Sports Management, Organisation Management and Policy

In the study class, students will gain an in-depth understanding of the philosophical nature of sport, its values and social mission in society, as well as of ethical principles and moral norms and their impact on individual and collective achievements. The key ethical dilemmas in sport – the importance of the norms of honesty, respect and excellence – will be analysed and human nature will be looked at as the most frequent source of ethical misconduct. Participants will explore the dimension of performance excellence (the ethics of achieving maximum results, the morality of the Olympic ideal, the balance of health and excellence) and the dimension of character excellence (Development of mores in sport, role of sport in character building, moral standards for sports leaders). Particular attention will be paid to gender balance and female participation as a prerequisite for the development of an ethical, inclusive and societal confidence-building sporting environment. Objective: to develop the capacity to analyse and apply ethical principles in the management of sports organisations by promoting ethical leadership, moral competence and sustainable development that respects human dignity and academic performance on gender balance. As a result, students will be able to identify and reasonably assess ethical risks, reasonably analyse the actions of sports leaders and organisations, and integrate value-based solutions into decision-making and governance practices.

The importance of fair play principles in sport, their ethical and financial aspects. The nature of fair competition and the impact of monopolies on the development of the sports sector. Issues of equal opportunities and discrimination in sport. Using game theory and Nash balance concept to analyze strategic choices of sports organizations. Impact of unfair competition on the functioning and environment of sports organisations. Examples of the introduction of financial “fair play” rules in world sport and their impact on athletic and financial growth.

Objective: Develop students’ ability to analyse and apply fair play principles in the management of sports organisations by promoting ethical, equitable and sustainable development that provides equal opportunities in the sporting environment.

Rating: student performance will be judged based on a group presentation and discussion of a specific case of fair play or financial fair play from international sports practice. The ability to analyse and interpret theoretical principles, to argue conclusions, to link ethical and financial aspects to practical examples, as well as student participation and contribution to the discussion will be assessed.

In this lecture, students will analyse the controversy caused by conflicts of interest in the management of sports organisations, from local clubs to international federations. The main conflicts of interest – favouritism and nepotism – and their definitions and impact on the sporting environment, competition and the integrity of organisations will be considered. The lecture will combine theoretical knowledge with practical examples from the world of sport, analysing their impact on the reputation and governance of organisations. Lecture purpose: Prepare the heads of sports organisations capable of recognising, assessing and effectively managing conflicts of interest, ensuring the integrity and sustainable development of sports organisations. Case study (case study) analysis will be evaluated

In this lecture, students will analyse the controversy caused by conflicts of interest in the management of sports organisations, from local clubs to international federations. The main conflicts of interest – favouritism and nepotism – and their definitions and impact on the sporting environment, competition and the integrity of organisations will be considered. The lecture will combine theoretical knowledge with practical examples from the world of sport, analysing their impact on the reputation and governance of organisations. Lecture purpose: Prepare the heads of sports organisations capable of recognising, assessing and effectively managing conflicts of interest, ensuring the integrity and sustainable development of sports organisations. Case study (case study) analysis will be evaluated

Students will get an in-depth look at the board’s strategic balance theory, which explains how the competence, knowledge and role of board members in an organization affects its strategic ability. Based on a study by Ferkins and Shilbury (2015), six key factors that make up the board’s strategic capacity will be analysed. Students will learn methods to formulate the organization’s vision and mission that serve as the basis for strategic decisions. The purpose of the lecture is to understand the strategic capacity factors of the board based on the theory of strategic balance. Analyse and assess the role of the Management Board in the strategic development of the organisation, taking into account its competence, knowledge and involvement. Develop and implement strategies within sports organisations.

Students build a hands-on group project and develop strategies.

Students will get an in-depth look at the board’s strategic balance theory, which explains how the competence, knowledge and role of board members in an organization affects its strategic ability. Based on a study by Ferkins and Shilbury (2015), six key factors that make up the board’s strategic capacity will be analysed. Students will learn methods to formulate the organization’s vision and mission that serve as the basis for strategic decisions. The purpose of the lecture is to understand the strategic capacity factors of the board based on the theory of strategic balance. Analyse and assess the role of the Management Board in the strategic development of the organisation, taking into account its competence, knowledge and involvement. Develop and implement strategies within sports organisations.

Students build a hands-on group project and develop strategies.

Given that the change is likely to be resisted by existing power, students will learn the theory of key sources of power (legitimate, material, coercive, expert, information, appreciation), Michale Focault, positions and principles of theory of power and resource dependence, as well as a practical understanding of the need to strike a balance of power (Haiti example). Students will be introduced to two important practical experiments: the Stanford prison experiment and the Stanley Milgram experiment. Students will get information on World Sport’s list of most influential people, as well as studying the positions of these dominant groups. The causes of the asymmetry of power, the “iron rule of oligarchy” and the importance of ideology as a prevalence of false consciousness, deindividuation and group thinking in the political and social context of maintaining power will be looked at.

Purpose of the lecture: to learn the theory of sources of power and the mechanisms of resource dependence to understand the structures of power in sports governance. Analyse the psychological mechanisms of authority and hierarchy. To understand the causes of the asymmetry of power and the instruments of balance.

