Management Guideline for Public Sports and Recreation in an Urban Setting: Case of Bangkok, Thailand

Abstract

The purpose of this research is to develop the sports management model of organization in an urban setting. This study is an investigation of the decreasing interest and participation in sports and recreation in Bangkok, Thailand. The investigation included an assessment on the capacity of sports resources and sports management to meet the organization’s goals. Mixed methods of quantitative and qualitative data collection was used to accumulate data from different sample groups. 948 service users were surveyed regarding their behaviors and service needs, and 45 sport staffs were assessed on their perception of the current sports management. Additionally in-depth interviewing of nine managers involved examining sports resources capacity and management guidelines of governmental sports and recreation organizations. The results of the model showed the components of public sports management. Given limited resources, networking and public relations are significant factors in gaining stakeholder and community support and collaboration. The emerging crucial managerial functions are prioritizing, connecting, monitoring and restructuring, which will complete the process of POLE systematic sports management for achieving the organization’s goal. This model from this research could be used as management guideline for Bangkok and other sports and recreational organizations.