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Modelling the organisational socialisation of volunteers in English associational golf clubs

Mills, Christopher ; Urquhart, Cathy LU ; Mackintosh, Chris and Gillooly, Leah (2023) In European Sport Management Quarterly
Abstract

Research question: The research considers the organisational socialisation process for volunteers in associational golf clubs. Research methods: Constructivist grounded theory method was used, with qualitative data collected through 28 semi-structured interviews with volunteers at English associational golf clubs. Results and Findings: The article develops a model for the organisational socialisation of golf club volunteers. The model highlights an extended period of organisational socialisation, which locates assimilation during club membership before volunteering begins. This prior period of assimilation allows individuals to acquire organisational knowledge and make informed decisions about whether to volunteer. It also shapes their... (More)

Research question: The research considers the organisational socialisation process for volunteers in associational golf clubs. Research methods: Constructivist grounded theory method was used, with qualitative data collected through 28 semi-structured interviews with volunteers at English associational golf clubs. Results and Findings: The article develops a model for the organisational socialisation of golf club volunteers. The model highlights an extended period of organisational socialisation, which locates assimilation during club membership before volunteering begins. This prior period of assimilation allows individuals to acquire organisational knowledge and make informed decisions about whether to volunteer. It also shapes their actions as volunteers and the meanings they derive from volunteering. Our findings emphasise the importance of participation among members as a precursor to volunteering. They also highlight how, in the absence of orientation support from the club, movement through the socialisation process depends on individuals’ biographical assets. Implications: The model should help golf clubs, and potentially other voluntary sports clubs, manage their organisational socialisation process to develop established members, improve volunteer recruitment and produce long-term volunteers. Improved management of this process could also enhance the diversity of both members and volunteers.

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author
; ; and
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
epub
subject
keywords
constructivist grounded theory, golf, Organisational socialisation, sports clubs, volunteers
in
European Sport Management Quarterly
publisher
Routledge
external identifiers
  • scopus:85147496010
ISSN
1618-4742
DOI
10.1080/16184742.2023.2172055
language
English
LU publication?
no
additional info
Funding Information: The research was made possible by a PhD studentship for the lead author at Manchester Metropolitan University, which was funded by England Golf. Publisher Copyright: © 2023 European Association for Sport Management.
id
207272c2-7e16-4236-80da-6850730e97e3
date added to LUP
2023-11-22 14:23:33
date last changed
2023-11-22 14:54:18
@article{207272c2-7e16-4236-80da-6850730e97e3,
  abstract     = {{<p>Research question: The research considers the organisational socialisation process for volunteers in associational golf clubs. Research methods: Constructivist grounded theory method was used, with qualitative data collected through 28 semi-structured interviews with volunteers at English associational golf clubs. Results and Findings: The article develops a model for the organisational socialisation of golf club volunteers. The model highlights an extended period of organisational socialisation, which locates assimilation during club membership before volunteering begins. This prior period of assimilation allows individuals to acquire organisational knowledge and make informed decisions about whether to volunteer. It also shapes their actions as volunteers and the meanings they derive from volunteering. Our findings emphasise the importance of participation among members as a precursor to volunteering. They also highlight how, in the absence of orientation support from the club, movement through the socialisation process depends on individuals’ biographical assets. Implications: The model should help golf clubs, and potentially other voluntary sports clubs, manage their organisational socialisation process to develop established members, improve volunteer recruitment and produce long-term volunteers. Improved management of this process could also enhance the diversity of both members and volunteers.</p>}},
  author       = {{Mills, Christopher and Urquhart, Cathy and Mackintosh, Chris and Gillooly, Leah}},
  issn         = {{1618-4742}},
  keywords     = {{constructivist grounded theory; golf; Organisational socialisation; sports clubs; volunteers}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  publisher    = {{Routledge}},
  series       = {{European Sport Management Quarterly}},
  title        = {{Modelling the organisational socialisation of volunteers in English associational golf clubs}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/16184742.2023.2172055}},
  doi          = {{10.1080/16184742.2023.2172055}},
  year         = {{2023}},
}