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Abstract
The purpose of this dissertation was to explore innovation in mega-sport event organizing committees. Using an embedded multiple-case study design, the 2024 Paris Organizing Committee for the Olympic Games (POCOG), the 2028 Los Angeles Organizing Committee for the Olympic Games (LAOCOG), and the 2026 Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) World Cup host organizing committee (United 26) were analyzed. More specifically, this project advanced three primary research questions: (1) In what ways are mega-sport event organizing committees being innovative? (2) Why are mega-sport event organizing committees innovating? and (3) How do mega-sport event organizing committees undergo the innovation process? Three interconnected studies, each focused on a specific research question, formed the basis of this dissertation.
The first study employed the 3D-model of innovation as a framework to identify the multidimensional types of innovative practices pursued by POCOG, LAOCOG, and United 26. Six multidimensional types of innovations were identified: fan experience technical products, commercial technical products, environmental administrative processes, environmental technical products, social administrative process, and organizational administrative processes. This studyalso highlighted similarities and differences between innovations pursued by contemporary (i.e., Olympic Games) and a more traditional mega-sport events (i.e., FIFA World Cup). Focusing on POCOG and LAOCOG, the second study utilized organizational innovation as a theoretical framework. In doing so, results revealed OCOGs experience various environmental, organizational, and individual drivers toward innovation in addition to barriers (e.g., managing intangible resources and resistance to radical innovation) that hinder implementation of new practices. Using the innovation process as a framework, the third study of this dissertation explored the innovation process undergone by POCOG, LAOCOG, and United 26. Data analysis suggested the innovation process for mega-sport event organizing committees includes four main phases: initiation, adoption decision, implementation, and transfer.
Cumulatively, this dissertation extended our understanding and knowledge of sport event management, and more specifically the phenomenon that is sport event innovation. As a result, numerous theoretical and practical implications about innovation in mega-sport event organizing committees are proposed. Moreover, this dissertation also illuminated the abundance of opportunities for meaningful future research pertaining to innovation in mega-sport event organizations.
The first study employed the 3D-model of innovation as a framework to identify the multidimensional types of innovative practices pursued by POCOG, LAOCOG, and United 26. Six multidimensional types of innovations were identified: fan experience technical products, commercial technical products, environmental administrative processes, environmental technical products, social administrative process, and organizational administrative processes. This studyalso highlighted similarities and differences between innovations pursued by contemporary (i.e., Olympic Games) and a more traditional mega-sport events (i.e., FIFA World Cup). Focusing on POCOG and LAOCOG, the second study utilized organizational innovation as a theoretical framework. In doing so, results revealed OCOGs experience various environmental, organizational, and individual drivers toward innovation in addition to barriers (e.g., managing intangible resources and resistance to radical innovation) that hinder implementation of new practices. Using the innovation process as a framework, the third study of this dissertation explored the innovation process undergone by POCOG, LAOCOG, and United 26. Data analysis suggested the innovation process for mega-sport event organizing committees includes four main phases: initiation, adoption decision, implementation, and transfer.
Cumulatively, this dissertation extended our understanding and knowledge of sport event management, and more specifically the phenomenon that is sport event innovation. As a result, numerous theoretical and practical implications about innovation in mega-sport event organizing committees are proposed. Moreover, this dissertation also illuminated the abundance of opportunities for meaningful future research pertaining to innovation in mega-sport event organizations.