Conference Paper/Proceeding/Abstract 60 views
Beyond ‘mission drift’: The implications of professionalization on crisis volunteers.
Leanne Greening
European Group for Organizational Studies
Swansea University Author: Leanne Greening
Abstract
The voluntary sector provides significant economic value to the economy (NCVO 2020; Fanklin et al 2020), as well as making a significant contribution towards tackling the grand challenges of society. Despite this, the voluntary sector remains under-researched and voluntary ‘work’ under-theorised. Wr...
| Published in: | European Group for Organizational Studies |
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| URI: | https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa68763 |
| Abstract: |
The voluntary sector provides significant economic value to the economy (NCVO 2020; Fanklin et al 2020), as well as making a significant contribution towards tackling the grand challenges of society. Despite this, the voluntary sector remains under-researched and voluntary ‘work’ under-theorised. Writing in the field of voluntary sector studies, O’Toole(2013: 12) acknowledges: “with virtually no interpenetration with organization studies, there exists a relatively small, emergent specialist literature on volunteers, voluntary organizations and not-for-profit associations”. More narrowly, there is an acute lack of attention and critical engagement with the ‘volunteer experience’ which inhibits comprehensive understanding of volunteering efforts and the significance that those engaged attach to their activity in relation to the self. The purpose of this paper is to capture the ‘existential experience’ of volunteers who are ‘working’ in the context of crisis hotlines. This paper examines the nature of volunteer ‘work’ and the extent to which it provides value and meaning in the lives of volunteers. Reflecting on 40 semi-structured interviews with volunteers, this paper revealswhat happens to the ‘meaning’ of volunteering following change and ‘professionalisation’ (a project which has a very distinctive purpose and set of values). It posits that the twin pressures of improved efficiency, accountability and legitimacy against the desire of volunteers to preserve the case organisation’s traditional mission and values risks threateningthe engagement, commitment and retention of volunteers. |
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Theme: Organizing – The beauty of imperfection Location: Vienna university of economics and business |
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Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences |