A brigade model for the management of service volunteers: lessons from the former Soviet Union

Kaufman, Roni; Mirsky, Julia; Avgar, Amos

doi:10.1002/nvsm.233

Cited by 6 publications

(5 citation statements)

References 19 publications

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“…Many researchers agree that most volunteers find heavily bureaucratic structures rigid and alienating, and volunteers tend to thrive in more adaptive structures (Meijs and Brudney ; Stirling, Kilpatrick, and Orpin ; Tang, Morrow‐Howell, and Hong ). Yet volunteers need some well‐defined organizational structures (Kaufman, Mirsky, and Avgar ) to reduce role ambiguity. The level of formalization influences volunteer involvement (Kelley, Lune, and Murphy ).…”

Section: Organizational Characteristicsmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Limits and Possibilities of Volunteering: A Framework for Explaining the Scope of Volunteer Involvement in Public and Nonprofit Organizations

Nesbit¹,

Christensen

Brudney

2017

Public Administration Review

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Despite popular rhetoric concerning the benefits of volunteerism for public and nonprofit organizations, the use and management of volunteers to assist in the delivery of services is uneven: some organizations rely heavily on volunteer labor for this purpose, while others circumscribe volunteer contributions or eschew volunteer involvement altogether. This article introduces eight dimensions of volunteer involvement-four involving organizational decisions and four regarding volunteers' decisions-that make up the overall scope of volunteer involvement in an organization. Based on a review of the literature, the article presents a conceptual framework and several research propositions concerning how organizational characteristics, volunteer management, and environmental factors affect the overall scope of volunteer involvement in an organization.

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Section: Organizational Characteristicsmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Limits and Possibilities of Volunteering: A Framework for Explaining the Scope of Volunteer Involvement in Public and Nonprofit Organizations

Nesbit¹,

Christensen

Brudney

2017

Public Administration Review

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“…Another factor influencing volunteers is the level of bureaucracy (Güntert 2007;Deegan and Nutt 1975;Lammertyn 2003, 2004;Kummerfeldt 2011;Musick and Wilson 2008;Pierucci and Noel 1980;Zimmeck 2001), leading to alienation (Karr 2001;Musick and Wilson 2008). Other authors emphasized the closely related concepts of flexibility (Barnes and Sharpe 2009;Gay 2001;Harlow 1998;Lockstone 2004;Maran and Soro 2010;Meijs and Brudney 2007;Tang et al 2009) and hierarchy (Brudney and Warren 1990;Kaufman et al 2004). Additionally, there is a tendency to see specialization as hindering the willingness to volunteer Wilson 2008, with reference to Bender 2003; see also Kelley et al 2005 for a detailed discussion).…”

Section: Bureaucracy Versus Flexibilitymentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Even though it is generally held that low levels of bureaucracy and formalization contribute to the satisfaction of volunteers, Musick and Wilson (2008) argued that very low levels can alienate volunteers. Moreover, Kaufman et al (2004) demonstrated how a formal and hierarchical structure and management (combined with small working groups, creating a family atmosphere) can be successful.…”

Section: Bureaucracy Versus Flexibilitymentioning

confidence: 99%

Organizational Factors Affecting Volunteers: A Literature Review on Volunteer Coordination

2012

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While volunteer literature presents diverse insights into the motives, personal dispositions, and sociodemographic characteristics of volunteers, researches comparatively seldom focus on the incentives and organizational context affecting volunteers. This review aims to shed light on the organizational factors affecting volunteers collectively and to discuss the coordination of volunteers. Systematic research of the literature revealed 386 publications that are relevant to volunteer coordination. Their abstracts were analyzed in a process of open and selective coding, which led to the identification of three main clusters. This literature review produced the following propositions: it is argued that the practices and instruments of volunteer management (Cluster 1), and, even more strongly, the organizational attitudes towards volunteers as well as the organizations' embedded values (Cluster 2), co-determined by social processes (integration and production of meaning), are crucial factors affecting volunteers. The review also deals with structural features that limit the action space of volunteers and volunteer coordination (Cluster 3). It concludes by discussing the limitations present in the current volunteer research and provides implications for future research endeavors. Thus, this piece of work presents a holistic view on volunteer coordination and theory building by carefully synthesizing information about the organizational context of volunteering from different disciplines and research traditions, resulting in different intervention logics, and by integrating these data in an analytical framework.

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“…Similar ideas have been expressed in a study of voluntary work, where Musick and Wilson (cited in Studer & Von Schnurbein, 2013, p. 421) have argued that bureaucracy and formalization levels should be adjusted to avoid alienating volunteers. Kaufman et al (2004) have shown how formal and hierarchical structures and management combined with small, informal working groups and a family atmosphere can be successful. We believe that organizations benefit from clear task distribution that aligns with volunteers' responsibilities.…”

Section: Formalizationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Formal and informal

Tappel,

Sirris

2024

SJLT

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Volunteering is a pressing concern in civic organizations. This article explores how voluntary work can be best organized by using a case study from the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Norway, which is characterized by both voluntarism and professionalization. Drawing on interviews and observations in congregations following different modes of organizing, we investigate the roles of volunteers and professionals. The findings highlight how actors distribute their work tasks and interpret functional and moral responsibility. The patterns of roles and responsibilities reflect two ideal-typical forms of organizing. We discuss the degrees of formalization in each context and propose a new categorization, which we conceptualize as informal and formal organizing of voluntary work. The first places emphasis on the individual employee, who works through personal relationships, and task distribution is scarcely regulated. The latter is formalized by explicit mandates and responsibilities shared systematically. We conclude that congregations, professionals, and volunteers can benefit from a formal approach to organizing voluntary work.

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A brigade model for the management of service volunteers: lessons from the former Soviet Union

Abstract: This is a case study of a volunteer programme in a community

Cited by 6 publications

References 19 publications

The Limits and Possibilities of Volunteering: A Framework for Explaining the Scope of Volunteer Involvement in Public and Nonprofit Organizations

The Limits and Possibilities of Volunteering: A Framework for Explaining the Scope of Volunteer Involvement in Public and Nonprofit Organizations

Organizational Factors Affecting Volunteers: A Literature Review on Volunteer Coordination

Formal and informal

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