Skip to main content
  • Textbook
  • © 2021

Organizational Behavior in Sport Management

An Applied Approach to Understanding People and Groups

Palgrave Macmillan
  • Practitioner interviews provide insight into theory application, allowing students to see relevance of the topic to career goals, be challenged to find their managerial style, and compare their strategies to the strategies of someone working in the sports industry

  • QR linked audio files containing excerpts of practitioner interviews and summaries of chapter content encourage student engagement

  • Case studies allow students to immerse themselves in the industry related issues, challenging assumptions, and encouraging higher-order thinking

Buy it now

Buying options

eBook USD 69.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book USD 89.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Other ways to access

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check for access.

Table of contents (18 chapters)

  1. Front Matter

    Pages i-xvii
  2. Part I

    1. Front Matter

      Pages 1-1
    2. What Is Organizational Behavior

      • Christopher R. Barnhill, Natalie L. Smith, Brent D. Oja
      Pages 3-12
    3. Unique Characteristics of Sport Organizations

      • Christopher R. Barnhill, Natalie L. Smith, Brent D. Oja
      Pages 13-22
    4. Diversity in Sport Organizations

      • Christopher R. Barnhill, Natalie L. Smith, Brent D. Oja
      Pages 23-34
  3. Part II

    1. Front Matter

      Pages 35-35
    2. Organizational Structure

      • Christopher R. Barnhill, Natalie L. Smith, Brent D. Oja
      Pages 37-47
    3. Communication in Organizations

      • Christopher R. Barnhill, Natalie L. Smith, Brent D. Oja
      Pages 49-58
    4. Organizational Culture

      • Christopher R. Barnhill, Natalie L. Smith, Brent D. Oja
      Pages 59-69
    5. Labor in Sport

      • Christopher R. Barnhill, Natalie L. Smith, Brent D. Oja
      Pages 71-80
    6. Organizational Change

      • Christopher R. Barnhill, Natalie L. Smith, Brent D. Oja
      Pages 81-90
  4. Part III

    1. Front Matter

      Pages 91-91
    2. Personality and Fit

      • Christopher R. Barnhill, Natalie L. Smith, Brent D. Oja
      Pages 93-102
    3. Socialization and Perceptions of Individuals

      • Christopher R. Barnhill, Natalie L. Smith, Brent D. Oja
      Pages 103-114
    4. Attitudes and Emotions of Employees

      • Christopher R. Barnhill, Natalie L. Smith, Brent D. Oja
      Pages 115-125
    5. Motivations of Individuals

      • Christopher R. Barnhill, Natalie L. Smith, Brent D. Oja
      Pages 127-136
    6. Behaviors and Creativity

      • Christopher R. Barnhill, Natalie L. Smith, Brent D. Oja
      Pages 137-146
  5. Part IV

    1. Front Matter

      Pages 147-147
    2. Group and Team Development

      • Christopher R. Barnhill, Natalie L. Smith, Brent D. Oja
      Pages 149-164
    3. Creative and Innovative Teams

      • Christopher R. Barnhill, Natalie L. Smith, Brent D. Oja
      Pages 165-173

About this book

This textbook presents a comprehensive analysis of organizational behavior in sport organizations from a practitioner's perspective. It covers issues related to managing employees and work teams as well as organizational structure and culture in sport. 

The book has four sections: Organizational Behavior in the Sports Industry, Getting to Know Employees and Volunteers of Sport Organizations, Work Groups and Teams, and Understanding the Organization. Each chapter begins with a practitioner interview describing a challenge that was overcome by their organization. That example is used to highlight applicable theories and interventions used in the industry. Additional examples or theories are discussed to provide students a broad picture of managerial issues in the sports industry and provide alternative approaches to intervention illustrated in the practitioner interview. The case studies offer the opportunity to practice and apply the ideas to real-world scenarios in the sports industry. 

Students using this book will gain an understanding of how managers and leaders apply theory to communicate with and engage employees to foster desired organizational cultures while being challenged to address common issues using cases and hypothetical situations.

Authors and Affiliations

  • Georgia Southern University, Statesboro, USA

    Christopher R. Barnhill

  • East Tennessee State University, Johnson City, USA

    Natalie L. Smith

  • University of Northern Colorado, Greeley, USA

    Brent D. Oja

About the authors

Christopher R. Barnhill is Associate Professor of Sport Management and Program Coordinator at Georgia Southern University, USA. His research focuses on psychological contracts in sport organizations.

Natalie L. Smith is Assistant Professor of Sport Management and coordinator of the Esports Management certificate  at East Tennessee State University, USA. Her primary area of expertise is fostering innovation and creativity in sport organizations.


Brent D. Oja is Assistant Professor of Sport Administration at the University of Northern Colorado, USA. His research focuses on the experiences of employees and contributing to their personal development.

Bibliographic Information

  • Book Title: Organizational Behavior in Sport Management

  • Book Subtitle: An Applied Approach to Understanding People and Groups

  • Authors: Christopher R. Barnhill, Natalie L. Smith, Brent D. Oja

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-67612-4

  • Publisher: Palgrave Macmillan Cham

  • eBook Packages: Business and Management, Business and Management (R0)

  • Copyright Information: The Editor(s) (if applicable) and The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2021

  • Softcover ISBN: 978-3-030-67611-7Published: 10 April 2021

  • eBook ISBN: 978-3-030-67612-4Published: 09 April 2021

  • Edition Number: 1

  • Number of Pages: XVII, 225

  • Number of Illustrations: 10 b/w illustrations

  • Topics: Organization, Management, Human Resource Management

Buy it now

Buying options

eBook USD 69.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book USD 89.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Other ways to access