Geof Dickson

Given the critical role of sport managers’ behaviors in developing efficient processes in sport settings, the aim of the current study was to provide a model of sports managers’ strategic behavior. The research participants were selected theoretically through a snowball sampling approach. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with professional sport managers to collect the research data. Grounded Theory (GT) with a Systematic Approach was applied for data analysis. The results of qualitative data analysis from the interview were presented as a paradigm model of strategic behavior of sports managers in the form of six dimensions of the paradigm model, including causal condition, the main phenomenon (strategic behavior of managers), contextual condition, intervening condition, action /interaction strategy, consequences. The categorization based on the relationships between the concepts around the behavior of managers presents the paradigm model of the strategic behavior of sports managers. According to the findings, managers can eliminate many of the strategic barriers in sports organizations by institutionalizing strategic thinking and making decisions based on strategic behavior.