Perceptions of the effectiveness of sport organisations: The case of intercollegiate athletics

The organisational effectiveness (OE) construct is something of an enigma. While OE is at the theoretical centre of all organisational models and is the ultimate dependent variable of organisational studies, despite more than 60 years of research on the topic, substantial challenges concerning how to. conceptualise, measure, and explain OE remain. In this paper we build on the consensus that has emerged in the literature that the construct space of OE includes a wide variety of criteria and that assessments of OE are a function of one's priorities. The purpose of the paper is to address an issue essentially ignored in the literature ‐ relationships among the attributes that contribute to perceptions of OE. In an effort to accomplish our purpose, we present a preliminary study conducted within the context of intercollegiate athletics. The case study was designed to establish: (a) the factors that are the most important determinants of perceptions of effectiveness, and (b) how these factors interact with one another. Content analyses of interviews with ten salient stakeholders revealed that six factors are essential determinants of perceptions of athletic program success. These factors are related to athletic performance on the field, student‐athlete education, program ethics, and the effects of programs on a university's image, resources, and institutional enthusiasm. Thematic mapping of the interviews revealed that, while determinants of perceptions of success often work in concert with one another, some determinants tend to influence perceptions of success on their own. We conclude by discussing the theoretical and pragmatic relevance of addressing relationships among OE attributes and by suggesting promising research directions.