Ambiente institucional, futebol feminino e desempenho organizacional dos clubes mais fortes do mundo

Abstract

This research aims to analyze the institutional factors that drive the structure of women's football and its possible impact on the organizational performance of clubs. In light of Institutional Theory and Resource-Based View, the thesis is based on the argument that the institutional environment, formed by internal attributes and external pressures, affects the structure of women's football in clubs; which, in turn, creates value from its invested resources, increasing the clubs' operational, economic-financial and value-generating performance. In this sense, two general hypotheses were outlined, based on the theoretical support of the research and recommendations from previous studies: (H₁) The institutional environment affects the structure of women's football in clubs; (H₂) The clubs' women's football structure positively influences organizational performance. A sample of 102 soccer clubs ranked by the Club World Ranking 2018 - TOP 400, of the IFFHS, was considered, totaling 6,119 observations – considering all the variables analyzed in each club, excluding the missing values –, referring to the 2017-2018 season. The following techniques were used: content analysis, descriptive statistics, correlation analysis, factor analysis , cluster analysis, t test for difference of means and multiple linear regression. The results indicate that: (i) the pressure for Diversity factor has a positive correlation with the structure of women's football, both in relation to the general index and to the specific category of economic-financial structure; (ii) the clubs were grouped into two clusters, and the cluster that grouped seven clubs in the sample was denominated Developed Women's Football Structure – Liverpool FC, Chelsea FC, Arsenal FC, Manchester City FC, Brighton & Hove Albion, West Ham United FC and Everton FC – and the second cluster that grouped all the other 95 clubs in the sample was called Structure of Women's Football in Development; (iii) additionally, in an exploratory manner, it was observed that although 76 clubs (74.4% of the sample) presented some information regarding the structure of women's football in general, only 24 clubs (23.5% of the sample) presented information specifically on the economic and financial structure , with emphasis on English clubs; (iv) there is a positive correlation between the performance of value creation (Football Finance Indicator-FFI) and the structure of women's football in general, physical structure and economic-financial structure; and (v) there is a positive influence of the economic-financial structure on the value creation performance (FFI). It is concluded that the internal attributes, legal nature and economic purpose of the clubs and the external pressures arising from the confederation of bonds, internationalization and national economy affect the structure of women's football in the clubs; and, in turn, the economic and financial structure of the clubs' women's football creates value from their invested resources, increasing the clubs' value-generating performance – FFI. Thus, the conceptual contribution of this thesis lies in the alignment between the research findings and the assumptions of the theoretical bases, by revealing scientific evidence regarding the understanding of institutional factors that determine the structure of women's football in clubs, as well as its relationship with performance organizational. Certainly, this research does not intend to exhaust the theme, but one of its main contributions is the indication of alternative ways that can promote the development of women's football in the analyzed clubs. Furthermore, it contributes to the kickoff on the theme, considering the economic context of women's football in 22 countries, which make up the sample of the 102 clubs investigated.