Case Analysis (The Resource-Based View in Sports)

Strategy and sports met in the movie Moneyball. The Oakland Athletics applied statistical analysis to the evaluation of players and surged in performance. The team’s analysis method, called sabermetrics, was unique in how it applied objective data to predict future player performance. The Athletics were able to recruit players at a lower cost due to their proprietary knowledge. Even after competitors started using statistical analysis, the Athletics benefited from their early knowledge, capable staff, and history of decision-making. All of this, of course, translated into profit for the team owners.

 

Competitive advantage comes from unlikely places in other sports as well. Researchers found that NCAA football programs benefit from staff diversity. Racial diversity among coaches and varied past experiences predict success. NBA basketball teams are more successful as they gain shared experiences. After years together on a team, just like after years together in a workplace, players/coworkers have a shared understanding of how work is done.

 

Financial resources are of huge benefit to the few universities with successful sports programs. Paying top coaches, building impressive athletic facilities, and fan support, all contribute to intangible gains such as reputation, stronger shared feelings of winning history, and motivation.

 

But what happens with a team suddenly loses its competitive advantage? In 1986, Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas, dealt with what is called the “death penalty” in college sports. After years of paying players and their families, among other serious violations of NCAA rules, the team was punished by canceling its entire 1987 season. This damaged recruiting efforts, fundraising, reputation, and shared experiences among staff and coaches to that point. It was 20 years before SMU was in another bowl game.

 

2.3 Test your knowledge:(Question)

Read the case about the resource-based view in sports and write the conclusion of this case in your words. Create a discussion board thread and upload your answers. (Min words recommended 100-150)

LIFE SATISFACTION

 

Of course, job satisfaction is important for other reasons as well—reasons that have little to do with job performance or organizational commitment. For example, job satisfaction is strongly related to life satisfaction, or the degree to which employees feel a sense of happiness with their lives. Research shows that job satisfaction is one of the strongest predictors of life satisfaction. Put simply, people feel better about their lives when they feel better about their jobs. This link makes sense when you realize how much of our identity is wrapped up in our jobs. What’s the first question that people ask one another after being introduced? That’s right—“What do you do?” If you feel bad about your answer to that question, it’s hard to feel good about your life. The connection between job satisfaction and life satisfaction also makes sense given how much of our lives are spent at work. Presents the results of one study that examines time spent on daily activities, along with reported levels of positive and negative feelings during the course of those activities. The participants in the study spent most of their day at work. Unfortunately, that time resulted in the highest levels of negative feelings and the second-lowest levels of positive feelings (behind only commuting). Home and leisure activities (e.g., socializing, relaxing, exercising, intimate relations) were deemed much more satisfying but took up a much smaller portion of the day. The implication is clear: If we want to feel better about our days, we need to find a way to be more satisfied with our jobs.

Indeed, increases in job satisfaction have a stronger impact on life satisfaction than do increases in salary or income. It turns out that the adage “money can’t buy happiness” is partially true.

 

3.3 Test your knowledge:(Questions)

Reading

 

3.4 Instructions

 

Read this paragraph carefully and try to understand, how does job satisfaction is strongly related to our life satisfaction, write your (Comment) view few lines in your words.