Leisure Management: All about the “What” and the “Who”

Leisure Management: All about the “What” and the “Who”

The article, “Leisure Management: All about the “What” and the “Who,” is written by Jo An M. Zimmermann and John R. Tower. It was published in 2017 under the World Leisure Journal.

Summary

Leisure management can be defined as the transfer of leisure services by having a broad knowledge of the spectacle of leisure. It also includes the ability to organize a department and facilities, community planning, quality and performance, partnerships, finance, and community planning (Zimmermann and John.) In the article, the “World Leisure Journal’s Leisure Management Special Issue,” held conversations at a WLO congress in Mobile, Alabama, in 2014. This article addresses the features of leisure management principles. The article needs leisure managers to have a strong understanding of “what” needs are to be delivered and “who” is to give them. The “what” of leisure management is all about detailed knowledge of significant ideas such as recreation, tourism, leisure, sport, and play. Knowing these ideas will help in the understanding of leisure management into context (Zimmermann and John). Also, knowing what is needed in leisure management is to have a clear understanding of how the organizations function and position their resources to provide facilities, programs, and services.

According to the article, the discussions which were held in the congress held in Mobile Alabama brought to awareness the need to bring into life more issues on leisure management. More advanced ideas about planning, organizing, measuring outcomes, and leading have been brought up due to the development of the leisure industry. This article provides insights on the same. Leisure services are after achieving more than just efficient and effective services. They are all about making the world a better place for different sections of society. Due to the influence of accountability of public funds and the general management, an increase in the demand for leisure managers to provide quality outcomes of life for the disadvantaged sectors in the community(Zimmermann and John). This concept of different community groups provides the next section of the article on the “who.”

The concept of the “who” is all about having sufficient knowledge leisure services of the consumers and stakeholders. Having limited knowledge of the stakeholders and consumers will lead to unsuccessful delivery of services. The more the leisure managers have an understanding of the “who” concept, the more the likelihood of achieving their goals. Leisure managers need to have an understanding of their programs, facilities, and services. The article provides a better understanding of who is the stakeholder in delivering leisure services and the person whose quality of life is going to be improved in their involvement in the leisure facilities. The goal of the Leisure Management Special Issue was to bring awareness of the profile of leisure management, especially in the government and community section. Jo An and John embraced the LM Special to provide a better understanding of the LM commission to report a professed gap in some of the intellectual leisure literature (Zimmermann and John). There is a need to provide more understandings about leisure programs, facilities, and services to be able to provide service provision. If leisure managers can do better jobs more effectively and efficiently, then the societies around the world will have better opportunities to increase the superiority of life.

Personal Comments

The article was well-referenced and provided a more in-depth understanding of leisure management. It contained the right elements, that is, the title page, the author, date published, an introduction, discussion, and references. The journal was well explained, and transparent information on leisure management was given. From the article, I have learned that leisure management is an essential part of a community’s prosperity. Leisure management provides an understanding of what needs are to be delivered and whom they are to be offered. The purpose of leisure management is to address local issues on a worldwide scale. I have also learned that there is a need to have an understanding of leisure management. In addition to its benefit to the community to be effective in providing the services, thus achieving its goal. Leisure management’s goal is to deliver services that meet every individual’s needs. Leisure activities can change the quality of life in a community.

Overall, the journal was relevant to recreation management. It gives a broad relevance of leisure in helping a specific community improve the value of life. For instance, leisure management will play a very crucial role in designing a program that fits the needs of these people. Understanding leisure management will assist leisure managers in providing better services, facilities, and plans to communities that they intend to serve. Leisure management has an opportunity to increase the level of life in addressing the leisure needs of communities. Being able to understand who the leisure activities, facilities and services benefit will accelerate the achievement of goals. Leisure enables a person to get a balance of life and reduce depression in life; therefore, leisure management is a critical aspect of improving the experience of a person and a community.