Diversity management content model based on organisational team sport intervention

Abstract

Existing diversity management interventions are often less effective and very costly. Employees are also often forced to participate in these interventions. A need exists to develop an organisational team sport intervention model that organisations can utilise as a diversity model. It is each employee’s decision whether he or she wishes to participate in sport and this intervention is therefore not forced upon any employee. The purpose of this research study is to compile a diversity management content model based on organisational team sport interventions. This study is a qualitative exploration study and was conducted among 63 sport participants and nine sport coordinators employed by nine different financial organisations in the Gauteng region of South Africa. The data were collected by means of individual interviews and focus groups. The results indicate that team sport interventions in an organisation, when used as a diversity management initiative, hold benefits for both the employees and for the organisation. No studies regarding a team sport intervention model in an organisation that can be utilised as a diversity management model are known to have been done. The findings of this study will contribute valuable new knowledge to the literature on sport and diversity management.