Exploring Sport Management as an Academic Profession: A Critical Review of Occupational Theory

ABSTRACT

The discussions surrounding the current state of sport management as an academic discipline have traditionally been the responsibility of key addresses and editorials. In drawing upon the sociological and management literature surrounding professions, this article critically reflects upon the characteristics of the field and the extent to which it can be viewed as a profession. More specifically, Abbott's general theory of the profession and Greenwood's five attributes (systematic theory, authority, community sanction, ethical codes, and professional culture) that characterize a professionalized occupation are drawn upon and discussed in relation to the evolution and current state of the field. The findings elucidate the complexities of the professionalization process surrounding occupations and suggest that there are burgeoning signs of a profession emerging within sport management academia, but the field, at best, can be labelled a semi or quasi-profession. The implications of these findings for the future direction of the field are discussed.

体育管理作为学术性职业之探索:职业理论评析

围绕体育管理这一学科现状的讨论一直是关键性发言和社论的重点。本文在借鉴了关于这一专业的社会学和管理文献的基础上, 辩证地反思了体育管理这一领域的特点以及该领域在何种程度上能被视为一种职业。进一步讲, 本文借鉴了Abbott 的职业通论以及 Greenwood 的专业化职业五大属性 (系统理论、学术权威、社区制裁、道德规范和职业文化) 并探讨了该领域的相关演化史以及目前现状。研究结果阐明了体育管理相关职业专业化进程的复杂性, 并表明在体育管理学术界有新专业兴起的迹象, 但该领域最多可以被称为半专业或是准专业。本文针对该领域未来发展方向的研究结果所产生的影响进行探讨。

KEYWORDS:

• Professionalization
• professions
• academia
• occupation
• sport management research

关键词:

• 专业化
• 专业
• 学术界
• 职业
• 体育管理研究

Acknowledgments

The author thanks Phil Brown, Danny Cullinane, and Marvin Washington and the two anonymous reviewers for their feedback on earlier versions of the paper.

Disclosure Statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Mathew Dowling

Mathew Dowling (Ph.D., University of Alberta, Canada) is a Senior Lecturer within the Cambridge Centre for Sport and Exercise Sciences at Anglia Ruskin University. His current teaching and research interests surround the development of the not-for-profit sport sector. His current areas of specialization include: the examination of sport development programs/initiatives, sport governance, sport policy, corporate social responsibility and sport, the professionalization of sport, and government involvement within sport.