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Esports Governance: Exploring Stakeholder Dynamics

Author

Listed:
  • Qi Peng

    (Sport Policy Unit, Department of Economics, Policy and International Business, Manchester Metropolitan University, Manchester M15 6BH, UK)

  • Geoff Dickson

    (La Trobe Business School, La Trobe University, Melbourne, Victoria 3086, Australia)

  • Nicolas Scelles

    (Sport Policy Unit, Department of Economics, Policy and International Business, Manchester Metropolitan University, Manchester M15 6BH, UK)

  • Jonathan Grix

    (Sport Policy Unit, Department of Economics, Policy and International Business, Manchester Metropolitan University, Manchester M15 6BH, UK)

  • Paul Michael Brannagan

    (Sport Policy Unit, Department of Economics, Policy and International Business, Manchester Metropolitan University, Manchester M15 6BH, UK)

Abstract

Esports is a rapidly growing industry. However, the unidentifiable governance structure of the industry has contributed to a number of integrity-eroding activities. By exploring esports stakeholder dynamics, this paper answers the question, “Is the esports governance model sustainable?” Data were sourced from documentation, focus groups ( N = 3) and semi-structured interviews ( N = 6). Thematic analysis was conducted using Nvivo. The findings suggest that (1) the current esports governance framework features some attributes of the “lead organisation-governed network”, with the power residing mainly in game publishers; (2) the rising power of other stakeholders in the network seeking to address integrity issues has caused fragmentation of the esports governance framework; (3) esports governance is evolving towards a network administration organisation (NAO) model. Such evolution has a few challenges—most notably, the compliance of game publishers. Given the social impact of the integrity issues, governments should play a main role in facilitating a NAO model.

Suggested Citation

  • Qi Peng & Geoff Dickson & Nicolas Scelles & Jonathan Grix & Paul Michael Brannagan, 2020. "Esports Governance: Exploring Stakeholder Dynamics," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(19), pages 1-15, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:12:y:2020:i:19:p:8270-:d:424980
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Euripidis Loukis & Marijn Janssen & Sharon Dawes & Lei Zheng, 2016. "Evolving ICT and governance in organizational networks - Conceptual and theoretical foundations," Electronic Markets, Springer;IIM University of St. Gallen, vol. 26(1), pages 7-14, February.
    2. Christoph Schmidt, 2016. "Theoretical and Conceptual Foundations," Progress in IS, in: Agile Software Development Teams, chapter 0, pages 37-63, Springer.
    3. Geoff Dickson & Trevor Arnold & Laurence Chalip, 2005. "League Expansion and Interorganisational Power," Sport Management Review, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 8(2), pages 145-165, May.
    4. Dickson, Geoff & Arnold, Trevor & Chalip, Laurence, 2005. "League Expansion and Interorganisational Power," Sport Management Review, Elsevier, vol. 8(2), pages 145-165, September.
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    Cited by:

    1. Nicolas Scelles & Qi Peng & Maurizio Valenti, 2021. "Do the Peculiar Economics of Professional Team Sports Apply to Esports? Sequential Snowballing Literature Reviews and Implications," Economies, MDPI, vol. 9(1), pages 1-18, March.

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