Strategic issues associated with the development of internal sustainability teams in sport and recreation organizations: A framework for action and sustainable environmental performance

Developing environmentally related strategies is difficult as resource issues enable and constrain strategic planning. These issues affect the levels of awareness, knowledge, and actions of sport and recreation managers. The purpose of this paper is to reveal the strategic planning process developed for internal cross-functional sustainability teams to oversee environmental issues within sport and recreation organizations (i.e., the sustainability team). Analysis of the strategic construction of this team is examined using a conceptual strategic planning framework grounded in a resource based view of the organization (Hart, 1995; Wernerfelt, 1984). Key elements of the development process include selecting individuals to serve on a sustainability team, utilization of tangible and intangible organizational resources, culture, size, roles, and leadership and management issues related to governing the sustainability team.