MA Sport Management and Leadership E-Publication
- 1. MA Sport Management & Leadership, Cardiff School of Sport Management Leadership Sport Individual Organisation Cardiff School of Sport Ysgol Chwaraeon Caerdydd
- 2. Drawing on management and leadership perspectives, the programme critically examines the sport and leisure industry, its environment and current challenges. There is a clear focus on applied and experiential learning. This is achieved by drawing extensively on sports organisations operating across all sectors of the industry and on using external speakers – experts in the field who bring real life issues and challenges into the classroom. A quality experience is provided with teaching undertaken in small groups and an emphasis on interaction and group work. Assessment varies from essays to presentations and the preparation of plans with an expectation that students critically evaluate and reflect on specific issues. The programme was launched in September 2009 and was only available part-time with the first students graduating in 2013. In 2012 the programme became available to study on a part-time and full-time basis and graduates in 2014 reflect this change. Each graduate from 2013 and 2014 was invited to submit a short biographical entry offering their thoughts on postgraduate study, working life and managing their careers. I hope you agree that based on the students who did offer their thoughts, there is an interesting mix of backgrounds and experiences that offers some rich insights into the motivations of undertaking postgraduate study at the Cardiff School of Spot, Cardiff Metropolitan University. If you would like to know more about the programme, please do not hesitate to contact me. Contact details can be found at the end. With best wishes, Nicola Bolton Programme Director July 2014 Welcome to this introduction to the MA in Sport Management and Leadership. It is an exciting, contemporary programme targeting professionals and practitioners working in the sport and leisure industry who are seeking new opportunities. The programme is equally attractive to recent graduates seeking to develop their knowledge of the industry at the same time as addressing their employment potential. We also have interest from international students who wish to study at Wales’ premier University for sport.
- 3. Larissa Muldoon Cardiff School of Sport Student
- 4. Claire Bryant After graduating from Swansea University with a 2:1 BSc (Hons) Sport Science in 2004, I worked in a local authority sports development department as a Dragon Sport Assistant for 2 years. I then moved to Sport Wales to cover a secondment, before returning to local authority in a junior management role. This is where I began the Masters programme, and part-way through the second year I moved to my current employment within a National Governing Body, working on two distinct projects. Through my studies and current employment I have developed an interest in project management, change management and physical education. I undertook the course as it was a fantastic opportunity to further my knowledge and challenge my understanding. The entire programme was focussed around my work. I was able to make connections between theory and practice, experiencing some success in creating change in the way I worked and improving on my self-reflection and evaluation skills. The experience has helped me understand how I like to work and identify my key strengths. It has also nurtured my inquisitive mind to understand more about the work I do. I now ask ‘why questions’ in a more structured way! This has led me to be more innovative and creative, realising my abilities to conceptualise and implement change. My final project was a critical reflection on my personal learning as I project managed the implementation of a modified game for young people. It involved me undertaking a reflective log throughout the process. The reflection supported me to evaluate critically the progress I was making while undertaking the project. The log also supported me to monitor my thought processes and develop clear understanding of management and leadership issues. Jo Coombs My background started in education having graduated as a secondary school PE teacher. Following 8 years of teaching I worked in a local authority sports development department, firstly as a Dragon Sport Co-ordinator and then as a PE & School Sport Co-ordinator. I then moved to work in a National Governing Body in a managerial role. My current role within the same NGB is managing the performance team that develops elite athletes to achieve our goal of ‘more medals’. Alongside this I volunteer on a regular basis to coach, judge and be a committee member which culminated last year in working as a technical official during the 2012 Olympics. The main reason for undertaking the programme was to support my professional role. The course provided the opportunity to further my knowledge and understanding of being a manager having had no formal academic training within this area - to date my experience within this field had been ‘on the job’. Whilst the commitment of the course was daunting and the timing not great, due to my responsibilities prior to and during the Olympics, it certainly provided the connection between theory and practice. It confirmed to me that a lot of practices that I currently undertake as a manager are supported by theory and my discussions among like- minded professionals were stimulating. Particularly useful was the opportunity to reflect and discuss issues and ideas together within a peer group setting which in turn, gave confidence in the work place. My final project was a significant piece of work relating to my professional role. It was important to ensure it was intrinsically linked to my position within the organisation as well as being worthwhile in enabling further personal improvement and reflection on my practices. In particular, I wanted there to be a useful outcome for my employer, in evaluating and improving the team’s effectiveness. Using a case study approach it focused on four main objectives: (1) understand what makes organisations effective and considered to be high performing; (2) evaluate the team’s current level of performance; (3) identify what and how team performance will be monitored and evaluated; and (4) create and deliver an improvement strategy.
