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Featured Post from University of Delaware
Sixers' summer soap opera: What the Harden-Morey rift can teach us about organizational dynamics
Aug 15, 2023
2 min
Did star point guard James Harden quit on the Philadelphia 76ers? Or did general manager Daryl Morey break his promise that a large contract would be coming his way after the former MVP took a pay cut last season?
As is almost always the case, the answer sits somewhere in the middle, and that's a complicated place for it to be.
But Kyle Emich, professor of management at the University of Delaware, said there are lessons in the latest Sixers' offseason debacle that can be applied to teams and culture in the workplace:
- When you are part of an organization, you need to feel what's called "task significance" to be motivated to do your job. This means that you need to feel that your job has a positive impact on the organization or broader society.
- The problems between Harden and Morey indicate that, although playing for the fans may give him some motivation, he no longer believes that the organization is a positive entity. This will greatly decrease his motivation, which influences practice and on-the-court performance (assuming he goes back on his threat to return).
- There is an even larger potential influence on things he is not paid for, but that are very important for the 76ers (such as informal mentoring of players like rising star Tyrese Maxey; acting as a role model (e.g., arriving early/leaving late), giving the organization positive press and his presence and demeanor at training camp (which he says he won't attend).
- Whether or not people realize it, organizations are emotional environments. Different emotions do different things and this sense of betrayal and anger is likely to make Harden actively move against the Sixers. This is obviously not ideal.
- Because Harden is a role model, we need to also be aware of emotional contagion. It is possible teammates will look at the front office with increased scrutiny, which will harm any new players brought in or anyone affected by front office moves.
Emich is available for interviews, and can be contacted directly by clicking on his profile.
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Kyle Emich
Associate Professor, Management
Prof. Emich's research explores the role of individual attributes in team dynamics and other collective environments.
Cognitive ProcessingLeadershipOrganizational BehaviorTeam DynamicsGroup Dynamics
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World Cup 2026: Former soccer executive analyzes tournament economics and youth soccer structure
With the 2026 FIFA World Cup days away, the University of Delaware's John Allgood is available to discuss the business of soccer, youth sports participation and the tournament's impact on communities and the economy. As a former United Soccer League (USL) top executive, Allgood brings firsthand experience and knowledge of the commercial operations and development sides of the sport. He also currently serves as an instructor of sport management at UD. Areas of expertise relevant to the World Cup include: • Economic impact: How the tournament will drive local revenue. • The business of soccer: Sports marketing and the commercialization of global sports entertainment. • U.S. youth soccer: The tiered structure of soccer in the U.S., including the pay-to-play system in youth soccer that is different from development models in other countries. • Participation and interest: How the World Cup will boost participation and fan interest in soccer, especially among youth players. • Soccer as a unifying force: The sports' social impact and how it brings people together. To reach Allgood directly and arrange an interview, click the "contact" button on his profile. Interested journalists can also send an email to mediarelations@udel.edu.
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With the 2026 FIFA World Cup less starting this week, the University of Delaware's John Allgood is available to discuss the business of soccer, youth sports participation and the tournament's impact on communities and the economy. A former United Soccer League top executive and instructor of sport management, Allgood has firsthand experience in both the business and development sides of the sport. Through his experience as a USL franchise owner, Allgood can discuss the World Cup’s economic impact and why the sport is a unifying force. He can discuss how the World Cup will boost participation and fan interest in soccer, especially among youth players. Allgood can address the tiered structure of soccer in the U.S., including the pay-to-play system in youth soccer that is different from development models in other countries. To arrange an interview with Allgood, send an email to MediaRelations@udel.edu.
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