Students prepare reflective articles and form analytical discussions

Given that the change is likely to be resisted by existing power, students will learn the theory of key sources of power (legitimate, material, coercive, expert, information, appreciation), Michale Focault, positions and principles of theory of power and resource dependence, as well as a practical understanding of the need to strike a balance of power (Haiti example). Students will be introduced to two important practical experiments: the Stanford prison experiment and the Stanley Milgram experiment. Students will get information on World Sport’s list of most influential people, as well as studying the positions of these dominant groups. The causes of the asymmetry of power, the “iron rule of oligarchy” and the importance of ideology as a prevalence of false consciousness, deindividuation and group thinking in the political and social context of maintaining power will be looked at.

Purpose of the lecture: to learn the theory of sources of power and the mechanisms of resource dependence to understand the structures of power in sports governance. Analyse the psychological mechanisms of authority and hierarchy. To understand the causes of the asymmetry of power and the instruments of balance.

Students prepare reflective articles and form analytical discussions

Lecture provides a broad view of the policy area in sport, introducing students to the theory of politics, including the rational choice approach, and three key policy dimensions. How sport becomes a political tool – thanks to its autonomous regime and neutrality – will be analysed, and how this dual role forms parallel realities in society and international relations. Concrete examples will be used, such as the use of sport as a tool for Russia’s soft power (soft power) - through the Sochi Olympics, the FIFA World Cup and the KHL Hockey League. Finally, Latvian sports policy guidelines will also be analysed from this pivot.

Objective: to understand how sport and politics affect each other by studying how sport is used for political purposes and how politics affects the development of sport. Analyse sports autonomy and neutrality as a political space that allows for different political strategies. Understand the possibilities of using sport as soft power instruments.

Students develop analytical reports

Lecture provides a broad view of the policy area in sport, introducing students to the theory of politics, including the rational choice approach, and three key policy dimensions. How sport becomes a political tool – thanks to its autonomous regime and neutrality – will be analysed, and how this dual role forms parallel realities in society and international relations. Concrete examples will be used, such as the use of sport as a tool for Russia’s soft power (soft power) - through the Sochi Olympics, the FIFA World Cup and the KHL Hockey League. Finally, Latvian sports policy guidelines will also be analysed from this pivot.

Objective: to understand how sport and politics affect each other by studying how sport is used for political purposes and how politics affects the development of sport. Analyse sports autonomy and neutrality as a political space that allows for different political strategies. Understand the possibilities of using sport as soft power instruments.

Students develop analytical reports

Lecture explores the application of democratic principles in the management of sports organisations by analysing the problems of democratic governance in international and national sports organisations. Students know the mechanisms for representing athletes, coaches and other stakeholders, criteria for democratic elections, decision-making and governance. Lecture looks at the nature of internalism theory in sports governance, as well as explaining the causes of finding the current governance system. Finally, the lecture identifies key institutional mechanisms for maintaining democratic governance and highlights current reforms, in particular the need to include athletes themselves in decision-making processes and boards of governance organisations.

Objective: to understand in depth the structures of democracy in sport: the institutional engagement mechanisms of the Organization of athletes, coaches and Federations. Analyse the autonomy of the federations and their links to the quality of governance through the principles of good governance.

Students form group debates and engage in argumentative discussions

Lecture explores the application of democratic principles in the management of sports organisations by analysing the problems of democratic governance in international and national sports organisations. Students know the mechanisms for representing athletes, coaches and other stakeholders, criteria for democratic elections, decision-making and governance. Lecture looks at the nature of internalism theory in sports governance, as well as explaining the causes of finding the current governance system. Finally, the lecture identifies key institutional mechanisms for maintaining democratic governance and highlights current reforms, in particular the need to include athletes themselves in decision-making processes and boards of governance organisations.

Objective: to understand in depth the structures of democracy in sport: the institutional engagement mechanisms of the Organization of athletes, coaches and Federations. Analyse the autonomy of the federations and their links to the quality of governance through the principles of good governance.

Students form group debates and engage in argumentative discussions

The lecture provides an in-depth look at the sports management system that operates in Latvia - its institutional structure and the interaction between the main sports policy implementation organisations: IZM, Latvian National Sports Council (LNSP), LOK, LSFP, sports federations and local governments. The role of these institutions in the sport policy guidelines 2022-2027 will be analysed, where the main tasks include funding reforms, administrative evaluation and efficiency gains. The lecture will also look at current processes, such as discussions around the merger of LOK and LSFP to consolidate the transition of sports funding to a single dialogue partner, and centralised management of national sports bases to improve resource utilisation and reduce administrative expenditure. Criticism from the State Audit and SRS about the transparency of budgetary resources and the financial management of federations will also be addressed.

Objective: to analyse Latvian sports management system - to understand the interaction of institutions and their role in actual implementation of sports policy. Assess efficiency and governance weaknesses and identify potential reform pathways.

Final task: The student produces a policy analysis report.

The lecture provides an in-depth look at the sports management system that operates in Latvia - its institutional structure and the interaction between the main sports policy implementation organisations: IZM, Latvian National Sports Council (LNSP), LOK, LSFP, sports federations and local governments. The role of these institutions in the sport policy guidelines 2022-2027 will be analysed, where the main tasks include funding reforms, administrative evaluation and efficiency gains. The lecture will also look at current processes, such as discussions around the merger of LOK and LSFP to consolidate the transition of sports funding to a single dialogue partner, and centralised management of national sports bases to improve resource utilisation and reduce administrative expenditure. Criticism from the State Audit and SRS about the transparency of budgetary resources and the financial management of federations will also be addressed.

Objective: to analyse Latvian sports management system - to understand the interaction of institutions and their role in actual implementation of sports policy. Assess efficiency and governance weaknesses and identify potential reform pathways.

Final task: The student produces a policy analysis report.