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New research on sports from Harvard Business School faculty on issues including sports sponsorship, the business of sports, the impact of coaches, and the value of winning in college athletics.
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Muhammad Ali: A Case Study in Purpose-Driven Decision Making

Re: Robert Simons

Muhammad Ali, born Cassius Marcellus Clay Jr., rose from a poor family in segregated Louisville, Kentucky to international fame, winning three heavyweight boxing titles and becoming a civil rights leader and role model for millions of people around the world. How did he do it? Early in his career, Ali’s creativity and hard work helped him overcome significant obstacles. Rather than letting his fear of flying keep him from competing in the 1960 Olympics, he traveled to Italy wearing a parachute -- and easily won the gold medal in boxing. When he returned to the U.S. as a gold medalist, Ali used his growing fame to bring attention to racism and humanitarian causes he supported, including his then-controversial decision to refuse to fight in the Vietnam War. Professor Robert Simons discusses how Ali made decisions throughout his life and career to leave a lasting impact on the world in his case, “Muhammad Ali: Changing the World.”

Is Baseball Ready to Compete for the Next Generation of Fans?

by Christina Pazzanese, Harvard Gazette

With its slower pace and limited on-field action, major league baseball trails football in the US, basketball, and European soccer in revenue and popularity. Stephen Greyser discusses the state of "America's pastime."

Team Success Starts with the Individual—and with Love

by Ranjay Gulati

Many leaders see teams as collective units, but helping individual members reach their potential—personally and professionally—can open new opportunities. Ranjay Gulati looks at the philosophy of famed football coach Pete Carroll. Open for comment; 0 Comments.

What Actually Draws Sports Fans to Games? It's Not Star Athletes.

by Rachel Layne

Team owners think they need marquee names or slick stadiums to prosper, but research by Karim Lakhani and Patrick Ferguson suggests that fans want something far simpler: suspense. Open for comment; 0 Comments.

Mixing Sports and Money: Adidas and the Commercialization of the Olympics

Re: Geoffrey G. Jones

Horst Dassler, the son of the founder of Adidas, cultivated relationships with athletes and national associations—with the aim of expanding his family’s sports apparel business. In doing so, he created the first sports sponsorships for the Olympics, and ultimately became a key force behind the commercialization of sports today. Professor Geoffrey Jones explores the pros and cons of the globalization and commercialization of sport in his case, spanning from the 1930s to the 1970s, “Horst Dassler, Adidas, and the Commercialization of Sport.” Open for comment; 0 Comments.

Consuming Contests: Outcome Uncertainty and Spectator Demand for Contest-based Entertainment

by Patrick J. Ferguson and Karim R. Lakhani

Analysis of Australian Football League data shows that the uncertainty of game outcomes has a large, positive causal effect on stadium attendance. These findings show how competitive balance is important for contest designers in general and sports leagues in particular.

Lessons from the NFL: Virtual Hiring, Leadership, Building Teams and COVID-19

by Sarah Abbott , Boris Groysberg, Tali Groysberg, and Abhijit Naik

The National Football League player draft this year is challenging for the league, players, fans and, in particular, talent evaluators, reports Boris Groysberg and colleagues. What can business learn? Open for comment; 0 Comments.

NFL Head Coaches Are Getting Younger. What Can Organizations Learn?

by Boris Groysberg, Evan M.S. Hecht, and Abhijit Naik

Football team owners are hiring younger head coaches, hoping to unleash innovation and fresh thinking. How's that working out? Research by Boris Groysberg and colleagues. Open for comment; 0 Comments.

Sports: Lessons for Managers

by Sean Silverthorne

When people look to illustrate a great business idea or accomplishment, a sports metaphor usually isn't far away. Why Harvard Business School researchers look for teaching gold on the playing fields of the world. Open for comment; 0 Comments.

More Effective Sports Sponsorship—Combining and Integrating Key Resources and Capabilities of International Sports Events and Their Major Sponsors

by Ragnar Lund and Stephen A. Greyser

This field-based study of the Union of European Football Associations and its main international sporting event, the European Championships, explores key organizational capabilities that underlie value creation and enhancement in an event’s portfolio of sponsorship relationships. Developing and employing these capabilities--collaborative, absorptive, adaptive, and learning--have positive results for the event as well as for its sponsors. When effectively undertaken and coordinated, the activities can lead to ongoing renewals of the sponsorship program and open the door for new sponsors. The study’s perspective is that of the event, unusual in research on sponsorship.

Is it Worth a Pay Cut to Work for a Great Manager (Like Bill Belichick)?

by Boris Groysberg & Abhijit Naik

Few of us want to take less money to move to another organization, but Boris Groysberg and Abhijit Naik point to research that shows hooking up with the right manager—whether in sports or business—can quickly increase your value even if your pay is less. Open for comment; 0 Comments.

NFL Black Monday: How Much Do Coaches Really Matter?

by Boris Groysberg & Abhijit Naik

Teams planning management changes on "Black Monday" can learn much from academic research on National Football League coaches, say Boris Groysberg and Abhijit Naik. The findings hold value not only for football teams, but for any organization that depends on leadership for success. Open for comment; 0 Comments.

What’s the Value of a Win in College Athletics?

by Roberta Holland

As debate continues over whether student-athletes should be paid, professor Doug Chung’s research on the massive money being earned by collegiate football and basketball programs could help guide the answer. Open for comment; 0 Comments.

Winners and Losers at the Olympics

Re: Stephen A. Greyser

We know which athletes won and lost in Turin, but what about the companies and individuals looking for business gold? Professor Stephen A. Greyser looks at the results—and the possibilities ahead in China. Closed for comment; 0 Comments.