How to develop holistic satisfaction in Finnish ice hockey business as a special SME business?

Abstract

The businesses of professional ice hockey clubs in Finland have recently encountered some criticism. Clubs and other ice hockey organisations as well are blamed for being just messing around things instead of concentrating on systematic business management. This research approached that subject by examining the concept of holistic satisfaction of the Finnish ice hockey business environment. The concerned representatives were asked to determine their own view of importance of the examined factors affecting the performance of professional ice hockey clubs. On the basis of these interviews, a new holistically satisfactory business model for professional ice hockey clubs was established. In this model, the importance of management was clearly emphasised. Although the study focused on ice hockey business, the results can be exploited in some types of traditional SME's as well. As earlier studies of SME business development have creditably approached the topic from traditional point of view with quite a direct link to traditional business administration (Li and Qian, 2003; Lin, Tseng and Wu, 2003; McDevitt, 2003), our creative approach adds a convenient breath of fresh air to the SME business research.