Identifying the Current State and Improvement Opportunities in the Information Flows Necessary to Manage Professional Athletes: A Case Study in Rugby Union

Abstract

In sporting environments, the knowledge necessary to manage athletes is built on information flows associated with player management processes. In current literature, there are limited case studies available to illustrate how such information flows are optimized. Hence, as the first step of an optimization project, this study aimed to evaluate the current state and the improvement opportunities in the player management information flow executed within the High-Performance Unit (HPU) at a professional rugby union club in England. Guided by a Business Process Management framework, elicitation of the current process architecture illustrated the existence of 18 process units and two core process value chains relating to player management. From the identified processes, the HPU management team prioritized 7 processes for optimization. In-depth details on the current state (As-Is) of the selected processes were extracted from semi-structured, interview-based process discovery and were modeled using Business Process Model and Notation (BPMN) and Decision Model and Notation (DMN) standards. Results were presented for current issues in the information flow of the daily training load management process, identified through a thematic analysis conducted on the data obtained mainly from focus group discussions with the main stakeholders (physiotherapists, strength and conditioning coaches, and HPU management team) of the process. Specifically, the current state player management information flow in the HPU had issues relating to knowledge creation and process flexibility. Therefore, the results illustrate that requirements for information flow optimization within the considered environment exist in the transition from data to knowledge during the execution of player management decision-making processes.

A survey of organizational structure and operational practices of elite youth football academies and national federations from around the world: A performance and medical perspective

“…As organizations strive to enhance their competitive advantage in today's knowledge-based economy, knowledge management has become an increasingly important strategic asset for organizational success ( 4 , 24 – 26 ). Knowledge transfer is a key component of knowledge management and is concerned with promoting and facilitating knowledge sharing, collaboration, and networking for better decision-making ( 4 , 6 , 26 , 27 ). Our study examined four components of knowledge transfer within the context of academy medical and performance setting.…”

“…Since no apparent differences in organizational structures and systems were currently identified between club and federations, further work may be relevant to elucidate the reasons for such differences. Additionally, organizational culture, leadership and technology represent important elements of knowledge strategies for successful knowledge management implementation ( 6 , 28 , 29 ). It is, therefore, likely that several factors beyond the reach of the current study contribute to the reported limitations in knowledge transfer currently observed.…”

“…Research in football generally seeks to provide evidence regarding the value and application of business solutions addressing technical, tactical, physical, and psychological components of football performance, thereby supporting practitioners to make evidence-based decisions on the practices they may employ within an applied setting ( 8 ). Conversely, with concrete characterizations provided by research from other sports in mind ( 6 , 11 ), there is limited information regarding the organizational structures and operational practices adopted by medical and performance departments as they strive to maximize their service provision support to players ( 2 , 8 ). It seems logical to assume diversity in the strategies applied in practice within modern football organizations across the world, and probably due in part to differences in financial resources as well as cultural influences across different countries ( 2 ).…”

Protect the Player, Protect the Game: Reflections from Ex-Professional Rugby Union Players on Law Changes, Protective Equipment, and Duty of Care in the Professional Game

“…Professional rugby clubs are unique due to the attritional nature of the sport. Simply expressed, this means that club owners and club administrators are required to properly manage the interests of their players first [ 37 ]. Previous research into this area has suggested that players view themselves as “commodities” and that injury was viewed as an “occupational hazard” within rugby union [ 38 ].…”

Using consensus methods to standardise judgement-based guidelines required for player management decision-making processes: A case study in professional rugby union

“…3 Research illustrates that such decision-making processes involve the interactions between multiple stakeholders. [4][5][6] In such contexts, under the absence of adequate standards or research-based guidelines, practitioners engaged in a collective decision-making process may create evidence from information sources based primarily on their own personal biases rather than aligning with holistic organisational objectives. 7 This in turn has the potential to create noise in decision-making relating to player management.…”