How Do They Decide? Performance Support Staff Perceptions of Decision-Making in Elite-Sport Environments.

Abstract

Abstract: Wilson, PJ, Roe, G, and Kiely, J. How do they decide? Performance support staff perceptions of decision-making in elite-sport environments. J Strength Cond Res 39(2): 192-199, 2025-Decision-making is a critical component of performance support staff responsibilities, yet research exploring staff perceptions relating to key facets of decision-making is lacking. This study aimed to explore perceptions of performance support staff relating to; the importance of decision-making in their role, the value of team decision-making, strategies to enhance decision-making skills, monitoring the process and outcome of decisions, and the obstacles to good decision-making within their professional contexts. A mixed-methods approached was used to explore perceptions of decision-making in 191 performance support staff (male staff = 179, female staff = 12) working in professional ( n = 147) or international ( n = 44) sport. Performance support staff reported decision-making as extremely important to their role; however, only 31% had received formal decision-making education and revealed underdeveloped decision-making capabilities within their organizations as a barrier to good decision-making. Most performance support staff conveyed that team decision-making is a valuable endeavor and augments decision outcomes; yet articulated dysfunctional team dynamics as an obstacle to good decision-making in their environments. Largely, performance support staff reported an absence of organizational strategy and workflow systems and processes for tracking and making decisions, respectively, whereas only 22% had a consistent reviewing and updating process. When making decisions, performance support staff faced several different cognitive biases and were challenged by the environmental pressures . The perspectives documented here suggest that performance support staff would likely benefit from undertaking evidence-based training and implementing scientifically informed strategies to enhance decision-making processes within their organizations.