- 5. Robin Strang, CEO, West Lothian Leisure said: “Fraser was appointed to the Board of Trustees of West Lothian Leisure in June 2011 as one of three employee representatives on the Board. Every three years we carry out a ballot of all employees to appoint three representatives to the Board. Over the past two years Fraser has grown in confidence and influence and is now comfortable talking at a strategic level with other Trustees so much so that he was appointed by his peers as the Health and Safety champion on the Board. He is a member of the Audit Sub Committee (a standing sub committee of the Board which scrutinises the financial performance on the company) and was appointed to the sub committee of the Board which recruits new Trustees and contributed well in a recent selection process. He is a committed member of the Board and works constructively with the other Trustees for the good of the company.” Fraser Calderwood I work in operations as a swimming pool duty manager for West Lothian Leisure in Scotland and during the course I became a Trustee on the Board of Non Executive Directors. I saw the MA in Sport Management and Leadership as an opportunity to continue my personal and career development. During the course we covered areas such as principles of management and leadership, entrepreneurship, organisational strategy and improving business performance. These have benefited me at both operational and strategic levels. Reflecting on my personal practice has been a key aspect. As part of the development process I have improved my decision-making, communication, organisation and prioritisation skills which has enhanced the quality and quantity of the work that I do. I have aimed to be more innovative, regularly sharing business improvement ideas at various levels of the organisation. This has included technical improvements, HR developments, marketing, business planning and people management. I feel that I understand my business and have a greater insight into how I can positively influence the development of my organisation. My final project considered the communication barriers to developing employee engagement within West Lothian Leisure. The research data were collected from the West Lothian Leisure 2012 employee survey with the support of the organisation. The research results revealed that managers need to be open, honest, fair and transparent to develop higher levels of engagement. The very satisfying element of the research was being able to gain a greater understanding of my organisation and be able to compare the data with other reliable sources, such as the Chartered Institute of Personnel Development. Overall I have gained much experience, knowledge and skills which will guide me through my career in sports management and leadership.
- 6. Helen Hughes My background is in primary teaching and I am very passionate about children having opportunities to take part in sport and physical activity. Following on from my teaching role I held the position of Dragon Sport Coordinator in two different local authorities before joining Sport Wales HQ in Sophia Gardens, Cardiff. My initial role in Sport Wales was to lead a 3-year project for the Foundation Phase which enabled me to exercise my skills in education within the sport sector. My current role in Sport Wales is a mixed portfolio. I project manage key pieces of work within the Skills for Life in Sport priority area. I also have a regional liaison role with the Welsh Rugby Union and am currently involved in facilitating a Partner Self-Assessment programme. I chose to undertake the MA course seeing it as an opportunity to challenge myself academically in the sport sector. I was also involved in the Women in Leadership Programme and felt this opportunity would enhance my professional development. I have learnt a lot from my peer group in terms of gaining wider knowledge and appreciation of our partners within the sector. I have also gained invaluable experience of the principles of leadership and management in their widest sense. The course helped me to identify my strengths and areas for improvement in terms of leadership. The theory gained throughout the course was then put into action when back in the workplace. I am also passionate about health and nutrition and since completing my degree I have put some entrepreneurial skills into action by supporting my husband in setting up a community nutrition business. My selected final project enabled me to conduct a study based on engaging parents / carers around an interactive website focusing on play in educational contexts. I felt this was highly relevant and would inform my day-to-day work. The research approach adopted for the study involved a qualitative method with a small cohort of parents from a school in the South Wales valleys. There were challenges as there was low-level engagement but this provided evidence that parents/carers are a diverse group who seek flexibility in how they engage in activity with their children. My time management skills were tested due to carrying out the study during my pregnancy and thankfully, I managed to complete it just a week before I gave birth. Since receiving a merit award I have used the research to write a paper which has been accepted for publication. Sue Maughan Since completing my initial degree in 1990, I spent 16 years working in local authorities including nine in event management and PR, and seven working in sports development both as an officer and a manager. During this time I completed a Post Graduate Diploma which re-ignited my passion for learning and development. For the last 7 years I have worked as a Senior Officer for Sport Wales, initially working at national level with Welsh national governing bodies of sport and at UK level representing home country interests. More recently I have engaged with local authorities to shape their sporting vision as well as leading on a piece of work around leadership development in the sports sector in