Presentation Type
Paper
Abstract
Managers are often critical to the efficiency and effectiveness of an organization. As a result, organizations should hire individuals that have characteristics that match the needs and expectations of the firm (Wright, McMahan, & McWilliams, 1994). However, the National Football League (NFL) may go against this conventional wisdom. According to experts, the NFL has become a “copycat league” in which teams utilize league trends rather than hiring the most qualified candidate (Greenberg, 2009). To determine the validity of this statement, the study examines the hiring practices of NFL head coaches over the past two decades. By comparing the credentials of new hires with incumbent coaches, one is able to determine whether selection is based on a unique choice or due to external pressures that make the hiring of NFL coaches an isomorphic process. Professional relationships amongst members of the league are also addressed in the study. An individual is thought to have gained valuable knowledge and skills under the tutelage of their mentor, which may increase their perceived value in the job market (Parise, 2007). Using a social network analysis, the study will examines these relationships in the future to determine the league’s subgroup structures and their connections to past hiring decisions.
Categories
Social Sciences
Research Type
Thesis
Mentor Information
Dr. E. Kevin Renshler
Included in
An examination of influences on hiring practices used to select head coaches in the National Football League from 1991 to 2010
Managers are often critical to the efficiency and effectiveness of an organization. As a result, organizations should hire individuals that have characteristics that match the needs and expectations of the firm (Wright, McMahan, & McWilliams, 1994). However, the National Football League (NFL) may go against this conventional wisdom. According to experts, the NFL has become a “copycat league” in which teams utilize league trends rather than hiring the most qualified candidate (Greenberg, 2009). To determine the validity of this statement, the study examines the hiring practices of NFL head coaches over the past two decades. By comparing the credentials of new hires with incumbent coaches, one is able to determine whether selection is based on a unique choice or due to external pressures that make the hiring of NFL coaches an isomorphic process. Professional relationships amongst members of the league are also addressed in the study. An individual is thought to have gained valuable knowledge and skills under the tutelage of their mentor, which may increase their perceived value in the job market (Parise, 2007). Using a social network analysis, the study will examines these relationships in the future to determine the league’s subgroup structures and their connections to past hiring decisions.
