9. Manage and oversee the work processes of a sports and exercise organisation, demonstrating enterprise when doing so
Enterprising Sports Professionals take responsibility for managing and leading operations and the efficient performance of duties. Through their enterprising working approach, Sports Professionals meet the preconditions for the effective provision of sports and exercise options and/or service.
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My influence on the process of operational management is the best example of me exploring and gaining knowledge in how to address and solute different problems. I needed clarification on the initial situation of MIBOSO. Points that drew my attention were practical implementation of opening hours of MIBOSO and the maintenance of the facility in daily cleaning and tidying up sport materials. Asking for the initial approach it became clear to me that MIBOSO wasn’t as much aware on these topics as I had imagined. Opening hours were adapted accordingly to the situation if clients would check in or not.
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Therefore, I took the pro-active approach in opening the facility of MIBOSO by myself at to facilitate consistent opening hours as MIBOSO mentions to clients, being 07:00 – 22:00. This helped me to get an insight in the efficiency of the cleaning tasks since in the initial situation they were more pushed aside although of being of great importance for the quality of business. By revising the list of tasks that had to be done on a daily base I made sure a more consistent quality of the facility could be delivered. A few examples of this are: addressing problems of unclean air conditioning shafts and vents, changing the moments of cleaning and stocking the sanitary facilities at the end of each day as well as tidying up the different sport materials that would spread during the day and making sure the towel services rolled out in 2019 was maintained as promised. Other duties were shifted to the start-up of each day, like the cleaning the dust that collected and would fall during night time as well as assuring the purchase of larger doormats, so less filth and dust would enter the facility of MIBOSO as seen on the right. The execution of these tasks in the operational mentioned was communicated a lot better in my own perception than other tasks. By sharing my point of view and needs for improvement towards the owners in purchasing larger doormats and assuring the cleaning tasks got done by the team. I supported in steering and leading the team towards the desired level of operations and complimenting them when tasks were well-executed.
Since this approach turned out to be successful I reflect on this in a positive manner and I discovered a quality that I didn’t knew I possessed on a level not everyone does. Personally, this made clear to me that my strengths are in the fields of structuring and organizing this matter of subjects in facility management. Also, the amount of joy that it brought me to facilitate these services for others gave me insights on heading my professional career more in this direction. To fulfil my own job satisfaction further down my career.
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Other aspects involving the improvement of operational management were changes according to sports materials and supportive structures to increase the quality of indoor environment and health for clients. In the initial situations the barbell section of MIBOSO was placed on fitness mats rather than a more common rubber surface. That would protect the floor and the safety of clients in a better way. Some clients had also outgrown the available dumbbells at MIBOSO, so there was a need for heavier weights as was already planned by the owners. More in line with my project was the wish of the owners to offer their clients fruit water supported with information on the benefits the ingredients have on one’s health. My part in this is maintaining the delivery of these services as mentioned before.
My actions in this process of improvement was researching different solutions to create a safer training environment in the barbell section. Different suppliers of rubber products were taking in consideration based upon price and appearance, before discussing these with the owners of MIBOSO. According to the new dumbbells and dumbbell racks I had a more practical and managerial role in contacting the supplier, taking care of the delivery of the products and putting these products together and placing them in such a way that the open feel of the indoor environment of MIBOSO wouldn’t be negatively affected. Results of my efforts are shown on the bottom of the page.
The implementation of the fruit water is also more on the practical side, because I take care of the amount of stock and making the fruit water during the morning shifts. The selection of monthly brews is done in consent with the rest of the team so a fruit water to everyone’s likings will be served.
All these actions resulted in a more complete training environment for the clients as can be seen in the pictures on the right. The choice in rubber mats with a MIBOSO logo on it was well-received throughout the different parties involved. In line with the other improvements with increased number of dumbbells, free towel and soap service and the implementation of fruit water. Clients experience the indoor environment as more complete as can be found in the research of my graduation project. Appendix 12: Improvement of gym environment more pictures are shown.
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Reflecting on my efforts and influence within the improvements that took place over the course of the year I may say I’ve been a great addition to the current team so far. It’s been said more than often by the owners of MIBOSO that without me certain aspects of improvements and especially the maintenance of these improvements would not have happened. As well as the following is being stated in the feedback given by the internship supervisor.
