The browser you are using is not supported by this website. All versions of Internet Explorer are no longer supported, either by us or Microsoft (read more here: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-365/windows/end-of-ie-support).

Please use a modern browser to fully experience our website, such as the newest versions of Edge, Chrome, Firefox or Safari etc.

Default user image.

Dan Kärreman

Professor

Default user image.

The arena of the professional body : Sport, autonomy and ambition in professional service firms

Author

  • Jana Costas
  • Blagoy Blagoev
  • Dan Kärreman

Summary, in English

This paper explores the interplay of sport, the professional body and the self in professional service firms. We draw on qualitative data collected at two large international management consulting firms to show how individuals use sport to construct and enact themselves as autonomous and ambitious professionals, as well as to escape from frustrations arising in their everyday work life. We develop how this turn to sport can be viewed as an attempt to deal with the conflicting discourses of autonomy and ambition prevalent in professional service firms. In so doing, the paper seeks to contribute to a more nuanced understanding of the significance of the professional body for understanding the management and control regimes of professional service firms.

Publishing year

2016-03-01

Language

English

Pages

10-19

Publication/Series

Scandinavian Journal of Management

Volume

32

Issue

1

Document type

Journal article

Publisher

Elsevier

Topic

  • Business Administration

Keywords

  • Ambition
  • Autonomy
  • Professional body
  • Professional self
  • Sport

Status

Published

ISBN/ISSN/Other

  • ISSN: 0956-5221