Theoretical foundations for service innovation research in sport management – insights from nonprofit sport organisations
本研究结合服务创新理论框架，通过对澳大利亚高尔夫俱乐部经理的20次半结构化访谈，分析了非营利体育组织如何开展服务创新，发现其以产出和过程导向为主，并提出了管理建议。
Research question Research on service innovation in sport is not theoretically aligned with service innovation theory. To address this, we conduct an empirical study utilising major service innovation theoretical approaches. We address the question: How do nonprofit sport organisations engage in service innovation?Research methods We combine existing service innovation frameworks to guide service innovation research in the nonprofit sport context. We apply it in a qualitative study, collecting data via 20 semi-structured interviews with Australian golf club managers. Data analysis relied on an inductive–deductive strategy.Results and findings We found evidence for practices following service innovation archetypes, with a propensity for the output-based and process-based archetypes, and less evidence for the systemic and experiential service innovation archetypes. Service innovation practices centred on provision and representational practices and were less dependent on management and organisational practices.Implications First, we demonstrate the complementary nature of the dominant and diverging theoretical approaches to service innovation. Second, we propose and provide empirical support for a combined conceptual framework for analysing service innovation. Finally, our research provides concrete managerial recommendations for stimulating service innovation within organisations and beyond.