Theories, Concepts and the Rugby World Cup: Using management to understand sport

Adcroft, Andrew and Teckman, Jonathan (2008) Theories, Concepts and the Rugby World Cup: Using management to understand sport Management Decision, 46 (4). pp. 600-625.

Preview	Text RWC - MD Author.pdf - Accepted version Manuscript Available under License : See the attached licence file. Download (872kB)
Preview	Text (licence) SRI_deposit_agreement.pdf Download (33kB)

Abstract

Purpose

The aim of this paper is to consider the versatility of management theory by testing it in a non-management context, in this case sport in general and the Rugby World Cup in particular.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper develops a theoretical discussion of performance and competitiveness into a conceptual model before using that model to analyse and discuss the causes of success and failure in the Rugby World Cup.

Findings

Understanding the outcome of sporting contests is a complex activity. In the examples discussed, success or failure is the product of both the internal characteristics of the contestants and the external conditions of the contest itself. The findings of the research are robust in their reliability and validity.

Originality/value

Originality lies in a number of areas. Theory is used to develop an original conceptual model and it is then tested in an original context. The value of the paper lies as much in the investigations it opens up as in the debates it closes.

Item Type:	Article
Divisions :	Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences > Surrey Business School
Authors :	Name Email ORCID Adcroft, Andrew A.Adcroft@surrey.ac.uk Teckman, Jonathan j.teckman@surrey.ac.uk
Date :	2008
DOI :	10.1108/00251740810865085
Copyright Disclaimer :	This article is © Emerald Group Publishing and permission has been granted for this version to appear here. Emerald does not grant permission for this article to be further copied/distributed or hosted elsewhere without the express permission from Emerald Group Publishing Limited.
Depositing User :	Symplectic Elements
Date Deposited :	10 Feb 2012 15:57
Last Modified :	16 Jan 2019 16:30
URI:	http://epubs.surrey.ac.uk/id/eprint/146740

Actions (login required)

View Item

Downloads