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SHerbstlucke Final Dissertation PDF.pdf (3.9 MB)

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THE DYNAMICS AND IMPACTS OF CONFERENCE CHANGE IN INTERCOLLEGIATE ATHLETICS: A STRATEGY GROUP AND INSTITUTIONAL ANALYSIS

Herbst-Lucke, Stephanie Kay
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=casedm1649784585291783

Abstract Details

2022, Doctor of Philosophy, Case Western Reserve University, Management.
In August 2021, some of the largest, most economically resourced colleges in the United States announced they were voluntarily disrupting long-standing iconic, multi-billion-dollar brands and successful conference relationships to realign. The assumed benefits of collegiate conference change—such as increases in athletic revenue, improved athletic performance, and enhanced university branding—that presumably trigger change may be more perception than reality. This dissertation explores the theoretically dense and empirically challenging problem of explaining college conference group change and validating its outcomes. Since conference groups act both as strategic groups and institutions, we utilize a sequence of explanatory theories to analyze these changes using two separate but relevant theoretical frames: strategic groups and institutional theory. Using two synthetic control experiments with validating replication studies and a developed database of 98.5% of the population, we find the empirical evidence linking economic, market success, brand, or mission outcomes to strategic groups in this context is not warranted, and the theory is not supported in the context of college athletics. We next applied institutional theory and conducted two qualitative studies, encompassing 82 interviews with top industry executives, into the underlying mechanisms of change. Our xiv findings suggest that performance outcomes do not drive conference change. Rather, as institutional actors, these decision-makers are influenced by many hidden, less apparent rational, structural, and intra-conflicting mechanisms that weaken the current conference system, making it vulnerable to institutional entrepreneurial change. The resulting deinstitutionalization process weakens brand health and mission attainment, causing system fragmentation, stratification, and ironically contradictory findings from the outcomes the institutional entrepreneurs are pursuing.
kalle Lyttinen (Committee Chair)
Simon Peck (Committee Member)
Avi Turetsky (Committee Member)
Paul Salipante (Committee Member)
196 p.
Management; Marketing; Sports Management
strategic groups; change; deinstitutionalization; institutional entrepreneurs

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Herbst-Lucke, S. K. (2022). THE DYNAMICS AND IMPACTS OF CONFERENCE CHANGE IN INTERCOLLEGIATE ATHLETICS: A STRATEGY GROUP AND INSTITUTIONAL ANALYSIS [Doctoral dissertation, Case Western Reserve University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=casedm1649784585291783

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Herbst-Lucke, Stephanie. THE DYNAMICS AND IMPACTS OF CONFERENCE CHANGE IN INTERCOLLEGIATE ATHLETICS: A STRATEGY GROUP AND INSTITUTIONAL ANALYSIS. 2022. Case Western Reserve University, Doctoral dissertation. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=casedm1649784585291783.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Herbst-Lucke, Stephanie. "THE DYNAMICS AND IMPACTS OF CONFERENCE CHANGE IN INTERCOLLEGIATE ATHLETICS: A STRATEGY GROUP AND INSTITUTIONAL ANALYSIS." Doctoral dissertation, Case Western Reserve University, 2022. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=casedm1649784585291783

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

casedm1649784585291783
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This open access ETD is published by Case Western Reserve University School of Graduate Studies and OhioLINK.