Browsing by Author "Knossalla, Maximilian Hendrik"
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- The failed investor deal in the Bundesliga : a business case study of stakeholder theory and hybrid organizations in German footballPublication . Knossalla, Maximilian Hendrik; Lancastre, FilipaIn 2023/2024, the German football league (DFL) pursued a billion-euro deal with a private equity investor. The capital was intended for future investments, particularly to strengthen the league's international competitiveness. Although the required voting majority of clubs was achieved, the process was cancelled after weeks of fan protests. This case study investigates the reasons behind the deal's failure and highlights the challenges organizations face when managing multiple stakeholders with conflicting interests. It illustrates the complexities in hybrid organizations, which must balance financial objectives with non-financial goals, in this case cultural responsibilities. The case study serves as an educational tool, which may be used in the context of a business ethics course at the master's level. It allows students to apply theoretical frameworks, such as the stakeholder salience model, to a real-world business scenario. By working through the case, students gain a deeper understanding of stakeholder management challenges, particularly in emotionally charged environments. In order to provide additional insights beyond publicly available information, seven expert interviews were conducted. These experts have extensive experience in the football industry, working for the DFL, sports consultancies or fan organizations. The interview findings indicate that the DFL's inadequate communication, lack of transparency, misjudgment of stakeholder relevance, and insufficient stakeholder participation in decision-making were key factors in the deal's failure. This case serves as a relevant example of the critical role effective stakeholder management plays in hybrid organizations, particularly within the football industry. The case reinforces the practical applicability of stakeholder theory and hybrid organization models.