How to be a true institution? Understanding festival organization's role in urban festival management from the stakeholder analysis

This study uses a practical case to show that festival organizations could be true institutions in the context of China's urban festivals. Utilizing social network analysis, this study proposes a quantitative method for classifying festival stakeholders into key, primary, and secondary stakeholders. Based on expert snowball sampling and questionnaire surveys, 27 relevant stakeholders were identified and their respective attributes regarding power, legitimacy, and emergency were evaluated, and the categories were classified. With sufficient resources and political support, as well as encompassing various powerful and resourceful stakeholders, festival organization could be a true institution. This study contributes a new perspective and methodological approach for understanding the complex and highly cooperative nature of festival management.

Automated summary

This study proposes a quantitative method for classifying and evaluating the attributes of festival stakeholders using social network analysis. It finds that festival organizations with sufficient resources, political support, and various powerful and resourceful stakeholders can be considered as true institutions. This study provides a new perspective and methodology for understanding the complex and highly cooperative nature of festival management.