What is in a theme? Professionalization in nonprofit and nongovernmental organizations research

Abstract

This study examines 1,418 articles in three leading journals in the field of nonprofit organization studies from 1990 to 2010. Using topic modeling to detect dominant themes, we were able to trace the development of the academic research on nonprofit and nongovernmental organizations over two decades. We found remarkable changes with regard to an increasing use of professional, managerialist terminology such as that used in for‐profit organizations. This is significant given the potential of the research agenda to influence developments in the nonprofit sector.

Examining the Extent and Coherence of Nonprofit Hybridization Toward the Market in a Post-corporatist Welfare State

“…Here, a possible explanation might be that an underlying process of “managerial professionalization” drives these phenomena. Previous studies show that the nonprofit sphere is increasingly populated with managerial professionals (Marberg et al, 2019; Suarez, 2010), which in turn are more likely to use management tools (Hwang & Powell, 2009). In turn, the growing diffusion of managerial professionals in the nonprofit sphere is underpinned by several institutional changes, which—in analogy to the market—can be described in terms of supply and demand.…”

The Role and Contributions of Development NGOs to Development Cooperation: What Do We Know?

“…Perhaps a rather stark warning to researchers of NGOs comes from Marberg et al (2019), who use topic-modelling to explore the language used by academic research into NGOs across the 1990-2010 period. This shows a clear trend of researchers beginning to take on the buzzwords used by donors and displays a clear dilution of the original principles identified in Drabek's (1987) original call to action for NGOs.…”

“…But this moved on to focus on effectiveness and accountability in the late 1990s, management and globalisation into the early to mid-2000s, education and being "more like businesses" in the late 2000s, and then turned to the language of strategy and regulation in 2010. They highlight that NGO researchers themselves also point to an increasing inclination towards professionalisation, warning that this should not come at the cost of upholding a critical stance on the language that maintains the governance system within neoliberal systems: keep contesting the system or adopt the language and uphold it (Marberg et al 2019).…”

“…This policy is rooted in academic evidence and critiques of the sector, highlighting an important message for NGO researchers to maintain a radical stance rather than embrace the technical language and priorities of donors. This is a trend highlighted by Marberg et al (2019) that risks buying into and prolonging the principles and ideologies held up by neoliberal regimes.…”

Beyond the professionalized nongovernmental organization: Life‐history narratives of grassroots philanthropic leaders in Africa

“…First is to provide a counter narrative to the broad frames that traditionally drive research on nonprofit organizations and development aid. Discussions on traditional North to South development aid through nonprofits and NGOs often hinge on expertise and effectiveness (or lack thereof); which has included a strong “vocabulary associated with managerial professionalism and measurable outcomes” (Marberg, Korzilius, & van Kranenburg, 2019, p. 127). However, as recently argued by Marberg et al (2019), this focus on organizational expertise and effectiveness in scholarship provides only a limited, instrumental approach to understanding organizational activity and leadership.…”