سید نصرالله سجادی

Background : Internationalization of sports leagues can have several benefits, including increased exposure to a global audience; improved competitiveness; and enhanced financial opportunities and cultural exchange. Overall, the internationalization of a sports league can help it grow, become more competitive, and reach a wider audience, leading to benefits for both the league and its fans. Aim: The main objective of this research was to develop a model of challenges affecting the internationalization of the Persian Gulf Pro League (PGPL). Materials and Methods: We conducted twenty in-depth interviews with expertise involved in the functioning of the PGPL who were recruited using a convenience sampling method. The data was analyzed using grounded theory method, including open, axial, and selective coding. During the analysis, we identified 85 codes that generated 49 general concepts. Subsequently, through further reviewing the concepts and their combination with each other, we identified twenty tow final categories that affect the internationalization of PGPL. These categories were classified into five main dimensions: political-economic; managerial; legal; technical-marketing and socio-cultural. Results : According to the research findings, it is necessary for the Iranian football managers and practitioners to first address the challenges affecting the internationalization of the PGPL and then provide the required conditions and platforms with attitude-behavioral alignment to move toward internationalization. Conclusion: The study suggests that Iranian football managers and practitioners need to address challenges hindering the internationalization of the PGPL and provide the necessary conditions and platforms to facilitate the process. By doing so, the PGPL can expand its presence and competitiveness in the global football industry, leading to growth and success.

Purpose: Considering the importance of sports service small businesses in creating a competitive advantage in this field, the present research was conducted with the aim of providing a framework of analyzing the effective factors on the success of small businesses of sports service. Methodology: This research in terms of purpose was applied and in terms of implementation method was qualitative. The statistical population of the current study was all active managers and experts in small businesses of sports services, which number of 16 people of them were selected as a sample according to the principle of theoretical saturation and with the purposive sampling method. The tool of the current research was a semi-structured interview, which its validity was confirmed by triangulation method and its reliability was obtained by Cohen's kappa coefficient method 0.803 and the data obtained from its implementation were analyzed by open, axial and selective coding method in MAXQDA software. Findings: The findings showed that for the effective factors on the success of small businesses of sports service were identified 81 indicators, 23 components and 8 dimensions. The dimensions were included environmental (with three components of government support, legal environment and competitive environment), business plan (with three components of capital, information and work force), organization (with two components of suitability of job and employee and business institutional relations), marketing and information (with three components of marketing plans, networking and market orientation), financial affairs and facilities (with four components of budget, economic fluctuations, infrastructure and equipment and facilities), innovation (with three components of innovation in management, innovation in services and innovation in process), models consumption of sports services (with two components of consumption behavior and purchase patterns) and consequences of business success (with three components of commercialization, branding and sports participation). Finally, the pattern of the framework of analyzing the effective factors on the success of small businesses of sports service was drawn. Conclusion: According to the results of this study, the success of small businesses of sports service depends on many factors. Therefore, in order to achieve success in small businesses of sports service, it is possible to provide the basis for improving the identified indicators, components and dimensions in the current research.