Organizational team sport as a diversity management intervention: a qualitative study

Abstract

An increasing number of organizations in South Africa are introducing formal organizational team sport activities, without any scientific knowledge on whether participation in these activities holds benefits for the management of diversity in the organization. The purpose of this research was to identify the indicators of an organizational team sport intervention that contributes to the effective management of a diverse workforce. The qualitative exploratory study was conducted among 63 sport participants of 9 financial organizations that participate in organizational team sport. The data were collected by means of focus group interviews. The results indicate that organizational team sport interventions hold benefits such as competitiveness, same goals, open communication, friends, trust and respect, learn from one another, commitment, and less stereotyping. The benefits that organizational team sport interventions hold for the company are better client service, employees work in harmony, they are healthier and motivated, they have good interpersonal relationships, and the company is more profitable and can make social investments. Therefore, organizational team sport contributes towards an organization’s requirements for an effective workforce. The findings of this study contribute valuable new knowledge to the literature on organizational team sport as an intervention for diversity management.