Sports Management

Throughout the semester, we’ve studied various components of international sport management,
which included a thorough examination of the comparative advantages of exporting sport
products, intercultural management, and sport labor migration. Accordingly, your final project
in this class is to utilize all of the information studied, including reading assignments, as well as
comparable case studies on sport-in-development projects, to develop a simulated “Consulting
Report”, which makes a compelling case for the development, implementation and/or “expansion
the sport of baseball, as part of a grassroots program initiative in the Caribbean island “gateway”
of Antigua & Barbuda. Hence, you are to present your individual research findings (e.g., SWOT
analysis), case studies, as well as provide detailed and well-supported analysis, which addresses
the feasibility, necessity, and cultural implications of developing AMATEUR baseball (Little
League, AAU, etc.,) as a whole! Under no circumstances whatsoever are you to assume that
we’re attempting to transplant an MLB team/MILB affiliate (e.g., not proposing that the Florida
Marlins move to Antigua and become the “Antigua Marlins”), developing a new franchise, or
field a professional “Winter League” on the island—though you may briefly address these
insights as possible benefits once you’ve securely structured your analysis to reflect the
requirements outlined below.

INSTRUCTIONS (READ CAREFULLY!!!!!!)

You are to draft a 5-7 page simulated (mock) “Consulting Report”, which incorporates the
learning resources examined throughout the course, for purposes of launching an amateur
baseball development/implementation initiative, as a sport in development project, on the island
Antigua & Barbuda. If it is your position that baseball, in light of its unique cultural values,
dimensions, codes, or political structure makes it impossible to develop/implement the project,
then your analysis throughout the paper should still utilize the learning resources in support of
your position, to deliver a compelling Report aimed at dissuading the reader of attempting this
measure.

Please adhere to the following guidelines:

1. Introduction (1-2 pages featuring relevant and VERY specific skeleton of
   supporting arguments)
   • Briefly discuss or lay out the main components of your Report.
   • By the end of your Introduction, there should be NO surprises in your main
     analysis to follow
     (either for or against development/implementation). In other words, any and
     all relevant supporting points should be addressed…whereas the body of your
     document should develop those arguments, NOT JUST REPEAT the
     previous statements.
2. Purpose of the Report (at least 1⁄2 page…more likely 1-2 pages)

• Explain the underlying purpose of your Report (think of “Comparative
  Advantage” and “Strategic Management: Why Go Global”
  articles/propositions).
• Brief introduction/discussion of the following:
  o 1) the sport product (baseball);
  The term “expansion”, as used herein, would suggest that baseball has previously established a
  firm foundation on the island, which extends beyond mere participation…it connotes the
  establishment of structured recreational leagues, maintains a governing body, and mass
  participation, etc.).
  o 2) the client…which for this simulation, is an independent non-governmental entity, called
  Antigua & Barbuda Baseball Initiative (“ABBI”), who MUST dissect “values dimension” and
  layers of the cultural “onion” to find sponsors, market, and obtain funding through partnerships
  with the APPROPRIATE governing body on the island.
  § REMEMBER, the most important task, and best method for taking ownership of the
  assignment is to deliver your Report, with the aim of convincing the appropriate governing body
  to divert funding from another sport/program to implement this initiative. What’s your most
  compelling argument????
  o 3) International Market (describe Antigua & Barbuda) as well as significance of surrounding
  geographic area, namely Dominican Republic, Cuba, Puerto Rico—all of which maintain
  flourishing baseball infrastructure.
  o 4) Your vision/development strategy for the initiative (development of Little League— why
  important to start with youth baseball—AAU etc.?). In other words, tell us where to begin briefly
  and then expand. How will ABBI know when they’ve developed solid baseball infrastructure?
  What are the measurable benchmarks????
  III. Recommendations: 1-1.5 pages (what are your specific business strategies? What about
  cultural development?)

• Administration/Governance
  o What rules/regulations play a role? Think of political entity, government agency or
  baseball rules may have bearing? Please see M4 Assignment.
• Business (Or, in this case, this is a sport in development measure)
  o What are cultural/consumer motivations (ONION METAPHOR)
  o Discuss key motivations for consumption of baseball in Antigua (develop rival alternative
  for amateur free agent market—Dominican Republic???). Make recommendations as to

how baseball would be marketed in Antigua (M1 Case Study and M5 Discussion????)

• Culture: Discuss the cultural component of Antigua…re-state findings from Module 3
  Research
  Reflection, and make recommendations.
• Partnership
  o If you have not addressed the necessary strategic alliance that your client ABBI will need
  to form with the targeted governmental agency in order to develop the sport, then address it here.
  Namely volunteers, financial resources and other details on partnership opportunities.

1. Evaluation (.5 page) Discuss/forecast effectiveness of program, including short and long-
   term goals.
2. Conclusion (.5 page) Discuss major skeletal points, and combine compelling arguments.

VI. REFERENCES

SCORING RUBRIC FOR WRITTEN ASSIGNMENTS. THIS ASSIGNMENT WILL BE
GRADED FOR SPELLING, GRAMMAR, AND APPROPRIATE CITATION.