Wales. Running alongside this my passion is athletics and I have volunteered as an official for the past 20 years. This culminated in being a National Technical Official for athletics at the London 2012 Olympic & Paralympic Games. Both in a professional and voluntary capacity I am always seeking new opportunities to learn and develop and this led to undertaking the MA in Sport Management and Leadership, alongside my involvement in Sport Wales’ Women in Leadership Programme. Completing the MA has really helped shape my thinking and contributed to my confidence. I am able to reflect much more on my knowledge and experience of leadership. This has ultimately led me to challenge and question more effectively the norms of working. It has also opened up new thinking both from within and in terms of my relations with colleagues and partners. I have received much positive feedback from colleagues - they can see how it has improved my thinking, challenge and confidence. While undertaking the programme, Sport Wales underwent significant change and this became the focus of several projects and assessment tasks. The final project provided the opportunity to investigate key elements of the change, particularly in relation to leadership. The study sought to identify the role of leadership in facilitating organisational learning and change. Particular focus was given to the role of emotional intelligence with the project taking the form of an observational study of four senior managers and follow-up interviews. It considered the key aspects of emotional intelligence including – emotional self-awareness; empathy; accurate self assessment; organisational awareness; inspiration and the conceptual and technical aspects of leadership. The project concluded with recommendations to support any future change within the organisation.
- 7. Sophie Moore I started in the sports development industry at the age of 21 as an Athletic Development Office for Bridgend CBC. My boss at the time told me he had taken a chance when he employed me - as I was the youngest candidate and he thought I could be moulded! Looking back I feel very lucky to have been given that opportunity. Twelve years on and I am an Active Young People Coordinator with Bridgend CBC . My job encompasses a wide range of responsibilities from day to day management of Active Young People officers to capital project development. I put my name forward to study the MA in Sport Management and Leadership to further my professional development. I can not emphasise enough the positive experience and knowledge which I have gained through undertaking the programme and particularly from my peer group over the last three years. The course has enabled me to identify my strengths and weaknesses in terms of leadership and focus on areas for improvement. Reflection is an area that has helped me on my return from maternity leave - not only within my working environment but my personal life also. My final project based on organisational strategy and critical reflection was linked to an area which I was reviewing within my portfolio of responsibility. To a certain extent this enabled me to work on my project alongside undertaking my current job role. This took away the pressure of assembling significant additional research on top of what was a busy time in my life. The process of reflection supported me to evaluate critically the process I had undertaken and included feedback from my manager as well as other colleagues whom I manage. Support from family members, my line manager, and work colleagues were critical to the completion of my final project. Their continued encouragement and guidance ensured that I completed the course. Faisal Nasser Al Karbi My name is Faisal Nasser AL Karbi and I am from the UAE (United Arab Emirates). I was born and raised in Abu Dhabi the capital of UAE. I completed my graduation in Management from South-West Texas State University, USA. Presently, I have worked for 20 years as HR Advisor and currently am employed in ADMA-OPCO, a reputed Oil and Gas Company under the prestigious ADNOC Group in Abu Dhabi. My job has provided me with extensive knowledge regarding the importance of Human Resource Management - its importance in business today, the role of technology in business and its impact on deadlines, reporting and customer service management. My experiences within Human Resource Management helped and encouraged me to continue my higher education. The first main reason to choose the MA Sport Management and Leadership is that it was a great opportunity to challenge myself academically in the sport sector. Ifelt this would enhance my leadership and professional development. The MA in Sport Management and Leadership is an excellent programme for professionals working in sport organisations who are seeking to develop and enhance their knowledge of sport management and leadership skills. The second main reason that this programme has great value is due to excellent teaching skills, depth of knowledge and courteous personalities. These have helped me tremendously through my journey at Cardiff Met (Cardiff School of Sport). With their helpfulness and directness I have achieved my goal and attained a MA in Sport Management and Leadership. I have learned so much from about sport management and leadership and I was encouraged to finish my degree. My final project was on developing sports management training in Abu Dhabi Sport Counsel (ADSC). The project was focusing on developing suitable HRM training programmes that would improve overall individual and organisational performance management. The background to this topic refers to providing a guideline of global best practices related to HRM performance management frameworks and processes that can be the foundation of the ADSC to ensure the highest level of productivity, efficiency and performance. Thank you all for the countless hours spent in coaching, improving capabilities and shaping us to become sport leaders.
