport Business, said:

“It is fantastic to see our Institute for Sport Business PhD students being selected to present at the EASM Conference. It is a testament to the quality of their research and their evolution as researchers. The Institute for Sport Business are fortunate to be represented by a high calibre group of students.”