Agency, Structure and Causality in Sport Management

Vocabulary flashcards covering core concepts of agency, structure, causal theories, and management examples.

Agency

An ability to make choices, take action, and be an active agent in one's life, leaning towards free will where total agency assumes 'the world is your oyster'.

Structure

Surrounding factors that limit and shape an individual's ability to act, based on being born into an already constituted society with imposed limits.

Manager Believing in Agency

A managerial perspective holding that the manager is almighty and can succeed through sufficient effort, taking full credit for success and accepting blame for failure based on direct cause and effect.

Manager Believing in Structure

A managerial perspective holding that a manager is shaped, enabled, constrained, and influenced by limited resources, institutional constraints, and context.

Accidental Cause

In Stone's (1989) causal theories, a cause resulting from unguided action and unintended consequences, such as natural weather events or earthquakes.

Intentional Cause

In Stone's (1989) causal theories, a cause resulting from purposeful action and intended consequences, such as assault, oppression, effective programs, or cheating.

Inadvertent Cause

In Stone's (1989) causal theories, a cause resulting from purposeful action leading to unintended consequences, such as unforeseen side effects, neglect, or harmful results of good intentions.

Mechanical Cause

In Stone's (1989) causal theories, a cause resulting from unguided action that produces intended consequences, such as intervening agents, social routines, or policies implemented by subordinates.

Types of Causal Theories Matrix

A framework introduced by Stone (1989) categorizing causes into mechanical, accidental, intentional, and inadvertent based on whether actions are unguided or purposeful and consequences are intended or unintended.

Establishing Cause in Management

The practice of identifying causality to assign or avoid blame and responsibility, challenge or protect existing management methods, and grant authority to designated fixers.

2018 Super Bowl LII Commercial Cost

The cost of a 30-second commercial during the 2018 Super Bowl LII broadcast, which was greater than $\text{US}\$5.23\,\text{million}$.

Top-Earning Athletes Income (2019–2020)

The combined income of the 100 top-earning athletes over the 12-month period between June 2019 and June 2020, totaling $\text{US}\$3.6\,\text{billion}$.

2026 World Cup Expansion

An expansion led by Gianni Infantino increasing the tournament to $48$ teams and $104$ matches hosted across the United States, Mexico, and Canada.