- 8. Paul Jones After graduating from Bangor University with a 2:1 BA (Hons) degree in History in 1994, I worked for several years in a junior management role in a local authority Leisure Services department. Following two successful secondments, I became the strategy and business performance lead officer for Leisure within a unitary authority. I became immersed in the public sector change management programme and the modernising agenda which has gathered pace in recent years as a result of the economic downturn. The research and analytical skills I developed whilst reading History have been utilised well in my current post with the increased emphasis on the need for a sound evidence base to inform political decisions on future local government provision. I decided to embark on the MA in Sport Management and Leadership as the course modules represented a perfect fit with my working environment and presented the opportunity to enhance my reflective thinking as a manager and to further hone my evaluative skills. Once I began the course, I soon appreciated that there was great synergy between the academic theory of my studies and the practical reality in the workplace. Phrases such as ‘honouring the process’ (the role of the manager), ‘being yourself…with skill’ (my favourite definition of leadership) and ‘healthy disillusionment’ (the life of the public sector manager!) remain with me on a daily basis even though I completed the MA several months ago. My final project evaluated the challenges of securing political support for service re-structure during financial austerity. I conducted the interpretive study as a covert ‘insider’ to the group, recording events and the opinions of those involved in service re-design with anonymity to ensure authenticity. The critique sought to identify, whether change owed more to political reality and organisational expediency than to innovative and outward-looking leadership. Phil Judd I am a mature student who originally attended the forerunner of Cardiff Metropolitan University – Cardiff College of Education – in 1970. I have had a long and varied career which has been focused on sport but in many different aspects of it. I taught as a PE specialist in 3 different schools, spent time in outdoor education and was also a PE Officer in the RAF. In recent years I have been heavily involved in the development of sports facilities especially winter sports and tennis. All my life I have had a great love of rugby as a player, coach and administrator. In recent years I have become chairman of my home club and we have enjoyed a period of considerable success both on and off the field. When I saw the advertisement in the Western Mail for this course I was immediately taken by the idea that this could be what I have been looking for over quite a few years. I was very conscious of the need to try and keep pace with modern thinking and practices. When I first attended the Cyncoed campus in 1970 there wasn’t a single computer on site so in both my business and private life I have been obliged to take on new technologies and approaches so this MA course looked to be a natural fit both for my own personal satisfaction and also to enhance my professional capacity. My final dissertation was a case study of how my own rugby club was trying to come to terms with the enormous changes that have taken place in rugby over the last few years. It was a perfect opportunity to put into practice much of the new ideas and approaches that I learned on the course and the result was a very useful piece of work that has put many of the clubs problems and issues into a much clearer perspective. It has also given the club a much better understanding of where it is and how to proceed. In conclusion the course has been immensely satisfying, has exceeded my expectations and has provided me with many new useful tools.
