Analysing External and Internal Environmental Influences on the Performance Management of National Sports Organisations in Botswana

Abstract

The purpose of this PhD thesis was to investigate whether National Sport Organisations (NSOs) in Botswana were implementing performance management (PM) practices and if they did, how and why they did so. In this thesis, three published articles present empirical evidence, and structure a position regarding the influence of external and internal environments on the implementation of PM practices among NSOs. The study used qualitative methods in which thirty-one semi-structured interviews and five focus groups were conducted among 14 NSOs in Botswana and 10 of their stakeholder categories. In addition, NSO documents and websites were reviewed and analysed to corroborate the data collected from interviews and focus groups. The results indicate that Botswana NSOs implemented PM practices that include goal and objective setting, processes and activities, performance measurement, feedback, and feedforward. PESTEL factors and stakeholders externally influenced the implementation of PM among NSOs. On the other hand, resources available, structural design characteristics and the roles played by board members and operational staff, internally influenced the implementation of PM. In addition, the external and internal environments of Botswana NSOs were linked in that changes in the external environment prompted internal responses by individuals within these organisations. They performed creation and maintenance work that led to the adoption and implementation of PM practices. This study contributes to the body of knowledge around PM and can benefit sport managers, policy makers and stakeholders. Moreover, this study proposes avenues for further research on the PM of NSOs.