Managing sports federations through performance measurement

Abstract

Should the performance and effectiveness of sports federations be measured? And how should this measurement be carried out? Organizational performance, or effectiveness, within such organizations takes on a more specific and multidimensional character, requiring diverse metrics. Performance cannot be reduced to a simple, objective measurement that represents profit for a commercial enterprise. Therefore, we define performance for a federation as its ability to effectively utilize human, material, and financial resources to achieve its founding objectives. Performance also aligns with the standards set by various stakeholders within these federations, whether individuals or groups, based on their value systems and expectations regarding the services or results they anticipate from the organization (resulting in a subjective and relative assessment of performance). For these reasons, measuring the performance of a sports federation, as with any organization, must necessarily combine objective (achieved results) and subjective (expected results) measurements to provide a richer and more realistic view of overall performance. Auditing and monitoring within the organization thus assess the gap between the desired outcome and the actual result. This research will examine the conditions and principles for developing and implementing a performance measurement and monitoring system that is best suited to the development of these federations.