- 9. Angela Parry-Lowther I have always felt that sport can contribute greatly to an individual both in a professional and personal capacity. During my career within senior management, including Head of Marketing for the BBC, I have drawn upon the skills used during my time as a Welsh track athlete. It was with this in mind that I enrolled on a two year part time MA in Sport Management and Leadership. The course covered the range of areas included within management with particular reference to sport and enabled us to draw upon our relevant experience as senior managers. An aspect of the course which was of particular interest was that of reflective practice and personal development. The work within reflection highlighted the skills successfully used in business which I felt were developed whilst competing in sport. It was with this in mind that the area selected for my dissertation was that of Emotional Intelligence; its use by elite athletes within sport and how this could be used and impact on their transition through University. The resources available through the University enabled me to retrieve worldwide research and to benefit from both the lecturers’ expertise as well as gaining access to elite athletes studying at the University. Gerwyn Owen I left school with a minimum number of qualifications that saw me go directly to work in the leisure industry at the age of 16yrs old. For 16 years I worked within Local Authority Leisure Centres in the Gwynedd area of North Wales. I rose from a lifeguard to be a Centre Manager of a Lottery funded Leisure Centre. I then moved to Sports Development, firstly as a Local Development Officer for Disability Sport Wales, before moving to a National role as their Swimming Development Officer. In 2007 I moved into my current role as their Academy Manager, which identifies talented disabled athletes to achieve our main target of representing GB at Paralympic & Deaflympic level. In 2012 at the London 2012 Paralympic Games, 18 Academy Athletes were selected for ParalympicsGB. The main reason for undertaking the programme was to support my professional role. The course provided the opportunity to further my knowledge and understanding of being a manager having had no formal academic training - to date my experience had been ‘on the job’. Whilst the commitment of the course was daunting and the timing not great, due to my responsibilities prior and during the Paralympic Games, it certainly provided the connection between theory and practice. It confirmed to me that a lot of practices that I currently undertake as a manager are supported by theory and my discussions among like-minded professionals were stimulating. Particularly useful was the opportunity to reflect and discuss issues and ideas together within a peer group setting, which in turn, gave confidence in the workplace. My final project was a significant piece of work relating to the organisation I work for. It enabled me to work on a relevant project with tangible outcomes for the organisation and the team itself. Adopting a case study approach on the re- branding exercise undertaken by Disability Sport Wales ahead of the London 2012 Paralympic Games, the study focused on three main objectives – 1) to understand how the brand can support the organisation 2) to identify the current profile and position of the organisation to stakeholders; and 3) to consider how can the brand of the organisation could be further enhanced.
- 10. Hannah Pretty Since becoming an athletics coach in my teenage years I have always had a passion for sport. Naturally this led to me to continue this passion into a profession, which started with studying Sport Development (BSC) at UWIC and graduating with a First Class Honours in 2012. Following this I decided to undertake the MA Sport Management and Leadership degree to further my knowledge in the sport development industry and particularly within managerial aspects of sport, and to increase my employability prospects. I am now working for a local authority as a sport development officer. The course provided me with a valuable insight into how sports organisations work from the intricate details of management to the individual strategies and business plans of organisations. The peer group setting helped with this. As I was an undergraduate that came straight onto the full time MA degree I was worried that I would feel as though I wasn't suitable for the course in comparison to many of my fellow learners who had copious amounts of experience 'in the field'. However, the synergy of our group allowed for a two way learning experience between myself and those in employment. I was able to help them with the more academic issues such as essay writing and research, whilst they provided me with insights into their 'real life' experiences. This really added texture to what was being delivered on the course. I believe the degree taught me a lot of applicable theories which, now I am in employment, I can put into my every day working environment. The modules were relevant and interesting. They challenged how I thought I would do things if I was in that situation. Although at times the workload seemed a lot to balance with two part time jobs and a social life, it was most definitely worth it as the degree has not only added to my knowledge and understanding but has provided me with a firm basis on which to build my career. My final dissertation looked at the development of school club links, focusing on two local clubs and their ability to provide participation opportunities that would engage 11-16 year olds in sport. This was a qualitative piece of work that was supported by several interviews with relevant individuals. It also reflected my role as a part time '5x60' officer and so it kept me interested and motivated throughout the research project. Overall, my experience on the MA Sport Management and Leadership was enjoyable and very educational. I would (and have!) recommend this course to colleagues wishing to further develop their understanding of sport and to enhance their professional development. Aled Thomas As a qualified PE Primary School Teacher with a background in Education, I worked for the Welsh Rugby Union as a Development Officer. Following this role I became an AYP Coordinator for a Local Authority, in which I had a shared responsibility of managing and leading on three Sport Wales initiatives: Dragon Sport, 5x60 and PE & School Sport. At this time I began studying for my Masters. During the last year of completing my final paper, I moved to Vancouver, Canada, where I have returned to teaching Physical Education. The decision to undertake the MA course was a wonderful opportunity to challenge myself academically and support my professional development goals. The topics within the course allowed me to explore my understanding of a number of themes that related to my position as an AYP Coordinator. Relating the theoretical work to everyday management and leadership issues was provided in the class room through discussions with peers, course tutors and guest speakers. In addition, the knowledge received allowed me to challenge and experiment with my thinking and practical skills inside and outside the work place. Externally from the work place I’m a passionate rugby coach. As a coach working with elite and social athletes, this allowed me to trial acquired knowledge and skills in a different way to an office environment. Managing and leading within a voluntary setting provided a platform to be innovative and adopt a more self-reflective approach on my coaching. My final paper enabled me to investigate a voluntary organisation located within the sporting community in Vancouver. The investigation provided me with an opportunity to utilise the knowledge gained whilst also researching further around the topics of management and leadership. A particular focus was given to leadership, especially the role of the person who was responsible with the day to day running of the organisation. A huge amount of gratitude goes to the volunteers within the organisation and to those from Cardiff Metropolitan University who provided the support and guidance for me to successfully complete my Masters.
