Diversity management in South African sport federations

Abstract

South Africa's political transformation since 1994 compelled sport federations to develop and implement new strategies and structures to actively recognise, appreciate and manage the increasingly multicultural nature of post-apartheid sport. Diversity management consists of three integrated dimensions: affirmative action initiatives, economic empowerment and the existence of a supportive management philosophy to support diversity management. Although South African sport federations are required to meet minimum standards of diversity management, it appears as if they are unaware of the multi-faceted scope of diversity management and concentrate on the single dimension of affirmative action. This study investigates the perceptions of South African sport federations on diversity management by means of a 27 statement questionnaire on the key performance indicators of diversity management evaluated on a 5-point Likert scale. Results are analysed in terms of mean scores ( x ) and frequencies (%) recorded for statements in the questionnaire. Overall results categorise South African sport federations in the neutral diversity management zone on the Diversity Management continuum of Bill (2002). The study concludes by proposing that in order to progress on the diversity management continuum South African sport federations should adopt and implement the strategies of organisational change to reflect the diversity of the South African population, institutionalise clear policy on diversity management, running appropriate, participative and inclusive management training programmes, as well as setting, actively pursuing and continuously monitoring diversity benchmarks.