Volunteering 2.0: How Can Volunteer Organizations Employ Online Social Networks?

The effectiveness of online social networks such as Facebook and Twitter for managing an organization is an area ripe for investigation in information systems research. Volunteer organizations in particular (who typically lag rather than lead in technology) stand to benefit from online social networks, if equipped with the knowledge to strategically implement these tools. This research context is especially unique because volunteers and employees approach work differently, which affects how they interact with the organization and its systems. We use the theory of functionalist motivations to support the use of online social networks to manage volunteers. Because this research area is relatively new, this study provides a theoretically-grounded exploration into how volunteer organizations are using online social networks to manage their volunteer workforce, in what ways they are using these systems, and their effectiveness compared to previous systems

Using Social Media Campaigns to Activate Electronic Volunteering Platforms during COVID-19 Pandemic

We design and implement an advertising campaign using social media to encourage people to volunteer on online platforms as well as identify the effectiveness of online marketing in informing people and encouraging them to participate in volunteer platforms. It is shown that the expected turnout of young people to volunteer work through social networking platforms and awareness of the epidemic reduced its prevalence rate

Using Social Media Campaigns to Activate Electronic Volunteering Platforms during COVID-19 Pandemic

We design and implement an advertising campaign using social media to encourage people to volunteer on online platforms as well as identify the effectiveness of online marketing in informing people and encouraging them to participate in volunteer platforms. It is shown that the expected turnout of young people to volunteer work through social networking platforms and awareness of the epidemic reduced its prevalence rate

Program Evaluation for Volunteers in Medicine of Southern Nevada

A program evaluation was conducted for Volunteers in Medicine of Southern Nevada (“VMSN”), founded just over 10-years ago by a group of passionate and concerned citizens whose mission statement and goal is “to provide quality health care and support for people without access to health care in Southern Nevada within a culture of caring.” This report serves as the completed program evaluation for VMSN, and includes analytical findings and recommendations that VMSN may incorporate and develop into their organization to help further improve their services for the Southern Nevada community. After careful review, it was determined that the scope of this program evaluation would consist of research, qualitative and quantitative analysis, leading to recommendations for two vitally important aspects of VMSN’s operations: 1. How can VMSN increase the recruitment rates of licensed professional volunteers? 2. How can VMSN increase the retention rates of licensed professional volunteers? The methodology utilized for the program evaluation included a mixed method design of both qualitative and quantitative research tools. The primary methodological approach used to determine the best methods and practices for VMSN to carry out in their future recruitment and retention efforts of licensed professional volunteers was through the use of survey instruments. The first dataset, collected by VMSN with their original survey instrument, was originated and distributed by VMSN in January 2018, but results had not yet been analyzed or quantified (“VMSN Original Volunteer Survey”). In addition to VMSN’s original survey, this program evaluation developed two additional survey instruments: the “Current Volunteer Survey” and “Previous Volunteer Survey,” wherein carefully designed survey questions were developed so that analytical techniques could be utilized to capture and analyze the results. The following overview of recommendations are based on a timeline of actions VMSN can adopt in the short-term (to be completed in the next six months), medium-term (six months to three years) and long-term (three years and beyond). The following is a brief outline, which will be explained in greater detail within Section 6, which contains the comprehensive Recommendation section of this program evaluation

Exploring the Use of Web 2.0 Tools to Support Knowledge Sharing Within the Non-Profit Sector

This project will investigate the challenges of knowledge sharing and communication in non-profit organizations with a high dependence on volunteers. Projects of this type typically rely heavily on the knowledge of the volunteers for success and while many projects have some mechanisms through which they communicate and share knowledge such as a web presence, typically the knowledge is disparate, highly tacit, embedded in the people involved. A scattered approach is typical with knowledge and information on several different forums managed by several different people with no obvious connection. There is unlikely to be a cohesive, coherent approach in place to retain volunteer knowledge, facilitate knowledge sharing and make use of valuable knowledge to improve current and future projects. This project will focus on identifying how such projects store, communicate and facilitate sharing of necessary knowledge between the project and its volunteers and among volunteers themselves, use the knowledge of its volunteers and manage such knowledge to support current and future activities. The project will identify and implement appropriate mechanisms, to enhance the capture and recording of knowledge, the transfer of knowledge from person to person, the exploitation of knowledge and stimulate the generation of new knowledge within the project. A light-weight open-source knowledge sharing and communication tool-kit will be designed and implemented. Particularly, Web 2.0 technologies will be investigated. Existing tools may be leveraged however, tools will be selected to support the types of knowledge identified and communication and sharing mechanisms identified as most effective. A range of volunteer dependent projects will be used to conduct the required knowledge acquisition and elicitation to identify the knowledge needs of such projects. The processes and toolkit designed will be implemented in a specific project, the desireland project, to test and evaluate their effectiveness