- 11. Additional Information The programme can be studied on a full-time or part-time basis. The contact teaching time for each 20 credit module is four days and these are typically undertaken as 2 x 2 day blocks. There are some additional days allocated for induction and presentations. All students study five compulsory modules which embrace key management and leadership topics as well as research skills and developing a personal leadership plan. There is one optional module and students can decide whether to undertake this or produce an alternative independent piece of work. The Independent Study offers flexibility as students select a specific management / leadership area of interest to them. Completion of the MA requires students to undertake a sustained project – either a traditional dissertation or a Final Project. The ‘live’ Final Project is a further feature available to those with appropriate experience. MA in Sport Management and Leadership students are expected to have a first degree (usually a minimum of 2:1). This is not a requirement for students with the appropriate experience, but do not have a first degree, they are still eligible to apply. Immediate graduates applying for the programme should be comfortable with the delivery style of learning and teaching which emphasises interaction and workshop sessions. In addition, International students will be expected to have English to a standard of 6.5 IELTS. Both domestic and international students will be encouraged to be involved in working in a sports organisation (either paid or voluntary) in order to develop at first hand a close knowledge and understanding of management and leadership issues. Modules undertaken are: • Principles of management and leadership (SSP7060) • Leadership and entrepreneurship (SSP7061) • Organisational strategy (SSP7062) • Personal skill and leadership development (SSP7064) • Research skills for management and leadership (SSP7064) • Improving business performance (SSP7063) or Independent study (SSP7016) • Dissertation project (SSP7040) or Final project (SSP7066)
- 12. For further information about the MA Sport Management and Leadership please contact: Nicola Bolton, Cardiff School of Sport, Cardiff Metropolitan University, Cardiff, CF23 6XD Email: [email protected] Tel: 029-20-416484 The Programme Team is enormously grateful to external contributors to the programme and listed below are examples of individuals and organisations: Colleen Bevan – Parkwood Leisure Simon Bolton / Craig Fabian – The Brand Union, London Kevin Bowring – Rugby Football Union Alan Chambers, MBE – Polar Explorer Ian Derrick – Bank of England Bernadette Elias – Blaenau Gwent CBC Rachel Fowler – Managing Director, Strategic Leisure Rhian Gibson – CEO, Welsh Gymnastics Andy Green – Andy Green Creativity Paul Griffiths – Former Adviser to the First Minister Paul Harris – HR Consultant David Henwood – British Skeleton Helen Humphreys – Sport Wales Advisory Group Sarah Powell – CEO, Sport Wales Roger Lewis – CEO, Welsh Rugby Union Johanna Lloyd – Member, Sport Wales Laura McAllister – Chair, Sport Wales Matthew Maynard – Glamorgan Cricket Steve Martin – Professor of Regional and Local Government, Cardiff Business School Karen Morgan – Utility Warehouse Richard Palmer, OBE – Member, British Olympic Association Helen Phillips – Chair, Welsh Gymnastics Cardiff School of Sport Ysgol Chwaraeon Caerdydd