Purpose: The purpose of this study is to identify the characteristics of the badminton club’s ‘serious leisure’, elucidate the empirical process, and analyze the internalization process into the distinctive organizational culture that evolves within it. Ultimately, the study seeks to explore how participants internalize the organizational culture through their serious leisure experiences in the badminton club. We figured out how it would appear during the process.
Method: The study participants were members of the S Badminton Club located in S City. A total of 10 people were selected based on their badminton level and experience. In addition, for participant observation, I joined S Club in March 2015 and collected data from January 2021 to December 2023 through the collection of related literature, field notes, participant observation diaries, and in-depth interviews.
Results: The process of internalizing organizational culture through serious leisure experiences was shown as follows. At the beginning stage, barriers to access were experienced due to physical challenges and the unique characteristics of badminton research. Overcoming these barriers involved forming friendships and making concerted efforts to adapt. During the awareness stage, skills are enhanced through tacit agreement and active participation, as individuals accept the merit class culture and unwritten rules. This process also fosters the formation of strong bonds with colleagues. During the formative stage, individuals establish their identity and develop a strong connection with badminton through investing time and effort, setting high expectations, overcoming challenges, enhancing skills, and building personal relationships. During the adaptation stage, as the enjoyment of success and playing badminton becomes a daily habit, a longing for progress emerges. The anticipation of a significant reward consequently motivates individuals to seek out diverse immersive experiences, fostering a strong sense of identification. In the construction stage, self-satisfaction and the value of life are pursued through neutral activities and appropriate good deeds, based on experience and skills, with stability and tolerance. However, physical challenges arising from prolonged activity seem to be obstacles that can be surmounted with stability.
Conclusion: Badminton enthusiasts received numerous rewards and underwent different stages of immersion, including beginning, awareness, formation, adaptation, and construction. In the end, he pursued individual life satisfaction and absolute value.