The Determinants of Effectiveness of Sporting Associations in Singapore Angela Koh-Tan BA Hons (English), Grad Dip (Communication Studies), M Sc (International Marketing), M Sc (Recreation Management), Master of Management Research This thesis is presented for the degree of Doctor of Business Administration of The University of Western Australia Business School December 2008 Abstract This study explores the different perceptions of effectiveness among four constituent groups of stakeholders in Singapore national sports associations. The four groups are athletes, board members, coaches, and secretariat staff. The study applies a qualitative research methodology. It uses a focus group and semi-structured interviews across 25 national sports associations. The qualitative data is analysed using NVivo software to organise the data into general themes and as an aid in breaking the data into sub-themes. The four constituent groups discuss multi-faceted perceptions of effectiveness by providing varying interpretations, meanings, inferences, and relational issues depending on the roles they hold. While confirming multi-dimensional perceptions of effectiveness, the study uncovers three determinants of effectiveness that are not cited directly in the literature: communication, athlete management, and commitment and organisation of the management committee. The study suggests major tensions in terms of organisational and personal athlete outcomes. It also highlights the paramount importance of funding, both for sports development and the organisation‟s personnel staffing and systems. There is a symbiotic relationship between internal and external perceptions of influences on effective performance. The findings suggest constituent groups‟ perceptions of the Singapore Sports Council influence their perceptions of effectiveness within their own associations. In turn, SSC‟s policy making and organisational behaviour are perceived to affect how the effectiveness of constituent groups is evaluated as well as their scope for action within their organisations. The implications for sports administrators and policy makers include the need for better communications between and within constituent groups, quality leadership (with decisions based on sports management and sports science knowledge), a more equitable distribution of funds, an internal environment of trust and empowerment balanced by objectivism, and an external environment of realism balanced by recognition of the need for continual performance improvement. The Determinants of Effectiveness of Sporting Associations in Singapore 2 of 204 Table of Contents Chapter 1 Introduction ................................................................................................ 6 1.1 Background to the research ............................................................................... 6 1.2 Research problem .............................................................................................. 8 1.3 Justification for the research ........................................................................... 10 1.4 Methodology ................................................................................................... 12 1.5 Outline of the thesis......................................................................................... 13 1.6 Conclusion ....................................................................................................... 15 Chapter 2 Literature review ...................................................................................... 16 2.1 Introduction ..................................................................................................... 16 2.2 The non profit sector ....................................................................................... 17 2.3 Institutional governance in the non profit sector ............................................. 25 2.4 Defining and measuring effectiveness in non profit organisations ................. 31 2.5 The Singapore Sporting Associations ............................................................. 35 2.6 Theoretical frameworks of organisational effectiveness ................................. 40 2.7 Key Research Questions.................................................................................. 46 2.8 Conclusion ....................................................................................................... 47 Chapter 3 Methodology ............................................................................................ 48 3.1 Introduction ..................................................................................................... 48 3.2 Justification for the methodology .................................................................... 48 3.3 The unit of analysis and subjects or sources of data ....................................... 51 3.4 Instruments used to collect data ...................................................................... 58 3.5 Administration of instruments or procedures .................................................. 73 3.6 Limitations of the methodology ...................................................................... 74 3.7 Computer software used to analyse the data ................................................... 77 3.8 Ethical issues ................................................................................................... 79 3.9 Conclusion ....................................................................................................... 80 Chapter 4 Analysis of data........................................................................................ 82 4.1 Introduction ..................................................................................................... 82 4.2 Participants ...................................................................................................... 82 4.3 Patterns of data for each key research question .............................................. 87 4.3.1 Two-way, formal, and timely communication .......................................... 88 4.3.2 Showing results ........................................................................................ 92 4.3.3 Good financial management practices .................................................... 96 4.3.4 Athlete management ................................................................................. 98 4.3.5 Organisational processes and procedures............................................. 100 4.3.6 Commitment and organisation of the management committee .............. 104 4.3.7 Participation .......................................................................................... 108 4.3.8 Performance ........................................................................................... 110 4.3.9 Balancing outcomes with continual process indicators......................... 112 4.3.10 Development of athletes’ potential ..................................................... 115 4.3.11 Sports development ............................................................................ 121 4.3.12 Personnel management ...................................................................... 127 4.4 Summary ....................................................................................................... 132 Chapter 5 Discussion and Conclusion .................................................................... 133 5.1 Introduction ................................................................................................... 133 The Determinants of Effectiveness of Sporting Associations in Singapore 3 of 204 5.2 Conclusions about the key research questions .............................................. 134 5.2.1 Conclusions from the findings on perceptions of effectiveness ............. 134 5.2.2 Conclusions from the findings on criteria of effectiveness .................... 143 5.2.3 Conclusions from the findings on funding, outcomes and effectiveness 147 5.3 Conclusions about the research problem ....................................................... 150 5.4 Implications for theory .................................................................................. 161 5.5 Implications for policy and sports management practice .............................. 164 5.5.1 Implications for constituent groups ....................................................... 164 5.5.2 Implications for the SSC ........................................................................ 166 5.6 Limitations .................................................................................................... 168 5.7 Implications for further research ................................................................... 169 5.8 Conclusion ..................................................................................................... 170 Bibliography ................................................................................................................ 173 Appendices ................................................................................................................... 187 The Determinants of Effectiveness of Sporting Associations in Singapore 4 of 204 Acknowledgements I thank God who answers in His own way, and makes everything possible. Next, I want to thank my loved ones who have been totally supportive of my academic endeavours throughout the years: my husband, Stephen, who has taken care of the family and their needs to leave me time for my research; my mother, Patricia, who has lent unstinting