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(Un)Conditional Commitment: A Qualitative Study Exploring Volunteer Experiences, Disappointments, and Their Responses in Not-for-Profit Organizations

Zetterqvist, Henrik LU and Engdahl, Smilla LU (2024) MGTN59 20241
Department of Business Administration
Abstract
Volunteering - the occurrence of individuals engaging in unpaid labor that benefits others - is considered a paradoxical, yet common phenomenon. The purpose of this study is to enhance the understanding of the volunteering experience in not-for-profit organizations, especially when volunteers feel disappointment and how they respond to it. To fulfill this purpose, the study is done through a qualitative approach conducted by eight semi-structured interviews. We have chosen to analyze our data in the lenses of Social Exchange Theory and Psychological Contract Theory.

It was discovered that volunteers experience disappointment when their expectations of the volunteering work are unmet - the expectation itself varies between the... (More)
Volunteering - the occurrence of individuals engaging in unpaid labor that benefits others - is considered a paradoxical, yet common phenomenon. The purpose of this study is to enhance the understanding of the volunteering experience in not-for-profit organizations, especially when volunteers feel disappointment and how they respond to it. To fulfill this purpose, the study is done through a qualitative approach conducted by eight semi-structured interviews. We have chosen to analyze our data in the lenses of Social Exchange Theory and Psychological Contract Theory.

It was discovered that volunteers experience disappointment when their expectations of the volunteering work are unmet - the expectation itself varies between the informants but three recurring sources of disappointment have been identified. (1) Unmet Level of Commitment and Passion (2) Friction and Diminishment, and, (3) Mitchmatch in Perception: Role Change. To handle this disappointment, three distinct response-strategies have been found. (1) Increased level of responsibility - The Martyr, (2) Quit engagement - The Quitter, and (3) Status Quo - The Captive. We have seen a pattern between what type of organization the volunteers engage in and their opportunities to respond - which is what we encourage future studies to address. (Less)
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author
Zetterqvist, Henrik LU and Engdahl, Smilla LU
supervisor
organization
course
MGTN59 20241
year
type
H1 - Master's Degree (One Year)
subject
keywords
Volunteers, Volunteering, Psychological Contract, Social Exchange Theory, Disappointment, Expectations, Not-For-Profit Organizations, Non-Profit Management
language
English
id
9155860
date added to LUP
2024-06-24 12:56:59
date last changed
2024-06-24 12:56:59
@misc{9155860,
  abstract     = {{Volunteering - the occurrence of individuals engaging in unpaid labor that benefits others - is considered a paradoxical, yet common phenomenon. The purpose of this study is to enhance the understanding of the volunteering experience in not-for-profit organizations, especially when volunteers feel disappointment and how they respond to it. To fulfill this purpose, the study is done through a qualitative approach conducted by eight semi-structured interviews. We have chosen to analyze our data in the lenses of Social Exchange Theory and Psychological Contract Theory. 

It was discovered that volunteers experience disappointment when their expectations of the volunteering work are unmet - the expectation itself varies between the informants but three recurring sources of disappointment have been identified. (1) Unmet Level of Commitment and Passion (2) Friction and Diminishment, and, (3) Mitchmatch in Perception: Role Change. To handle this disappointment, three distinct response-strategies have been found. (1) Increased level of responsibility - The Martyr, (2) Quit engagement - The Quitter, and (3) Status Quo - The Captive. We have seen a pattern between what type of organization the volunteers engage in and their opportunities to respond - which is what we encourage future studies to address.}},
  author       = {{Zetterqvist, Henrik and Engdahl, Smilla}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  note         = {{Student Paper}},
  title        = {{(Un)Conditional Commitment: A Qualitative Study Exploring Volunteer Experiences, Disappointments, and Their Responses in Not-for-Profit Organizations}},
  year         = {{2024}},
}