Unionization in Baseball Organizations - Essay Example

OUTLINE Introduction ment of the Problem Purpose of the Study Significance of the Study Research Questions Assumptions Limitations Methodology Methods of Research used The Research Design Instruments used Description of the Data used in the study Ethical considerations Analysis Conclusion References Unionization on the Major League Baseball INTRODUCTION Statement of the Problem It is said that the unionization has both positive and negative effects on major league baseball. Hence, these effects must be investigated and lessons must be learned and derived from this study. Purpose of the Study This study will be conducted in order to determine the positive and negative effects of unionization on major league baseball, and provide meaningful lessons such as learning their effective management strategies. This study will also aim to increase the awareness and provide a better understanding of the issues and problems concerning the major league baseball and its organizations in order to contribute an effective approach in addressing their problems. Significance of the Study If the positive and negative effects of unionization on major league baseball will be determined, this study will be a benefit to other major sports leagues experiencing problems handling their unions. Also, if effectiveness is supported, this study will be significant in developing underachieving major sports leagues and their organizations as productive and effective entities in the future. Research Questions Specifically this study will address the following questions: 1. What significant positive and negative effects of unionization on major league baseball were determined 2. What specific alternatives or measures can be done to help improve the performance of major league baseball through unionization Assumptions The research will be based on the following assumptions: (a) all participants will be utilizing the correct procedures as outlined in the guidelines for the specific methodology employed, and (b) all participants will answer questions honestly to the best of their ability. Limitations Time will be the greatest limitation to this research, which could hinder long-term outcome objectives. Environmental factors, such as socioeconomic status, will not be controlled, and this could create many variables within the research. As this study will utilize a small sample of respondents, the results may not effectively represent the general population. METHODOLOGY This study was conducted in order to determine the positive and negative effects of unionization on major league baseball. In this study, the interview method of data gathering was utilized, with a combined total of 25 football players and 25 football managers as participants. Methods of Research Used For this study, the descriptive method was utilized. In this method, the study became cheap and quick. It also suggested unanticipated hypotheses. This paper utilized the descriptive approach because it is difficult to disregards alternative explanations. Therefore observations are being used to this study. To illustrate the descriptive type of research, Creswell (1994) guided the researcher. "The purpose of employing this method was to describe the nature of a situation, as it existed at the time of the study and explored the cause/s of particular phenomena. The researcher opted to use this kind of research considering the desire of the researcher to obtain first hand data from the respondents so as to formulate rational and sound conclusions and recommendations for the study" (Remenyi, 1998). To come up with pertinent findings and provide credible recommendations, this study utilized two sources of research: primary and secondary. Primary research data were obtained through this new research study. Questionnaire survey and in-depth interview was also conducted. On the other hand, the secondary research data were obtained from previous studies on the same topic. The Research Design In order to come up with the most suitable research approaches and strategies for this study, the research process "onion" was undertaken. This was because conducting a research was like peeling the back layers of an onion-in order to come to the central issue of how to collect the necessary data needed to answer the research questions and objectives, important layers should be first peeled away. With the said process, the researcher was able to create an outline on what measures are most appropriate to be applied in the study (Robson, 2002). Instruments used A self-administered questionnaire, or the type of questionnaire that was usually completed by respondents (Saunders et al, 2003), had been constructed by the researcher to gather the needed data. To further enhance the study on the customer satisfaction, the researcher prepared a survey-questionnaire wherein the respondents graded each statement. The decision was made to use a questionnaire for the data collection for this project due to the sensitivity of the information being obtained (Creswell, 1994). It was important for the respondents to be open and honest in their responses. The use of the questionnaire provided the researcher with the ability to test the views and attitudes of the respondents. The survey-questionnaires also used open-ended questions to obtain as much information as possible about how the interviewee felt about the research topic. Interviews took between one and two hours. The questions that were used during the interview were based on the research questions for this project; they have been reviewed, refined and approved by the project supervisor. The researcher designed a semi-structured interview. Here, the researcher encouraged the interviewee to clarify vague statements and to further elaborate on brief comments. The interviewer did not share his/her own beliefs