Essays Examining Humanitarian Supply Chains: Investigating Operational Characteristics, Activities, and Performance

As the frequency and severity of disasters continue to increase, the need for collaboration amongst all humanitarian stakeholders in humanitarian supply chain activities during all aspects of the disaster cycle has become more critical to the success of relief operations. Humanitarian non-governmental organizations (NGOs) are voluntary organizations operating in highly dynamic and chaotic environments to provide aid to people in need. But as the impact of disaster increases and the funding becomes more limited and competitive, they face mounting pressures from stakeholders to improve the quality of their operations. Similarly, private organizations are also under higher levels of scrutiny to become more socially responsible. In response, literature has turned to service operations and corporate social responsibility research, focusing on customer service and integration improvements as a path toward more effective disaster relief outcomes. Therefore, this dissertation aims to build upon this humanitarian service research stream. This dissertation examines how the humanitarian supply chain\u27s operational characteristics affect the workforce and community integrative behaviors, operational activities in the wake of disasters, and collaborative efforts between relief actors. Essay 1 employs approach-avoidance theory to examine the effects of trauma exposure on aid worker behaviors and supply chain integration activities. It also examines the moderating effects of various forms of supervisor support. Utilizing a scenario-based vignette experiment, results indicate that trauma exposure induces both approach and avoidance behaviors. As such, it simultaneously hinders cooperative commitment and improves organizational commitment among aid workers. Furthermore, we find that supervisor support strengthens these relationships. As such, this study contributes to disaster management, integration, and leadership literature streams. It highlights environmental mechanisms to aid worker integrative behaviors and provides decision-making guidance to NGOs regarding where to direct support investments. Essay 2 combines religion with volunteer management. It employs both social capital and person-organization fit theory to examine the effects of NGO religiousness and volunteer religious fit, on volunteer behaviors and operational performance. Utilizing two scenario-based video experiments, results indicate that NGO religiousness lessens social capital, negatively impacting volunteer behaviors and operational performance. Conversely, when NGOs and volunteers experience religious fit, it helps to minimize the negative effects of NGO religiousness and improve their operational performance. As such, this study contributes to the Humanitarian Operations literature by advising strategy around religious alignment and volunteer behaviors, retention, and operational performance. Essay 3 focuses on the vital role of private organizations in disaster relief and the importance of private-NGO collaboration. Employing resource dependence and matching theory, it examines mechanisms of private organization attitudes toward private-NGO partnerships. It also examines how the influence of these mechanisms may differ across disaster relief stages. Utilizing a scenario-based vignette experiment, results indicate that NGO resource capabilities motivate private organizations and their willingness to engage in private-NGO partnerships. As such, this study contributes to the private-NGO partnership literature and informs NGOs’ strategy around private organization motivations, decision-making, and alliance formation. This dissertation produces insights across the humanitarian supply chain, informing important curiosities involving NGOs, private organizations, aid workers, and the customers/communities they serve

Essays Examining Humanitarian Supply Chains: Investigating Operational Characteristics, Activities, and Performance

