Sports Management

As the head coach of the Jackson Ridge High School football team, I lead athletes who belong to a vibrant and tight-knit student community. Jackson Ridge is nested on the outskirts of a small town and has a population of about 1500 students. The school has a rich academic and athletic history, with the community enjoying sporting events at the school; hence, the school is an important part of the community: Sports Management.

As the head coach of the football team, my job description includes leading a team of vibrant athletes, teaching them football and life skills, discipline, and fostering unity among the athletes. I work closely with the assistant coach, Emily Rodriguez, who is an offensive coordinator. Also, there is coach Steve Johnson, who is a defensive coach.

Six-Step Rational Decision-Making Model

As a high school coach, it is crucial to approach the issue of athletes who could be using performance-enhancement drugs carefully. From the outset, I am not sure if the students acquired the PEDs or another substance. However, the fact that the person who handed the students the suspicious product is known to peddle PEDs, the suspicion is justifiable.

The six-step classical/rational model for decision-making will help guide the process of addressing the problem of student-athletes using PEDs, ensuring all aspects are considered. Among others, the model will ensure that the problem is approached thoughtfully and systematically and that the well-being of students is taken into consideration.

Define the Problem or Opportunity

• The first step of the six-step model helps one identify the problem they are dealing with. At this stage, the symptoms of the problem are distinguished from its cause.
• Also, the first step involves listing observable and describable occurrences that show the problem exists. In this case, the symptoms of the problem are the fact that the students were seen interacting with a known performance-enhancement drug seller.

Generating Ideas

The next and equally important step in problem-solving using the classical model is to generate ideas that reflect how the solution scenario may look at the end. Here, one needs to come up with the characteristics that will be associated with success (Kornish & Hutchison-Krupat, 2016). As a coach, I am not aware that the students are using performance-enhancement drugs, but I can come up with solutions that will ensure that students do not damage sports integrity and the reputation of Jackson Ridge High School. The following objectives will guide the process.

• One of the potential objectives that could be envisioned at this stage is to offer training to students on the dangers of using performance-enhancement drugs to their sporting abilities and health.
• Another objective is to maintain a fair and competitive environment. As a coach, my role is to ensure that athletes compete on a level playing field, something that the performance enhancement drugs may impede.
• The third objective is to uphold ethical standards and integrity in sports. As a coach, I will help the students understand the importance of upholding key values such as integrity, fairness, and honesty.
• Also, there is a need to encourage trust and accountability. Given that it is only a few team members engaged in drug use, there is a likelihood of disunity; hence, a need to address the issue early enough.
• Finally, there is a need to ensure athletes’ physical health and mental well-being are maintained.

Evaluate Alternatives

This step of the rational decision-making model involves gathering the facts and options that surround the steps that may have been made earlier.

• Adopt random drug testing so that students may realize that they will face consequences for using performance-enhancement drugs.
• Offer counseling and rehabilitation support since some students may have an addiction knowingly or unknowingly.
• Introduce a zero-tolerance policy for usage of performance-enhancement drugs, such that students found culpable may face suspension from the school or be excluded from the football team.
• Consult with school administrators and students’ parents to implement a clear anti-PEDs policy and ensure there is clear communication between the parties involved.
• Create awareness around the dangers of using performance-enhancement drugs.

Choose Among Alternatives

Uzonwanne (2016) avers that selecting the best solution involves examining the consequences of the possible alternatives and determining the most effective solution. The most effective way to select the most effective alternative is to examine how different stakeholders are affected. For the current case, the most effective alternative is to introduce random drug testing so that students can understand that the activities they engage in have consequences. This alternative emerges as the best because it will not only help maintain sporting integrity but also assist other stakeholders, such as teachers and parents, to ensure learners are in good shape physically and mentally.

Implement the Chosen Alternative

Having selected the best solution, the next step should be to implement the selected option as accurately as possible to ensure an effective and functional solution. This part of the process ensures that effective decision-making is reached by ensuring hitch-free implementation of the solution (Leoveanu, 2013). One way to ensure that random testing for performance-enhancement drugs is effective is by ensuring there is no consistent pattern in testing, as this could make the players use other substances to influence false negative outcomes.

Learn from Feedback

After implementing a solution, its effectiveness will partly be determined by the feedback of all stakeholders involved. Parents, teachers, players, and the school administration should be asked if testing students for drug use has affected students in any way. A possible impact is anxiety for students who are about to be tested. By collecting feedback, all stakeholders will explore means to navigate unintended consequences.

References

Kornish, L. J., & Hutchison-Krupat, J. (2016). Research on idea generation and selection: Implications for management of technology. Production and Operations Management, 26(4), 633–651. https://doi.org/10.1111/poms.12664

Leoveanu, A. (2013). Rationalist model in public decision making. In Journal of Public Administration (p. 43). https://www.jopafl.com/uploads/issue4/RATIONALIST_MODEL_IN_PUBLIC_DECISION_MAKING.pdf

Uzonwanne, F. C. (2016). Rational model of decision making. In Global Encyclopedia of Public Administration, Public Policy, and Governance (pp. 1–6). Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-31816-5_2474-1

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Instructions: 

Sports management professionals at all levels face tough decisions on a regular, and often daily basis. Consistency is a critical component for all successful managers and leaders, especially when dealing with problem solving. If different decisions are made for similar situations it can create an even bigger problem as employees, coaches, players, and/or clientele will be looking for an explanation and justification. If these things cannot be provided the conclusion is often that favoritism was involved.

To avoid such situations managers are often taught to use specific decision making models. Attached is a presentation about a six-step decision-making model. Read the attached information and use it and the information you have learned through your Ethical Lens Inventory to analyze the following situation:

Sports Management