Modeling and explaining the factors affecting sports applications in the development of organizational sports (Case study: Ahvaz city)

Zarif, Mohammad Hosein; Ferdowsi, Mohammad Hassan; Hozhabrnia, Zahra; Rafiei Dehbidi, Vahid

Modeling and explaining the factors affecting sports applications in the development of organizational sports (Case study: Ahvaz city)

Document Type : Article extracted from thesis

Authors

Mohammad Hosein Zarif ¹ ^¶

Mohammad Hassan Ferdowsi ²

Zahra Hozhabrnia ³

Vahid Rafiei Dehbidi ⁴

¹ PhD Student, Department of Physical Education, Shushtar Branch, Islamic Azad University, Shushtar, Iran.

² Associate Professor, Department of Sports Management, Payam Noor University, Tehran, Iran.

³ Assistant Professor, Department of Physical Education and Sports Sciences, Shushtar Branch, Islamic Azad University, Shushtar, Iran.

⁴ Assistant Professor, Department of Sport Sciences, Marvdasht Branch, Islamic Azad University, Marvdasht Branch, Iran.

Abstract

Background and Objective: The development of organizational sports (such as in Ahvaz Drilling Company) is a strategic necessity, not a welfare activity; as it directly affects the productivity, health and reduction of absenteeism of employees. Currently, the lack of a scientific model to understand the factors affecting this development in the local context of Iran has caused the failure of programs and waste of resources. Therefore, accurate modeling of these factors (infrastructure, culture and managerial support) is a fundamental step to develop and implement sports programs based on scientific evidence and tailored to the local needs of employees.
Methodology: In this regard, the main purpose of the present study is to investigate the factors affecting sports applications in the development of organizational sports, employees of Ahvaz City Drilling Company. The statistical population of the present study was 100 people selected as a statistical sample using Morgan's formula and studied. Data analysis was carried out through correlation analysis and structural equation modeling using SPSS and Smart PLS software.
Results and Findings: The results of confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) indicate a favorable overall fit of the organizational sports development model, as most sub-indices with factor loadings higher than 0.5 confirm the reliability and structural validity of the model for the five main factors (management, infrastructure, social, economic, and individual). This finding proves the strong ability of the model to measure the desired constructs. However, factor loadings with lower explanatory power were observed in some specific dimensions (such as investment sub-indices and some coach competencies), which indicates the need to strengthen and measure these dimensions more accurately in future research to increase the validity of the model in those areas. Also, divergent validity was successfully confirmed based on the Fornell and Larker criterion, which indicates complete conceptual distinction and independence between the five main factors of the model.

Keywords

Sports

sports development

sports application

PLS interpretive structural modeling

National Iranian Drilling Company

Ahvaz city

Subjects

Sustainable Urban Development

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