Cultural mission

The Sport Strategy & E-sport Management (SSEM lab), the first in Italy to be established in the university setting for e-sports research, focuses on research and innovation in the area of sports strategy and e-sports management, with the goal of exploring new frontiers in the world of traditional and digital sports.

A “think tank” where students in the Master of Science in Sport and Exercise Management (LM-47) program, doctoral students, researchers and professionals can exchange research ideas, develop collaborative projects, and promote awareness of sport management in all dimensions.

Main lines of research and methodologies used

The approaches used by the SSEM Lab are “context and research driven” seen as two sides of the same coin, feeding off each other as a continuum. In this way, the SSEM lab also becomes an incubator for new lines of research and research projects commissioned by industry stakeholders, with the goal of creating shared value among all stakeholders, using a multi-disciplinary approach.

The central goal of the SSEM Lab is to create shared value for all stakeholders by leveraging an interdisciplinary perspective to address the complexities of the world of sports and e-sports.

To achieve these goals, the lab actively engages in organizing meetings and testimonials from professionals in the field, primarily aimed at students in the Master of Science in Sport Management program. These initiatives not only provide students with the opportunity to expand their knowledge, but also help strengthen the lab’s vision and impact by engaging students in practical and educational experiences that reflect the challenges and opportunities of the contemporary sports world.

The methodologies adopted by the SSEM Lab include quantitative, qualitative, experimental and interdisciplinary analyses. In addition, collaboration with other laboratories of the University of Rome “Foro Italico” is strongly encouraged, with the aim of promoting a multidisciplinary vision of sport, integrating different skills and perspectives.

This set of skills, methodologies and approaches enables the SSEM Lab to position itself as a benchmark in the field, making significant contributions not only to academic research but also to the practical advancement of sport management and e-sports, fostering resilience,inclusion and social capital.

Research group publications

• Portaluri G., Mura R., Vicentini, F. (2023) Sliding or Falling Downhill? A Critical Assessment of Alpine Skiing Resorts’ Snow Reliability and Technological Adaptive Business Strategies in the Italian Apennines. In Palgrave Studies in Cross-disciplinary Business Research, In Association with EuroMed Academy of Business, Demetris Vrontis et al. (Eds): Business for Sustainability, Volume II
• Davola, N., Vicentini, F (2023) Are Football Societies Aware of the Relevance of Diversity in Good Governance? The Case of “Pink Quota, In Palgrave Studies in Cross-disciplinary Business Research, In Association with EuroMed Academy of Business, Demetris Vrontis et al. (Eds): Business for Sustainability, Volume I.
• Portaluri, G., Vicentini, R. and Mura, R. (2022), ‘Investigating ecosustainable market strategies in the sporting industry: The Italian case of ‘ZONE Experience’, in D. Vrontis, Y. Weber and E. Tsoukatos (Eds.), Sustainable Business Concepts and Practices, EuroMed Press, Cyprus, Nicosia. ISSN No.: 2547-8516; ISBN No.: 978-9963-711-96-3
• Mura, R., Vicentini, F., and Portaluri, G. (2022), ‘Managing climate crisis in the sport sector: New challenges and opportunities for sports organizations’, in Vrontis, D., Thrassou, A., Weber, Y., Shams, S.M.R., Tsoukatos, E., Efthymiou, L. (eds), Business Under Crisis Volume I, Palgrave Studies in Cross-disciplinary Business Research, in Association with EuroMed Academy of Business, Palgrave Macmillan, Cham., London, U.K. doi: 10.1007/978-3-030-76567-5_7
• Mura R., Vicentini F., Portaluri G. (2021). Sustainability in Italian Sport Federations. Managing strategic human resources in achieving the sustainable competitive advantage, Book of proceedings, 14th Annual Conference of the EuroMed Academy of Business, “Contemporary Business Concepts and Strategies in the new Era,” p. 917-919. ISSN: 2547-8516; ISBN: 978-9963-711-90-1
• Mura, R., Vicentini, F., Canini, D., & Rossi, G. (2024). Are Italian football clubs embrancing sustainability?. Corporate Governance and Research & Development Studies – Open Access, (1)
• Canini, D., Mura, R., & Vicentini, F. (2024). When stadium ownership meets Corporate Social Responsibility: The case of U. C. AlbinoLeffe. Corporate Governance and Research & DevelopmentStudies– Open Access, (2)