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Entrepreneurship and Human Capital in Professional Sport: A Longitudinal Analysis of the Italian Soccer League

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  • Giovanni Radaelli
  • Claudio Dell’Era
  • Federico Frattini
  • Antonio Messeni Petruzzelli

Abstract

The discovery and deployment of human capital are overlooked topics in entrepreneurship research. Professional sport can illuminate these phenomena as sport directors take huge risks in innovating rosters. Our longitudinal analysis of the Italian Serie A investigated if sport directors with greater entrepreneurial orientations toward the acquisition of new players outperformed rivals. While soccer organizations with better roster quality and accomplished managers achieved superior rankings, the acquisition of new players had nonsignificant effects and was moderated negatively by accomplished managers. We argue that entrepreneurs risk with “too many†talents while conformity mechanisms attenuate the entrepreneurial opportunities offered by human capital.

Suggested Citation

  • Giovanni Radaelli & Claudio Dell’Era & Federico Frattini & Antonio Messeni Petruzzelli, 2018. "Entrepreneurship and Human Capital in Professional Sport: A Longitudinal Analysis of the Italian Soccer League," Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, , vol. 42(1), pages 70-93, January.
  • Handle: RePEc:sae:entthe:v:42:y:2018:i:1:p:70-93
    DOI: 10.1177/1042258717732957
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    2. Alfredo De Massis & Josip Kotlar & Mike Wright & Franz W. Kellermanns, 2018. "Sector-Based Entrepreneurial Capabilities and the Promise of Sector Studies in Entrepreneurship," Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, , vol. 42(1), pages 3-23, January.
    3. Paloma Escamilla-Fajardo & Mario Alguacil & Ana M. Gómez-Tafalla, 2021. "Effects of Entrepreneurial Orientation and Passion for Work on Performance Variables in Sports Clubs," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(5), pages 1-15, March.
    4. Winand, Mathieu & Schneiders, Christopher & Merten, Sebastian & Marlier, Mathieu, 2021. "Sports fans and innovation: An analysis of football fans’ satisfaction with video assistant refereeing through social identity and argumentative theories," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 136(C), pages 99-109.
    5. Paschke, Max & Müller, Anna, 2020. "Contextualization of entrepreneurship research: Methodologies of the trend," Working Papers 05/20, Institut für Mittelstandsforschung (IfM) Bonn.
    6. Modic, Dolores & Suklan, Jana, 2022. "Multidimensional experience and performance of highly skilled administrative staff: Evidence from a technology transfer office," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 51(10).
    7. María Huertas González-Serrano & Josep Crespo Hervás & Irena Valantine & Manuel Alonso Dos-Santos & Ferran Calabuig Moreno, 2020. "Impact of lifestyle oriented-motivation and corporate social responsibility on multiadventure sports firms´ performance," International Entrepreneurship and Management Journal, Springer, vol. 16(3), pages 935-959, September.

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