Designing a Patriarchal Leadership Model in the Smart City Sports Governance Ecosystem

Abstract

The purpose of this research was to design a paternalistic leadership model in the smart city sports governance ecosystem and precisely explain its interactive mechanisms in improving governance efficiency, active stakeholder participation, and sports service innovation development. This research is applied in purpose and exploratory-developmental in nature, conducted using a qualitative approach and grounded theory strategy (Strauss and Corbin approach). Data were collected through in-depth semi-structured interviews with 22 prominent experts in sports management, smart urban governance, and data and technology specialists. The sampling process was purposive and theoretical, continuing until the theoretical data saturation stage was reached. Data analysis was performed simultaneously with data collection through three stages of open, axial, and selective coding, ultimately extracting 361 initial codes and organizing them into the categories of the paradigmatic model. The findings showed that causal conditions include value orientation, supportive accountability, the need for network coordination, digitalization pressure, data governance requirements, and socio-cultural sensitivities. Contextual conditions encompass institutional architecture, political economy, culture, social capital, and technological infrastructure maturity, while intervening conditions include leader competencies, stakeholder support, organizational readiness, media climate, and performance pressures. Core strategies included regulating leadership behavior, delineating authority, participation mechanisms, data governance, network transparency, agility, and human capital empowerment. The consequences also include improving decision-making quality, governance efficiency, strengthening trust, service innovation, equity, and increasing ecosystem resilience. The final model presents a localized framework for synchronizing responsible authority, trust-building support, and responsive ethics in smart city sports governance.