Abstract:
This thesis explores the role of innovation and entrepreneurship in non-profit sports
organizations, using the Albanian Football Federation (FSHF) as a case study. As a
governing body operating within a complex and resource-constrained environment, the
FSHF represents a valuable context for analyzing how innovation and entrepreneurial
practices are conceptualized, implemented, and institutionalized in non-profit sports
governance. The study adopts a qualitative research design, utilizing semi-structured
interviews with eight key informants across various departments of the FSHF. Thematic
analysis, supported by NVivo software, was conducted to identify core themes related to
innovation definitions, leadership influence, organizational culture, implementation
processes, challenges, and strategic alignment with entrepreneurial activities.
Findings reveal that while innovation and entrepreneurship are recognized as essential for
the federation’s modernization and long-term sustainability, their integration into
organizational processes remains partial and uneven. Leadership commitment and
international partnerships emerged as enablers of change, while bureaucratic inertia, cultural
resistance, and limited resources persist as key barriers. The study also highlights how the
FSHF balances its non-profit mission with commercial activities through sponsorships,
grassroots programs, and public-private partnerships. Moreover, a growing openness to
technological tools and data-driven strategies signals the federation's readiness to engage
more deeply with innovative practices.
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This study advances scholarly kn owledge of innovation in non-profit sport contexts,
especially in developing nations, and provides useful suggestions for boosting sport
federations' entrepreneurial capacity. The results highlight how crucial leadership, strategic
alignment, cultural change, and outside cooperation are to creating a long-lasting innovation
ecosystem in nonprofit sports organizations.