Short answer
When pursuing innovation or new ventures, consider the potential impact on existing community relationships and intangible assets like brand loyalty and fan engagement.
- Field
- Innovation & Design
- Source
- International Journal of Entrepreneurial Behaviour & Research (2020)
- Method
- Case Study
- Sample
- 44 football clubs
- Evidence
- Strong effect
Entrepreneurial focus on financial and strategic capital can exploit the social and cultural capital of football clubs, leading to fan disenchantment. This innovation & design research insight is drawn from a 2020 study published in International Journal of Entrepreneurial Behaviour & Research. Using Case study with 44 football clubs, researchers explored how this design variable affects real-world outcomes. The key design takeaway: When pursuing innovation or new ventures, consider the potential impact on existing community relationships and intangible assets like brand loyalty and fan engagement.
Entrepreneurial Exploitation Strains Fan Relationships in Football Clubs
Entrepreneurial focus on financial and strategic capital can exploit the social and cultural capital of football clubs, leading to fan disenchantment.
International Journal of Entrepreneurial Behaviour & Research · 2020
Key Findings
- 01Entrepreneurs are using football clubs as vehicles for broader business interests.
- 02There is an over-reliance on strategic and economic capital at the expense of social and cultural capital.
- 03The unique relationship between clubs and fans is strained due to exploitative entrepreneurial opportunities.
- 04Fan detachment, disenchantment, and protest are observable outcomes.
Application
Design takeaway
When pursuing innovation or new ventures, consider the potential impact on existing community relationships and intangible assets like brand loyalty and fan engagement.
How to apply
When developing business models or strategies for community-focused organizations, explicitly map out how different forms of capital (economic, social, cultural) are leveraged and protected.
Project actions
- 01When researching a product or service, consider who the 'moral owners' or core users are and how their experience might be affected by business decisions.
- 02Analyze how different types of capital (e.g., financial, social, cultural) are balanced in a design or business strategy.
Method & Evidence
Variables
Strengths & Limitations
Strengths
- +Provides a nuanced view of value creation beyond purely financial metrics.
- +Highlights the often-overlooked social and cultural dimensions of organizational success.
Limitations
The study's focus on English football means findings may not directly apply to other sports or regions without further investigation.
Reliability & validity
The use of triangulation from multiple secondary sources (official statements, press, fan accounts) enhances the validity of the findings. However, reliance on public data may limit the depth of analysis and introduce potential biases.
Think critically
To what extent can the 'entrepreneurial orientation' described in this study be considered a form of 'design thinking' or a deviation from it, particularly concerning stakeholder value?
Design Principles
"Value creation must be holistic, encompassing financial, social, and cultural dimensions to ensure long-term organizational health and stakeholder satisfaction."
This research highlights how a singular focus on profit maximization by owners can erode the intrinsic value and community connection that fans have with sports organizations. Designers and strategists must consider the broader stakeholder impact beyond immediate financial returns.
What This Means for Your Design
Some owners treat football clubs like businesses to make money, but they forget that fans are a big part of the club's value. When owners only care about money, fans get upset and stop feeling connected.
How to use in your project
- 1.Use this research to justify the importance of considering user/community impact in your design process, especially when dealing with established brands or communities.
Add to My Project
Quick Cite
Paragraph starter
This research highlights the critical need to balance entrepreneurial drive with the preservation of social and cultural capital, as demonstrated by the strain on fan relationships in English football clubs due to owners prioritizing economic gains. This underscores the importance of considering the broader stakeholder impact in any design project to ensure long-term viability and user loyalty.
Source
International Journal of Entrepreneurial Behaviour & Research
Sustainable value creation? Entrepreneurial orientations in the football industry
journal · 2020
View sourceQuestions About This Research
- What does the research say about entrepreneurial exploitation strains fan relationships in football clubs?
- When pursuing innovation or new ventures, consider the potential impact on existing community relationships and intangible assets like brand loyalty and fan engagement. Evidence: International Journal of Entrepreneurial Behaviour & Research (2020).
- Why does "Entrepreneurial Exploitation Strains Fan Relationships in Football Clubs" matter for design?
- This research highlights how a singular focus on profit maximization by owners can erode the intrinsic value and community connection that fans have with sports organizations. Designers and strategists must consider the broader stakeholder impact beyond immediate financial returns.
- How can designers apply this research?
- When pursuing innovation or new ventures, consider the potential impact on existing community relationships and intangible assets like brand loyalty and fan engagement.
- What were the main findings?
- Entrepreneurs are using football clubs as vehicles for broader business interests.. There is an over-reliance on strategic and economic capital at the expense of social and cultural capital.. The unique relationship between clubs and fans is strained due to exploitative entrepreneurial opportunities.. Fan detachment, disenchantment, and protest are observable outcomes.
- What research method was used?
- Case Study with 44 football clubs.
- How strong is the evidence?
- Evidence strength is rated Strong effect, based on a 2020 journal from International Journal of Entrepreneurial Behaviour & Research.
- What should I do differently in my next project?
- When developing business models or strategies for community-focused organizations, explicitly map out how different forms of capital (economic, social, cultural) are leveraged and protected.
- What are the limitations?
- Findings are context-specific to English football's top two divisions and rely on publicly available secondary data.