A double-edged sword: resource dependence of non-profit sports organisations in China within the government service procurement framework

Non-profit sports organizations increasingly participate in government service procurement, seeking vital resources. This study conducted interviews with staff members of sports non-profit organizations in the central provinces of China to understand the impact of participating in government service procurement on non-profit sports organizations. The data was analyzed using NVivo12 software, in conjunction with Resource Dependency Theory (RDT) to propose three subject categories relevant to the subjects of this study, namely (a) resources obtained by the organisation, (b) attitudes of the organisation towards the government and (c) specific behaviours taken by the organisation. The ­'government-public duality' of sports non-profit organisations in China makes the government purchase of services, not a fully marketable option. Organizations exhibit proactive behaviors beyond contractual obligations to nurture relationships. This study emphasizes the need to prevent the alienation of non-profit sports organizations in government service procurement, underscoring the importance of fostering and enhancing collaboration in the sports field.