Guideline of Management Strategy to Develop Fitness Center in University, China

Lin Su; Prakit  Hongseanyatham

doi:10.60027/ijsasr.2024.3680

Authors

Lin Su Faculty of Sports Science and Technology, Bangkokthonburi University, Thailand https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8954-122X
Prakit Hongseanyatham Faculty of Sports Science and Technology, Bangkokthonburi University, Thailand https://orcid.org/0009-0009-2196-0258

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.60027/ijsasr.2024.3680

Keywords:

Guideline of Management; , Strategy; , Fitness Center; , University

Abstract

Background and Aim: Currently students in China are paying more attention to exercise. With the rising cost of living and increasingly hectic lifestyle in China, there are still relatively few universities with fitness centers and is not yet widespread. In addition, there is a lack of clear management in the fitness center and this does not cover this causes university students to lack support in exercising. The purpose of this study was to construct guidelines for management strategies to develop fitness centers at the university.

Materials and Methods: This study is a survey type and it is qualitative research. The sample group is divided into two groups: the first group was 10 people with stakeholders to be used in interviews to find problems in the current management of fitness centers. Using questions created by the researcher that are based on the 4M and POLC theories; the second group was 15 experts with specialized knowledge including Fitness center managers, University administrators, Fitness center coaches, and Fitness center customers. The researcher will bring the draft strategy to the second group of experts to screen and evaluate to obtain a final strategy that is of high quality and can be used. The researcher took the problems obtained from interviews with stakeholders and analyzed them on a side-by-side basis which includes Policy, Economic, Social, Technology, Environment, and Legal.

Results: The result of this research shows: It was found that 48 draft strategies were consulted and opinions were sought for evaluation and screening from experts. Obtained 31 strategies that have quality and efficiency in actual use which include: 5 Policy strategies, 5 Economic strategies, 6 Social strategies, 5 Technology strategies, 5 Environment strategies, and 5 Legal strategies, and all strategies were accepted by a total of 15 experts.

Conclusion: (1) Fitness management has problems in every aspect and the collected problems are similar. It can be seen that there is a problem of insufficient staff and insufficient equipment in the fitness center to meet the demand. In the matter of budget allocation, there is still no clarity. (2) Management strategies are designed according to problems encountered, such as increasing the number of employees. Using technology helps alleviate responsibility. Including recording the use of the budget. Operating under the policies and laws of China.

References

Açak, M. (2012). An examination of the decision-making styles of hearing-impaired sports club managers in Turkey. Afr. J. Bus. Manag. 6, 8309–8319.

An, Z. (2008). Research on the Current Situation of Gym Operation and Management Environment in Xi'an. Sports World Academic. 2008(1), 41.

Boulding, W., Kalra, A., Staelin, R. & Zeithaml, V.A. (1993). A Dynamic Process Model of Service Quality: From Expectations to Behavioral Intentions. J. Mark. Res. 30, 7–27.

Cai, S. (2016). Research on the Current Situation of Shanghai Laimet Fitness Center Management. Business and Management. Wuhan Sports University.

Chai, M. (2016). Analysis of the business model of Xi'an Gym - taking N M gym as an example, based on the value chain perspective. School of Economics and Management, Northwest University.

Cooper, A.L & Trivedi, A.N. (2012). Fitness memberships and favorable selection in Medicare Advantage plans. N Engl J Med. 366(2),150–7.

Demirkıran, Y. (2015). Analyze the Expectations of the Sports Management Students in Terms of Quality. Procedia Soc. Behav. Sci. 174, 2602–2609.

Eric, G.M. (2017). Fitness Centers. Retrieved from: https://www.wbdg.org/building-types/community-services/fitness-centers

Gao, W. (2022). Let me take you to the gym and see who is there. Chinese Brand. 58.

Hu, Q. (2015). Operation status and developing countermeasure research on the community people’s gyms of Yangpu district of Shanghai. Shanghai Sport University.

Jindaruang, C. (2012). A model for quality management of fitness centers of Rajabhat universities in Thailand. This thesis is part of the studies in the Doctor of Business Administration program. Sports and Entertainment Business Major Graduate School of Management Studies Sripatum University

León-Quismondo, J., García-Unanue, J. & Burillo, P. (2020). Service Perceptions in Fitness Centers: IPA Approach by Gender and Age. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health. 17, 2844.

Li, G. (2017). Analysis of countermeasures for the opening of university stadiums to the outside world. Sports World (Academic Edition), 2017 (8), 59–60.

Li, X. (2009). Theoretical discussion on the management of gymnasiums in ordinary universities. Modern economic information. Sichuan Institute of Technology.

She, K. (2018). Research on the current situation and development strategies of operation and management of university stadiums in Kunming Research. Kunming: Yunnan University.

Sun, J. (2017). Investigation and research on the operation and management status of gyms in colleges and universities in Taiyuan City Research. Taiyuan: Shanxi University.

Voráček, J. Segmentation in sport services. (2016). A typology of fitness customers. Acta Univ. Carol. Kinanthropol. 51, 32–47.

Wang, J. (2015). Research on fitness effects of university gyms in Hubei Province. Wuhan Institute of Physical Education. 2015 (5), 221-233.

Wang, X. (2019). Research and construction on the current situation of college gyms Analysis. Sports World (Academic Edition), 2019 (12), 41-42.

Xu, M. (2021). Research on sports consumption behavior and body image of gym members. Doctor Dissertation: Hunan Normal University.

Yang, Y. (2017). Development status and research of gymnasiums in colleges and universities. School of Economics and Management. Southwest University of Science and Technology. 2017(19), 92-95.

Ye, S. (2009). Research on the development status of public gyms in the Wenzhou urban area. Popular sports. 2009 (2), 135-138.

Zaharia, N. (2016). Sport Managers on Barriers to Industry–Academia Research Collaboration. Journal of Sport Management. 30, 248–264.

Zeithaml, V.A., Berry, L.L. & Parasuraman, A. (1996). The Behavioral Consequences of Service Quality. J. Mark. 60, 31–46.

Zhang, Y., & Jin, C. (2019). Problems existing in the development and operation of college sports venues in Henan Province Analysis of problems and countermeasures. Sports Excellence, 38(1), 52–53.

Zhao, L. (2019). On the confusion and strategies of the collapse of fitness centers in Xi'an. China Economic Journal Electronic Publishing House.

Zhong, T., et al. (2014). On the Service Management of the Community Gymnasiums. Sports Science Research. 2014 (5), 37-43.