The link between resource problems and interorganisational relationships: a quantitative study of Western European sport clubs

Abstract

According to the resource dependence theory, organisations draw upon interorganisational relationships to address the need for additional resources. The purpose of this study was to analyse whether sport clubs with serious resource problems regarding members, human resources (volunteers and coaches), infrastructure resources (sport facilities), or financial resources would be more likely to have a relationship with another non-profit sport club, a school, or a commercial sport provider. As previous research on interorganisational relationships has been mainly based on qualitative approaches, this study used quantitative data from sport club surveys in two Western European countries, Germany and Belgium (Flanders). The results of the correlation analyses showed that sport clubs in both countries experiencing serious problems regarding the availability of sport facilities were significantly more likely to have relationships with a school or a commercial sport provider. The study provided quantitative evidence that serious resource problems are correlated with interorganisational relationships.

Keywords:

• resource dependence theory
• non-profit organisation
• voluntary sport club
• co-operation
• partnership

Notes

¹Belgium is divided into two large regions, Flanders and Wallonia, which have considerable independence. Flanders is the Dutch-speaking part of Belgium lying to the north of the Dutch–French language border. The Language Laws of 1962 officially laid down this line of demarcation.