Title: The implementation of a football certification system - Overcoming barriers and fulfilling success factors associated with the implementation process 

Level: Final assignment for Master Degree in Business Administration

Authors: Robert Carlsson & Emil Ring

Supervisor: Jonas Kågström

Date: 2012 – 05

Aim: The aim of this study is to investigate which factors that influence the implementation process regarding a football quality certification system and especially the certification system in Swedish elite football clubs. We will further look into which factors that are perceived as success factors and which factors that are perceived as barriers.

Method: Our study has the starting point from a previous study made by Carlsson (2011), where barriers and success factors in the implementing phase of the Swedish football certification process was investigated. In this study we wish to develop our understanding of different clubs’ experiences of the certification process, we have therefore used a qualitative approach where we have interviewed four clubs’ playing in Allsvenskan (first division in Sweden).

Result & Conclusions: We can conclude that even though the work with the certification system is fairly new for the Swedish elite football clubs, it appears as they have a satisfying insight into the organizational demands’ of the certification system.

One significant success factor identified in the study is the clubs’ attitude towards the system, where positive attitude overcomes the experienced difficulties associated with the process. Other importing factors that have a major impact of the overall result of the process is having the right prerequisites in terms of staff, time and documentation before implementing the certification system in the club.

Contribution of the thesis: This study has contributed to provide an extensive framework of the possible affecting factors when implementing a football specific quality certification system. Further contribution is the identification of two affecting factors not mentioned in the theoretical framework, communication in the establishing phase and geographical location.

Key words: Football certification system, quality improvement, success factors, barriers, implementation process