SPORTS TALENT MANAGEMENT AND ITS IMPACT ON ACHIEVING COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGE IN IRAQI SPORTS CLUBS

Abstract

The study aimed to determine the effect of sports talent management on competitive advantage in Iraqi sports clubs. This study aims to build a field-based model linking the pillars of talent management (attraction, identification and selection, development, motivation and retention) with indicators of competitive advantage (performance quality, innovation, responsiveness, reputation, and sustainability). The clubs feel the need to shift from seasonal management of distinguished players, coaches and administrators to an institutional system that takes into account planning, data and structured development pathways. The descriptive research design will be used to survey and correlate. The constructing of 36 items involves four dimensions of talent management and four dimensions of competitive advantage. The application model, proposed by the researchers, involved a random stratified sample of 140 board member coaches and administrators of Baghdad and Middle Euphrates region Iraqi clubs. Data that were simulated showed that talent management was high and had a mean of 3.64 out of 5. Meanwhile, competitive advantage has a mean of 3.72. There was a strong positive correlation of 0.81 between the two variables, while talent management explained 66% variance in competitive advantage.