21918 Sport Business
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particular session, location and mode of offering is the authoritative source
of all information about the subject for that offering. Required texts, recommended texts and references in particular are likely to change. Students will be provided with a subject outline once they enrol in the subject.
Subject handbook information prior to 2025 is available in the Archives.
Credit points: 6 cp
Subject level:
Postgraduate
Result type: Grade and marksThere are course requisites for this subject. See access conditions.
Anti-requisite(s): 21923 Sport Business AND 27715 Sport Business AND 277150 Australian Sport Environment
Description
This subject aims to provide students with critical understanding of the theories, knowledge and skills necessary for managers in commercialised sport to operate effectively in increasingly complex sociocultural environments and competitive business markets. It draws on the expertise of leading practitioners across the fields of business development, finance and strategy, and involves the hands-on use of the skills and knowledge gained in the field, the boardroom and classroom. Key areas of the business of sport are investigated including the role of agents, sport broadcasters, risk and reputation management, and marketing. Working in groups and as individuals, students focus on problem-solving as a means of reflection and practice.
Subject learning objectives (SLOs)
| 1. | identify key processes associated with 21st century sport management and the business of sport, including changing commercial and socio-cultural environments within which the sport industry and associated media operate |
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| 2. | discuss the principles associated with the management of sport in commercial settings, including equalisation strategies, salary caps and draft systems, as well as the arrangements underpinning broadcast media deals |
| 3. | integrate leading edge sport management theory towards practical operational responsibilities, such as player welfare and occupational health and safety, as well as media coverage about he conduct and well being of professional athletes |
| 4. | demonstrate an understanding of the managerial and commercial dynamics of sport as a business, the application of best practice models, and an awareness of key financial and operational challenges for professional sport |
Contribution to the development of graduate attributes
This subject is aligned with the graduate attributes of communication and collaboration, along with professional and technical competence. Students develop the textual, narrative, and oral skills needed to communicate effectively in professional practice. Concurrently, they acquire technical competencies through the capability to evaluate and critique the global sport industry, including revenue creation, distribution, and ownership, along with functions of the athlete workplace, including issues of equity and diversity. These skill sets allow for productive, equitable, and ethical managerial practices in the sport industry.
This subject also contributes specifically to the development of the following Program Learning Objectives for the Master of Sport Management:
- Communicate information clearly and fluently to a diverse range of stakeholders (2.1)
- Integrate advanced knowledge of complex sport management concepts, including Indigenous perspectives, and technical skills to lead professional practice in sport management (4.1)
Teaching and learning strategies
Overall Approach
The subject is structured around a set of problem-based learning experiences. Every week, students explore different dimensions and functions of the business of sport through exposure to a significant theme or issue that impacts on its practice. This is achieved by weekly online learning activities using digital materials – text, video, or audio. That involves: (1) pre-recorded lectures, which can be viewed in Canvas at a time convenient to the student, and (2) a face-to-face weekly tutorial. In these ways, students gain an appreciation of how and why different sport business practices exist, various opportunities and challenges for the sport industry, as well as measures to address complex problems and seek positive change.
Within Class
The subject features a weekly combination of lecture and tutorial. The pre-recorded lecture includes an online facility for students to pose questions of the teacher – either on the day the video is released or thereafter. This enables active learning dimensions in the wake of the lecture.
Students are also encouraged to raise broader questions via online exchange. This is intended to facilitate discussion about emergent issues in the ever-changing world of sport and business.
Tutorials are particularly important. They are designed with an expectation of students having completed pre-class exercises. This features multimodal sources (i.e. web clips, academic readings, news items, podcasts). The emphasis here is active learning: students apply their emergent knowledge by way of a simulation exercise during tutorials.
That process involves individuals working in group situations (four teams in each tutorial) reflecting on set problems and explaining their findings. This is overseen by the teacher, who mentors the students in respect of group dynamics, individual contributions, professional conduct, and respectful engagement.
These protocols enable formative feedback to begin with the first tutorial: students’ verbal contributions to small group discussion – which are a reflection of their grasp of key concepts and issues – are peer critiqued, as well as overseen by the teacher. In cases where students could benefit from special assistance, the tutor will be in a position to identify such a need early on.
In the first four weeks of class, time is devoted to ensuring that students understand assessment tasks. To this end, students bring to tutorials their questions about how to approach assignments, with solutions arrived at in collaboration with peers and teacher.
Prior to class
This subject has weekly tasks that equip students with evidence-based understandings of the business of sport. The prescribed readings, podcasts and videos have been selected to generate discussion in tutorials. Students discuss these resources in (one of four) teams each week.
IMPORTANT NOTE: Students who turn up to class without having undertaken the appropriate preparation for in-class discussions will be made accountable to their peers. There is a professional obligation upon students to commit to the work required and to contribute to discussion with their team.
The pre-class activities will be featured within Canvas, with each of the four tutorial teams having their very own task each week. To complement that process, each of the designated teams has their own online discussion spaces, this helping to build rapport among students while adding to the quality of conversations in class. Because students are part of a small team, as well as having opportunities to interact with the rest of the class, the quality of the student experience is optimised.
Management Department Compulsory Attendance Policy
This subject enforces a compulsory attendance requirement. This includes active online attendance where face to face classes are suspended. Students who miss more than three tutorials without approved consent from the Subject Coordinator will be deemed as not meeting the compulsory attendance requirement for this subject. The Management Department attendance policy is in accordance with university policy on attendance and/or participation requirements as per UTS Student Rule Section 3.8
Additional information
Full attendance at classes is expected. if students are unable to attend, they must send their apologies by email to the academic in advance of the class. If students wish to claim a medical absence, an appropriate doctor’s certificate is required. Should students be absent, they are expected to catch up on the learning materials and peer-group activities that they have missed.
Content (topics)
- Distinctive economic features of commercial sport
- Ownership and financial models in professional sport
- Labour market regulations in professional team sport
- Player unions, associations and agents
- Media and broadcasting in professional sport
- Digital communication strategies and consumers
- Occupational health and safety in sport
- Sport governance and risk management
Assessment
Assessment task 1: Problem Analysis (Individual)
| Objective(s): | This addresses subject learning objective(s): 1 and 2 |
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| Weight: | 30% |
Assessment task 2: Oral Debate (Group)
| Objective(s): | This addresses subject learning objective(s): 3 and 4 |
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| Weight: | 30% |
| Length: | Video is five minutes, followed by audience questions.? Report is 500 words, plus a list of references. |
Assessment task 3: Final Exam (Individual)
| Objective(s): | This addresses subject learning objective(s): 4 |
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| Weight: | 40% |
Minimum requirements
Students must achieve at least 50% of the subject’s total marks.
Required texts
All required texts are available as downloadable pdf readings via Canvas each week.
Other resources
An extensive list of library sources, web materials and recommended databases is provided in Canvas.