From the Ballfield to the Boardroom: Management Lessons from Sports (Hardcover)

by Brian Goff (Author) "Sports creates a diversion away from the other aspects of life..." (more)
Key Phrases: sports managers, mindless imitation, sports leaders, New York, Los Angeles, John Wooden (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Review
“Using examples from across the spectrum of professional and college sports, Goff (economics, Western Kentucky University) analyzes the ways in which key decisions are made in sports and applies these lessons to the corporate context.”–Reference & Research Book News

“This book shows in an interesting and readable way how the world of sports holds important lessons for the world of business. Dr. Goff is a pioneer in the application of economic methods to study sports and sports institutions, and here he details how this approach can yield important insights of practical value for business leaders. This is a must read for economists and students of sports, for MBA and management students, and for business executives at all levels.”–Robert D. Tollison Professor of Economics and BB&T Senior Fellow, Clemson University

“[A]ccessible to students of managerial economics and business professionals alike, Brian Goff's book supplies more insights into sound decision-making practices than can be found in the collected works of an army of management gurus. You don't need to be a sports fan to enjoy From the Ballfield to the Boardroom. Anyone interested in how managers can thrive in a high-profile business where nearly every move they make is the stuff of headlines will profit from reading it.”–William F. Shugart II F.A.P. Barnard Distinguished Professor of Economics and holder of the Robert M. Hearin Chair at The University of Mississippi

Product Description
No one can deny that sports and business are two of the most potent forces in our culture today. Sport, play, and the terms and phrases that define them, are engrained in our collective psyche, influencing the ways in which we conduct business-as a "game," with rules of engagement, tournaments of competition, the shame that accompanies defeat, and the bragging rights that accrue to the victor. The parallels are ubiquitous; as the NFL's Bill Parcells stated in a Harvard Business Review article, "my guess is that the challenges I've faced are not all that different from the ones that executives deal with every day. People are people, and the keys to motivating them and getting them to perform to their full potential are pretty much the same whether they're playing on a football field or working in an office." From the Ballfield to the Boardroom draws from Brian Goff's expertise as a managerial economist to shed new light on the sports-business connection. Using dozens of examples from across the spectrum of professional and college sports, he analyzes the ways in which key decisions are made on the playing fields and locker rooms and applies these lessons to the corporate context. From the distinctive leadership styles of legendary coaches Tom Landry, Vince Lombardi, John Wooden, and Bobby Knight, among others, to such culturally significant developments as the racial integration of Major League Baseball and the meteoric rise of NASCAR, Goff draws from the world of sports to provide a solid foundation in the managerial arts, including: assessing risk and uncertainty, conducting market and competitive analysis, wooing customers, fostering an innovative culture, managing information and communication flows, and resolving labor disputes. The result is an incisive look at the sport of business, with practical insights for successful management at all levels of your organization.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 256 pages
• Publisher: Praeger Publishers (April 30, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0275985172
• ISBN-13: 978-0275985172
• Product Dimensions: 9.4 x 6 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,524,456 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars TOO MANY MANAGEMENT BOOKS ARE POP FLIES, FOULS OR SLOW GROUNDERS. THIS ONE IS A HOME RUN!, July 26, 2005

By	Gerry Stern "Stern's Management Review Online" (Culver City, CA United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Goff's book is both a sports and management book. It is filled with examples drawn from sporting events and related episodes. Sport fans interested in the behind-the-scenes decision making and leadership issues should thoroughly enjoy this volume. But those seeking new insights into management will find the book a refreshing approach that centers around issues faced by managers regardless of setting. Those interested in both management and sports should love this book.

The backbone of the book are principles of management developed over the last few decades. The author does not try to develop a template for management based on case studies, although they are used to highlight key facts about management and stimulate discussion.

After presenting key building block ideas (such as recognition of hidden costs and trade-offs, coordinating decisions, learning and adapting), the chapters of the book go on to explore such topics as: key matters about markets and management; people management; the effective use of information; tools for strategic and tactical decision making; and the role of innovation and adaptation. The last two chapters consider how managers add value to an organization, draws a distinction between effective management and over-managing (managing vs. meddling), and managing and leading.

This is a marvelous book that casts a bright light on many complex and subtle management issues. With this book, Goff has hit a home run!