Sport Management Studies

T The Role of Bricolage in Exploiting Opportunities in Sports SMEs

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

Hiwa Bahramfard 1
Ghodratollah Bagheri 1
Asadullah Kardanayij 2
ali saberi 1

1 Department of Management and Accounting, Faculty of Farabi School, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran

2 Department of Strategic management, Faculty of Management and Economics, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran

https://doi.org/10.22089/smrj.2025.15506.3933
Abstract
Extended Abstract
Background and Purpose
Sports entrepreneurship emerges at the intersection where sports organizations collaborate with various societal elements to seize emerging opportunities and create economic and social value. In recent years, the sports sector has faced significant challenges, including high unemployment rates among sports graduates, a limited number of sports-related businesses, and constraints on entrepreneurial innovation within sports organizations. Additionally, the sports industry’s contribution to the gross domestic product remains relatively low, and there is considerable uncertainty regarding the identification and exploitation of entrepreneurial opportunities within the sector. These challenges underscore the urgent need to foster innovative thinking, promote the creation and discovery of entrepreneurial opportunities, and identify the factors that influence opportunity exploitation in sports businesses.
One promising concept in entrepreneurship research is bricolage, which refers to the creative and resourceful recombination of existing resources to solve problems and exploit opportunities. While bricolage has been extensively studied in general entrepreneurship literature and shown to enhance investment performance, its application in the context of opportunity exploitation in small sports businesses remains underexplored. This research aims to address this gap by investigating the role of bricolage in the exploitation of entrepreneurial opportunities within small and medium-sized sports enterprises (SMEs).
Methods
This study employed a mixed-methods approach, integrating both quantitative and qualitative techniques to comprehensively identify the effective factors, dimensions, and indicators of bricolage in the context of sports entrepreneurship.
The research began with a systematic literature review conducted across databases including Google Scholar, Elsevier, ScienceDirect, SID, CiteSeer, and Normex. The review focused on identifying relevant studies published between 2010 and 2022 that addressed bricolage and entrepreneurial opportunity exploitation. A meta-synthesis approach was employed to analyze and synthesize findings from these studies, ensuring a robust theoretical foundation.
Following the literature review, semi-structured interviews were conducted with eleven academic experts specializing in sports entrepreneurship to gather in-depth insights into the factors influencing bricolage. The Delphi method was subsequently applied to achieve consensus among these experts regarding the identified factors and their relative importance.
In the final qualitative step, narrative analysis was performed on the lived experiences of six sports entrepreneurial leaders. This analysis provided a rich, contextual understanding of how bricolage operates in real-world entrepreneurial journeys within the sports sector.
To ensure the validity and reliability of the research findings, multiple methods were employed. The reliability of the Delphi section’s indicators was assessed using Cronbach’s alpha, confirming internal consistency. Construct validity was evaluated through structural equation modeling (SEM) using SmartPLS software, which verified the robustness of the proposed model.
 
Results
The research identified six key dimensions and forty-seven specific indicators of bricolage that are effective in exploiting entrepreneurial opportunities within small and medium-sized sports businesses. These dimensions emerged from the triangulation of data sources—literature review, expert interviews, and narrative analysis—and were validated through rigorous reliability and validity testing.
The six dimensions identified encompass a broad range of factors that collectively facilitate opportunity exploitation:

Innovation and Creativity: This dimension captures the ability of sports entrepreneurs to generate novel ideas, adapt creatively to constraints, and develop unique solutions that leverage available resources.
Opportunity Creation and Recognition: This involves the proactive identification and development of new market opportunities, often through unconventional means and recombination of existing assets.
Growth of Capital: Access to financial resources and the strategic management of capital growth are critical for scaling entrepreneurial ventures in sports.
Development of Goods and Services: This dimension focuses on the enhancement and diversification of sports-related products and services to meet evolving market demands.
Knowledge Development: Continuous learning, knowledge acquisition, and the effective use of information contribute to sustained entrepreneurial success.
Opportunity Exploitation: The practical application of bricolage principles to seize and maximize entrepreneurial opportunities in dynamic and resource-constrained environments.

The narrative analysis of sports entrepreneurial leaders revealed that bricolage enables SMEs to overcome resource limitations by creatively combining heterogeneous resources and knowledge. This approach fosters flexibility and resilience, allowing sports businesses to navigate competitive markets and rapidly changing consumer preferences.
 
Conclusion
This study provides a comprehensive model of bricolage in the context of sports entrepreneurship, identifying six dimensions and forty-seven indicators that effectively support the exploitation of entrepreneurial opportunities in small and medium-sized sports businesses. The mixed-methods approach, combining systematic literature review, expert consensus, and narrative analysis, ensures the robustness and applicability of the model.
The research underscores the critical role of bricolage as an innovative and flexible strategy that enables sports SMEs to overcome resource constraints, adapt to changing market conditions, and achieve sustainable growth. Policymakers and practitioners in the sports industry are encouraged to foster environments that support bricolage behaviors by facilitating knowledge sharing, encouraging creativity, and providing access to financial and informational resources.
Ultimately, embracing bricolage can empower sports SMEs to unlock new opportunities, enhance their competitiveness, and contribute meaningfully to the broader sports economy.
Article Message
Bricolage plays an effective role in exploiting opportunities within small and medium-sized sports enterprises. It enables these businesses to create and develop new opportunities, especially during crises, by utilizing minimal resources and facilities.
Ethical Considerations
All ethical protocols were rigorously observed throughout this study. Participants provided informed consent; confidentiality and anonymity were diligently maintained. Researchers upheld the rights and dignity of all individuals involved, adhering strictly to established principles of research ethics.
Authors’ Contributions
Conceptualization: Hiwa Bahramfard, Ghodratallah Bagheri Ragheb, Asadollah Kordnaeij
Data Collection: Hiwa Bahramfard, Ghodratallah Bagheri Ragheb
Data Analysis: Hiwa Bahramfard, Asadollah Kordnaeij
Manuscript Writing: Hiwa Bahramfard, Asadollah Kordnaeij, Ali Saberi
Review and Editing: Hiwa Bahramfard, Asadollah Kordnaeij, Ali Saberi
Responsible for funding: Hiwa Bahramfard, Ghodratallah Bagheri Ragheb
Literature Review: Hiwa Bahramfard, Asadollah Kordnaeij
Project Manager: Hiwa Bahramfard, Asadollah Kordnaeij
Any other Contributions: Theoretical support and scientific guidance by all authors at all stages of the research
Conflict of Interest
The authors declare no conflicts of interest.
Acknowledgments
The authors sincerely thank all participants and supporting institutions for their invaluable assistance and contributions to this research.

Keywords

Opportunity Creation, Business Development, Entrepreneurial Opportunities, Sports Entrepreneurship, SMEs

Subjects

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Sport Management Studies
Volume 17, Issue 90
September and October 2025
Pages 39-62

  • Receive Date 14 September 2023
  • Revise Date 26 September 2024
  • Accept Date 20 January 2025

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