A Study on the Outsourcing Management of School Swimming Pools

[[abstract]]The purpose of this study was to analyze the current situation, success factors, difficulties and solutions of the outsourcing management of school swimming pools in Taiwan. It is hoped that the results of this study would be of interest to schools which have not implemented outsourcing management and to relevant authorities. 43 school administrative staff members of public schools with outsourced swimming pools (2 from college, 15 from senior high school, 9 from junior high school and 17 from primary school) and 27 dealers of outsourcing companies served as the subjects in this study. Document analysis and interviews were used for data collection. Descriptive statistics, interactive mode and categorization were used as instruments for data analysis. The results showed as follows: 1. The quantity of outsourced school swimming pools was small, but this study revealed an increasing trend of outsourcing. Among different types of outsourcing, OT-type was most frequently adopted, followed by ROT-type and BOT-type. It is worth noting that schools adopting BOT-type met the requirements of outsourcing but had a financial deficit in operation. Schools adopting ROT-type had a positive attitude in administration and communication. As for schools adopting OT-type, an optimum pool depth for swimming teaching is essential. Besides the three types of outsourcing, non-profit organizations were proposed to manage school swimming pools which are currently in poor condition. 2. The success factor of BOT-type was the abundance of customers. The success factors of ROT-type were the positive attitude of school administration, good school location and high levels of population structure. The success factors of OT-type were good school location and new facilities of swimming pools. 3. Good communication and coordination were the best way for schools adopting BOT-type to reach common ground with their dealers. Amendment to the local tax policy and government subsidies were the solutions to problems faced the schools adopting ROT-type. The adoption of ROT-type and good communication between schools and dealers were the solutions for schools adopting OT-type. 4. In all types of outsourcing management, an abundance of population and positive administration attitude were the key factors contributing to the success of the outsourcing management of school swimming pools. The result could serve as an important reference for schools considering outsourcing management. Schools and dealers should cooperate based on public-private partnership theory to work out their differences. According to the results, the researcher suggested that the school faculty should reach a consensus on outsourcing management and regard dealers as partners, and help them to solve management problems. Moreover, the authorities concerned should pay more attention to the problems facing the schools with outsourced swimming pools, and form a team to make an overall plan of facility management in schools and encourage the implementation of outsourcing management of school swimming pools and other sports facilities.