As the frequency and severity of disasters continue to increase, the need for collaboration amongst all humanitarian stakeholders in humanitarian supply chain activities during all aspects of the disaster cycle has become more critical to the success of relief operations. Humanitarian non-governmental organizations (NGOs) are voluntary organizations operating in highly dynamic and chaotic environments to provide aid to people in need. But as the impact of disaster increases and the funding becomes more limited and competitive, they face mounting pressures from stakeholders to improve the quality of their operations. Similarly, private organizations are also under higher levels of scrutiny to become more socially responsible. In response, literature has turned to service operations and corporate social responsibility research, focusing on customer service and integration improvements as a path toward more effective disaster relief outcomes. Therefore, this dissertation aims to build upon this humanitarian service research stream. This dissertation examines how the humanitarian supply chain\u27s operational characteristics affect the workforce and community integrative behaviors, operational activities in the wake of disasters, and collaborative efforts between relief actors. Essay 1 employs approach-avoidance theory to examine the effects of trauma exposure on aid worker behaviors and supply chain integration activities. It also examines the moderating effects of various forms of supervisor support. Utilizing a scenario-based vignette experiment, results indicate that trauma exposure induces both approach and avoidance behaviors. As such, it simultaneously hinders cooperative commitment and improves organizational commitment among aid workers. Furthermore, we find that supervisor support strengthens these relationships. As such, this study contributes to disaster management, integration, and leadership literature streams. It highlights environmental mechanisms to aid worker integrative behaviors and provides decision-making guidance to NGOs regarding where to direct support investments. Essay 2 combines religion with volunteer management. It employs both social capital and person-organization fit theory to examine the effects of NGO religiousness and volunteer religious fit, on volunteer behaviors and operational performance. Utilizing two scenario-based video experiments, results indicate that NGO religiousness lessens social capital, negatively impacting volunteer behaviors and operational performance. Conversely, when NGOs and volunteers experience religious fit, it helps to minimize the negative effects of NGO religiousness and improve their operational performance. As such, this study contributes to the Humanitarian Operations literature by advising strategy around religious alignment and volunteer behaviors, retention, and operational performance. Essay 3 focuses on the vital role of private organizations in disaster relief and the importance of private-NGO collaboration. Employing resource dependence and matching theory, it examines mechanisms of private organization attitudes toward private-NGO partnerships. It also examines how the influence of these mechanisms may differ across disaster relief stages. Utilizing a scenario-based vignette experiment, results indicate that NGO resource capabilities motivate private organizations and their willingness to engage in private-NGO partnerships. As such, this study contributes to the private-NGO partnership literature and informs NGOs’ strategy around private organization motivations, decision-making, and alliance formation. This dissertation produces insights across the humanitarian supply chain, informing important curiosities involving NGOs, private organizations, aid workers, and the customers/communities they serve

Leadership Strategies to Improve Volunteer Retention

Nonprofit leaders face challenges retaining volunteers to support their organizations\u27 human resources. The shortage of volunteers threatens nonprofit sustainability with increasing personnel cost for maintaining quality services. Grounded by Burns\u27s transformational leadership theory, the purpose of this multiple case study was to explore strategies nonprofit leaders from southeastern Michigan used to improve volunteer retention. Data were collected through face-to-face semistructured interviews with 3 nonprofit leaders and a review of organizational documents such as volunteer implementation plans, strategic plans, and volunteer committee notes. Data were analyzed using a methodological triangulation process of sorting comments, which involved a chronological review of the interview transcripts and a descriptive coding for emerging themes. Three distinct themes emerged from the data analysis: collaborative relationships improved volunteer retention, team motivations improved volunteer retention, and strategic communication improved volunteer retention. The findings from this study may contribute to positive social change by providing nonprofit leaders with a better understanding of the need to improve volunteer retention and leadership strategies as methods to continue building viable communities for those in need. Furthermore, the implications for positive social change could include the improvement of other nonprofit organizations and the well-being of the volunteers in the organization

The Relationship between Leadership Style and Volunteer Intention to Stay

Many organizations rely on volunteers to perform key elements of support, and leadership style plays an important role in the retention of volunteers. The purpose of the study was to examine the relationship between leadership style and the intent to stay for adult and youth volunteers in a large nonprofit organization. This quantitative study examined the relationship of leadership style and intention to stay with three samples of volunteers: local leaders (n = 91), adult volunteers (n = 48), and youth volunteers (n = 42). A survey was administered via online survey tool for leaders and adult volunteers, and with hardcopy questionnaires mailed to youth volunteers. Data analysis included descriptive statistics, correlational analyses, and analyses of variance. A statistically significant correlation existed between leadership style and intention to stay for leaders and adult volunteers, while the correlation between the variables for leaders and youth volunteers was not statistically significant. Leaders rated themselves as stronger in servant leadership qualities, while adult volunteers and youth volunteers rated their leaders lower. Gender differences existed in how volunteers rated their leaders. Adult female volunteers rated their leaders at statistically significant lower levels than did their male counterparts, while female youth volunteers rated their leaders at statistically significant higher levels than did their male counterparts. Organizations that rely on volunteers should incorporate servant leadership skills into their training programs and encourage their leaders to embrace the principles of servant leadership