Authors
1 Ph.D. Student sports management, Ha.c., Islamic Azad University, Hamedan, Iran
2 Department of Physical Education, Mal.c., Islamic Azad University, Malayer, Iran
3 Department of Physical Education, Ha.c., Islamic Azad University, Hamedan, Iran
4 Department of Educational Sciences, Farhangian University, Tehran, Iran
Abstract
Objective: The present study aims to map out a roadmap for enhancing the capabilities of human capital stewards within the elite sport ecosystem and to facilitate a transition from traditional paradigms to contemporary approaches. The sports industry is experiencing profound transformations driven by digitalization and the emergence of new generations, rendering classical personnel management practices increasingly inadequate.
Methodology: In terms of purpose, this research is applied–developmental, and from a methodological perspective, it adopts a mixed-methods approach with an exploratory orientation. The participants consisted of 22 academic and executive experts selected through snowball sampling.
Results:In the first phase, using thematic analysis of interviews and a Delphi panel, 12 core components were extracted and categorized into four overarching dimensions: strategic, technological, behavioral, and professional. In the second phase, to explain causal relationships and move beyond mere description, structural analysis was conducted using MICMAC software. The results of the cross-impact matrix analysis revealed that the system is in an unstable state, with strategic thinking, information analytics, and cross-border communication functioning as key driving and leverage variables. In the final stage, by employing a matrix of critical uncertainties based on the two axes of digital maturity and global interactions, four future scenarios were developed: “Simorgh’s Flight” (utopia), “Three-Second Violation” (collapse), “Smart Island”, and “Glass Showcase.”
Conclusion: The findings indicate that organizational survival in the coming decade requires structural transformation and the repositioning of human resource managers as business partners capable of integrating artificial intelligence with international negotiations.
Keywords
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