Factors increasing competitiveness of sports clubs

Key words: competitiveness, factors of competitiveness, sport clubs. The target of the research- factors, increasing competitiveness of sport clubs. The problem of the research. Business organizations face problems related to competitiveness and it is sometimes difficult to solve them only using economical, management and political methods. Scientific discussions about competitiveness are quite contrasting. There is a view that competitiveness is one of the main business peculiarities, engine of economical progress and market settlement machine. There are many factors which influence the increase of competitiveness of the organization. It is discusses which factors are crucial. The aim of the research- to estimate main factors which increase competitiveness of sport clubs composing practical model of competitiveness. Objectives of the research: 1. To analyse the main factors increasing competitiveness in scientific Lithuanian and foreign literature. 2. To establish main factors and indexes and their influence increasing competitiveness of sport clubs in Sakiai and Jurbarkas. 3. To formulate the model of factors which increase competitiveness of sport clubs. Hypothesis of the research- The competitiveness of sport clubs in Sakiai and Jurbarkas is influenced more by inner environment than by outer. Conclusions: 1. After analysis of scientific literature M. Porter ‘Diamonds’ excludes the main model of factors determining competitiveness: inner environment – factors, demand, also industry services, the strategy, structure and competitiveness of the company, outer environment- the role of the government, opportunities and international business. Other scientists consider inner factors such as leader or strategy creator, the image of the company and the quality of services and outer economical and social factors. 2. The analysis of sport clubs in Jurbarkas and Sakiai shows that: • The quality of services has the main influence to competitiveness of sport clubs considering inner factor. The evaluation of inner factors showed that respondents think that other authors’ inner factors of competitiveness are more important that M. Porter’s ‘Diamonds” model. We can presume that this is influenced by the awareness of chiefs of sport clubs, that these factors are likely to be seen and more valuated than situations of factors, demand, industrial services and strategy, structure and competitiveness of the company. • Considering outer factors, activeness of consumers has the main influence to competitiveness of sport clubs, other important factors are the implementation of development programmes and level of unemployment. Also very important is M. Porter’s ‘Diamonds’ model - the role of government (4,08(0,23)) and economical factor(4,04(0,65) analyzed by other authors. We can draw conclusions that the role of the government helps sport clubs to be competitive, clubs which are less informative about legislative system in Lithuania have few opportunities developing and implementing innovative programmes, looking for support. • Considering the importance of competitive factors in sport clubs we can make findings that the activity of sport clubs in Sakiai and Jurbarkas for consumers can be reliable, long-lived, qualitative and these clubs can be dominant, to be quick-oriented in the market and in the competitive environment and to have good price and quality because they are very good valuated by their technical(4,39(0,57) and marketing (4,31(0,5) indexes. 3. All excluded models of factors of competitiveness of sport clubs are separately actual and important but according to data collected from respondents of sport clubs in Sakiai and Jurbarkas we can say that hypothesis was confirmed that the main influence to competitiveness of sport clubs has inner competitive environment and the main factor influencing the environment is the quality of services. Suggestions To increase competitiveness of sport clubs in Jurbarkas and Sakiai we suggest: 1. To ensure the best quality of services, which meet the requirements of consumers, to analyse the market situation and to follow new tendencies and technologies due to the fact that the quality of services is the main factor of inner competitiveness. 2. To analyse the requirement of consumers and to develop the activity searching for partnerships with other sport clubs, sport masters and sponsors, sharing resourses, experiences, creating new projects and products due to the fact that meeting the requirements of consumers is the main inner factor of M. Poter’s ‘Diamonds‘ model