and opinions. Description of the Data Used in the Study The study also utilized secondary data. Secondary data included raw data and published summaries, as well as both quantitative and qualitative data. Saunders et al (2003) deduced that secondary data fall into three main subgroups documentary data, interview-based data, and those compiled from different sources. Documentary secondary data, accordingly, are the ones often used in research projects that also use primary data collection data methods, although such data can also be used on their own or be combined with other secondary data. Meanwhile, interview-based secondary data are those data collected by questionnaires that have already been analyzed for their original purpose; usually, such data refer to organizations, people or households and are made available as compiled data tables or as a computer-readable matrix of raw data. Ethical Considerations In keeping with the procedures and in the interest of maintaining the integrity of the proposed research, the researcher made every effort to ensure that the ethical guidelines of the medical profession will be strictly followed. All data collected were kept in a secure location. The names of the respondents and their answers were not revealed. ANALYSIS Based on the interviews with the 25 baseball players and the 25 baseball managers, the author learned that because of unionization, baseball organizations are able to possess some unique characteristics that separate them from other baseball organizations without unions in terms of their very clearly determined role, the disciplinary control over players and officials, and their need to link and liaise with other baseball organizations such as district baseball leagues, national baseball bodies or even international baseball bodies. The key is that without the existence of unionization, it is often difficult for any baseball group to remain totally autonomous and independent except for solely recreational baseball organizations. As soon as a higher level of competition or performance is involved, the body must become very complex (Berry, 1986). The author also learned that it is essential for a baseball organization to undergo unionization because this will result in a clearly identified structure probably hierarchical, where each individual has a clearly identified role to play in achieving progress for the baseball organization. This type of structure is perhaps a little dated because it relies on clearly defined levels of management, but it gets things done and means that people are quite clear as to what they are in the organization to do. It can be especially useful in spare-time amateur baseball organizations. In essence unionization in a highly structured baseball organization can be quite helpful in that it helps clarify and delineate individual roles, and allows people to achieve their tasks within the clear structure. It is vitally important that baseball organizations have an open approach to involving everyone who has something to offer to the sport and its participants. An attitude which excludes individuals is most inefficient, ineffective, divisive and damaging, and can create strife within the baseball organization, and this mostly happens because of the lack of unionization (Riordan, 1999). The author learned that the existence of unionization in any baseball organization is a key in the sense that the morals, attitudes and standards it portrays will be carried right into the baseball games hall or sports field, through its organizational structures. The absolutely vital necessity for anyone working in a baseball organization or a baseball setting is to have a fundamental interest and an empathy with all the other people involved. These can be achieved through unionization. It is not necessary to be a fanatic, and sometimes it is a distinct disadvantage because fanatics can become blinkered to new ideas and different ways of doing things. It is, however, quite important that people understand the process of unionization and the love that people have for baseball so that they can relate to them on a meaningful level. There are many examples of people trying to come into the leisure scene, including baseball, and telling others how to operate, while clearly not understanding where the baseball organization or agency is coming from in terms of interest and commitment. This is a recipe for disaster, and has proved extremely unsuccessful in a number of situations and caused a good deal of antagonism and upset within baseball organizations (Champion, 2005). CONCLUSION Baseball organizations may also have some unique characteristics that separate them from other voluntary sports organizations in terms of their very clearly determined role. The role that unionization plays in the management of baseball organizations depends and its effect to people depend on how well people accept unionization. Through an effective unionization plan and an effective public relations plan people can have a better understanding of unionization and its goals as well as the sport. Through these plans the people can have a better idea on how unionization can make baseball better. REFERENCES Creswell, J.W. 1994. Research design. Qualitative and quantitative approaches. Thousand Oaks, California: Sage. Berry, R, 1986. Labor Relations in Professional Sports. Auburn House Champion, W, 2005. Sports Law in a Nutshell. West. Remenyi, D., Williams, B., and Swartz, E. 1998. Doing Research in Business Management: An Introduction to Process and Method. London: Sage. Riordan, J, 1999. International Politics of Sport in the 20th Century. Spon Press; 1st edition Robson, C. 2002. Real World Research, 2nd Ed. Oxford: Blackwell. Saunders, M., Lewis, P. and Thornhill, A. 2003. Research Methods for Business Students, 3rd Ed. London: Prentice Hall Financial Times. Read More