Baton Rouge, LA -- School of Kinesiology’s Per Svensson, PhD, received the Sport Management Association of Australia and New Zealand’s (SMAANZ) Best Research Paper Award at the 28th annual conference held in Melbourne, Australia for his research with Katherine Raw, PhD, (Swinburne University of Technology and Deakin University) on the role of failure in the field of sport for development and peace.  

Svensson's research focused on a global sample of community-based organizations seeking to contribute to the United Nation's Sustainable Development Goals through sport-based social change initiatives. Specifically, the award-winning research study explores how leaders of sport for social change organizations define failure, lessons learned from their experiences of failure, and identifies strategies for how organizational leaders can better manage failure for improved learning and innovation. 

One of the aims of the larger research study that the award-winning paper was based on is to remove the stigma often associated with “failure” and emphasize that recognizing, discussing, and sharing experiences of failure is of utmost importance if more impactful and sustainable impacts are to be realized. The findings of the study have important implications for policymakers, funders, and other resource providers to design better support systems for the organizations tasked with addressing critical social issues. 

The Sport Management Association of Australia and New Zealand (SMAANZ) was established in 1995 to encourage scholarly inquiry into sport management related research and to provide the opportunity to present results from this research. The association organizes an annual international research conference and also operates Sport Management Review, the highest-ranked peer-reviewed journal in the field of sport management. This year’s conference was attended by scholars from around the world with a theme focused on sport innovation. 

Svensson is an Associate Professor in Sport Management with his research primarily focused on organizations operating sport-based programs aimed at addressing social issues. Specifically, his work examines organizational capacity and innovation in the field of Sport for Development and Peace. He is recognized as one of the leading experts on the management of such organizations and has published extensively in top-ranked academic journals. His scholarship has been recognized through several international awards in sport management and within the broader field of nonprofit management. 

He recently co-edited a book entitled, Social Innovation, Social Entrepreneurship, and Sport for Development and Peace. Svensson is currently the Co-Editor for the Journal of Sport for Development and serves on the editorial board of several additional journals. He also actively works with industry organizations and policymakers. Svensson has previously been invited to share his expertise with members of the United Nations and currently serves as the chair of a global committee organized by Common Goal on how to develop a certification for best practices in the management of sport for good initiatives around the world.

About SOK

The LSU School of Kinesiology (SOK) advances the understanding of physical activity, sport, and health to optimize the quality of life for diverse populations through excellence in teaching, learning, discovery, and engagement. SOK offers a BS, MS, Online MS, PhD, and two certificate options. Graduates go on to successful careers in the health and fitness industry, corporate wellness, sport agencies and businesses, athletic administration, and K-12 educational settings. SOK is part of the College of Human Sciences & Education.  

Visit the School of Kinesiology at www.lsu.edu/chse/kinesiology

About CHSE

The College of Human Sciences & Education (CHSE) is a nationally accredited division of Louisiana State University. The college is comprised of the School of Education, the School of Kinesiology, the School of Leadership & Human Resource Development, the School of Library & Information Science, the School of Social Work, and the University Laboratory School. These combined schools offer 8 undergraduate degree programs, 18 graduate programs, and 7 online graduate degree and/or certificate programs, enrolling more than 1,900 undergraduate and 1,120 graduate students. The College is committed to achieving the highest standards in teaching, research, and service and is committed to improving quality of life across the lifespan. 

Visit the College of Human Sciences & Education at www.lsu.edu/chse