Strategic planning : development plan for Lahen Pojat Junnut ry.

Abstract

Football is the largest team sport in Finland with over 350 000 licenced players, and much over 500 000 who are directly, or indirectly in touch with the sport. Association type clubs are most common in Finland and are highly dependant on volunteerism, which makes sporting affordable. This thesis studies the managemental steps to be taken, in order to create and develop as an association football club in Finland. The goal is to develop Lahen Pojat Junnut football club by creating a strategic management plan.

Lahen Pojat Junnut ry is a young association football club, based in Lahti, Finland. The club has four teams at the moment and are looking to patientally grow each year. Implementing a strategic management plan into the club, helps the organization create a sustainable platform for the future. This research-oriented thesis was conducted from a qualitative point-of-view, that can be used as a tool or referance for all similar nonprofit organizations.

The implementation includes a strategic management process model made for the club, and the authors developmental suggestions based on collected data and theory.

In conclusion, the strategic development plan is very much needed in the respective club. Organizational structure and job descriptions were overlapping, mission- and vision statements were non-existant and future goals were not placed. A planning tool with the authors developmental suggestions were provided as a product to the respective football club.

This thesis was conducted in-all during the spring of 2015.