| National governing bodies (NGBs) are the mainstay of the sports industry in the United States and the Olympic Movement. In order to reveal the organizational culture of NGBs, this study selects three different sizes of NGBs and then examines the perceptions of organizational culture perceived by the NGB leaders and staffs. Based on the sports population (including participants and spectators), the annual budget, and the Olympic competitive performance, the selected research subjects in order are USA Hockey, USA Volleyball and USA Badminton.;In terms of the competing values framework (Cameron & Quinn, 1999), the typology of organizational culture consists of the clan, adhocracy, market and hierarchy cultures. According to the theoretical foundation of the competing values framework, the research tools include the modified qualitative structured questions and the quantitative questionnaire of the Organizational Culture Assessment Instrument for the data collection. The data analysis consists of multiple case studies for the description of perception, within-case analysis and cross-case analysis. The qualitative research data is collected through triangulation and then represented by the approaches of ethnography and content analysis.;In this study, the quantitative results of the three NGBs are also interpreted and discussed through the qualitative findings to reveal their leaders' perspectives. Through the comparison and contrast within and among the perceptions of the three NGB members (that is one leader and staff in each NGB), the results show that the clan culture is the dominant culture and that several dominant subcultures exist among these NGBs. The characteristics of organizational culture of these NGBs provide a reference for the development of sports organizations. Also, in terms of the transformational logic of the competing values framework, several concrete strategies are applied to these research subjects recommending culture change. This study not only fosters a better understanding of NGBs in the United States but also clarifies organizational values to help these NGBs achieve their purposes. |
