Managing pulsating major sporting event organizations.

Abstract

AbstractThis chapter highlights the relationship between flexibility and pulsating organizations and explores the human resource challenges associated with organizations that rapidly expand and contract to meet the operational needs of major sporting events. The chapter provides insights into the strategies that the event organizations behind three high-profile Australian major sports events have used to successfully deal with the influx and subsequent withdrawal of large numbers of paid staff and volunteers to ensure the smooth running of these events. Using the case study examples, the chapter discusses how the use of technology, the establishment of formal communication and training processes, and proactive measures towards culture building and career path development have been applied by these major sport event organizations to meet the challenges of personnel selection, induction and retention, and team management.