THE ROAD TO PROFESSIONALISM A qualitative study on the institutionalization of eSports

Abstract: ESports as an industry is a rapidly growing digital sport, with a multitude of different disciplines. While it is a vastly growing industry, it has as of yet seen limited academic attention. In this study, the development of one specific eSport is examined, namely Counter- Strike: Global Offensive. Institutional theory, in addition to institutional work theory, was utilized as a theoretical lens to understand how and why the eSport is developing. A qualitative approach was used towards this study, with the conduction of 15 interviews and a multitude of observations varying between events, community discussions and video work performed by spokespersons. The empirical findings were thereafter presented in a subject related manner through 5 different categories: (1) coaching, (2) rule adaptations, (3) unionization, (4) events and (5) community. The analysis of the data was done through the theoretical framework and two distinct forms of institutional work were identified: (1) establishment work aiming to increase the professionalism and legitimacy of eSports and (2) shielding work aiming at safeguarding the eSport and its’ community. Next to the identification of institutional work, neo-institutional trends were noticed in the form of isomorphism and decoupling within the Counter-Strike eSport (Meyer & Rowan, 1977; DiMaggio & Powell, 1983). Through the new insights provided through this study, a contribution is attempted to increase the understanding of eSport development and shed light on the presence of institutional work in emergent sport discourse.