Ski Jumping – Talent Battle in a Learning Organization

• Authors: Marko Ferjan , Mitja Mežnar , Eva Jereb
• Languages of publication: EN

Abstracts

EN

The concepts of learning organization and organizational learning have made a significant contribution to the development of some major global companies such as Nokia, Oracle, Microsoft and others. This article explores whether the learning organization concept has proved successful in sports, specifically in ski jumping. The study was conducted among ski jumpers who compete in the World Cup. The questionnaire was distributed to 130 ski jumpers, and 54 correctly completed questionnaires were returned. The study has indicated that ski jumping is a sport of distinct individualists. Individual talent is an extremely important factor for success in this sport. We can say with absolute certainty that all surveyed ski jumpers are able to take 16th to 50th place in a World Cup race. The differences between competitors are very minor, even in the biggest races. Therefore, when it comes to success, every single detail matters. We have identified a weak correlation between the best sporting achievement and collaboration in the testing of new equipment. In the past, some of the best results were achieved on the basis of experimentation, but contemporary coaches do not dare to over-experiment with the technique. Too frequent progress measurements place a burden on competitors. There is a positive correlation between the frequency of individual analysis and the success of a competitor, while the best achievement and variables from “team work” group are negatively correlated. The relationships within a team are obviously very complex.

Keywords

EN

learning organization; sports organization; ski jumping

• Publisher: Sciendo
• Journal: Organizacija
• Year: 2013
• Volume: 46
• Issue: 4
• Pages: 119-129

Dates

published

2013-07-01

online

2013-08-15

Contributors

author

Marko Ferjan

• University of Maribor, Faculty of Organizational Sciences, Kidričeva cesta 55a, 4000 Kranj, Slovenia

author

Mitja Mežnar

• Ravne 29, 4290 Tržič, Slovenia

author

Eva Jereb

• University of Maribor, Faculty of Organizational Sciences, Kidričeva cesta 55a, 4000 Kranj, Slovenia

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Identifiers

DOI

10.2478/orga-2013-0014