Abstract
While the benefits the volunteers offer nonprofit organizations are substantial, they can also cause problems for these groups. In an environment where people willingly donate their time and energy to a cause that they ostensibly support, why is disruptive behavior so common? This ethnographic study of volunteers at an animal shelter identifies the factors that lead to problematic behavior. The paper argues that disruptions occur when there is a mismatch between the needs of the volunteer and the needs of the organization and because of structural conditions that lead to uncertainty among volunteers. These findings shed light on volunteer behavior broadly and present the opportunity to address disruptive behavior. As a result, the benefits the volunteers provide for an organization can be maximized.
Résumé
Même si les avantages que procurent les bénévoles aux organismes sans but lucratif sont importants, ils peuvent aussi leur causer des problèmes. Dans un environnement où des gens offrent volontairement leur temps et leur énergie au profit d’une cause qu’ils appuient ostensiblement, pourquoi les comportements perturbateurs sont-ils si fréquents? Cette étude ethnographique des bénévoles d’un refuge pour animaux cerne les facteurs à la source des dits comportements. L’article affirme que les perturbations ont lieu lorsqu’un écart existe entre les besoins du bénévole et ceux de l’organisme, et en raison des conditions structurelles provoquant l’incertitude au sein des bénévoles. Ces découvertes mettent à jour une vaste gamme de comportements et présentent des occasions de gérer les perturbations. Les avantages que procurent les bénévoles aux organismes pourront ainsi être optimisés.
Zusammenfassung
Während Ehrenamtliche gemeinnützigen Organisationen große Vorteile bringen, können sie auch Probleme schaffen. Warum kommt es so häufig zu störendem Verhalten in einem Umfeld, in dem Personen bereitwillig ihre Zeit und Energie für einen Zweck opfern, den sie scheinbar unterstützen? Diese ethnographische Studie zu Ehrenamtlichen in einem Tierheim ermittelt die Faktoren, die zu problematischen Verhaltensweisen führen. In der Abhandlung wird behauptet, dass es zu Störungen kommt, wenn die Bedürfnisse der Ehrenamtlichen und die der Organisation nicht übereinstimmen und wenn strukturelle Bedingungen zu Unsicherheiten bei den Ehrenamtlichen führen. Diese Ergebnisse geben Aufschluss über das Verhalten Ehrenamtlicher im Allgemeinen, und es bietet sich die Gelegenheit, störende Verhaltensweisen anzusprechen. Folglich können die Vorteile, die eine Organisation durch Ehrenamtliche hat, maximiert werden.
Resumen
Aunque los beneficios que los voluntarios ofrecen a las organizaciones sin ánimo de lucro son sustanciales, también pueden causar problemas para estos grupos. En un entorno en el que la gente dona de manera voluntaria su tiempo y energía a una causa que apoyan ostensiblemente, ¿por qué el comportamiento conflictivo es tan común? El presente estudio etnográfico de voluntarios en un albergue para animales identifica los factores que llevan a un comportamiento problemático. El presente documento argumenta que los conflictos se producen cuando existe un desequilibrio entre las necesidades del voluntario y las necesidades de la organización y debido a las condiciones estructurales que llevan a la incertidumbre entre los voluntarios. Estos hallazgos arrojan luz sobre el comportamiento del voluntario en líneas generales y presentan la oportunidad de abordar el comportamiento conflictivo. Como resultado, los beneficios que los voluntarios proporcionan a una organización pueden ser maximizados.
摘要
尽管志愿者为非盈利组织带来很大的好处,但是他们还会为这些团队带来问题。在人员愿意捐赠时间和能力给表面支持事业的环境中,破坏性行为为何如此常见?本动物收容所的志愿者人种研究确定了导致问题行为的因素。本文表示,当志愿者需求和组织需求之间存在不匹配,同时结构条件导致志愿者之间的不确定性时,将出现破坏。这些调查结果揭示了广泛的志愿行为,带来解决破坏性行为的机会。由此,可以最大化志愿者为组织提供的好处。
ملخص
非営利団体が実質的に役立つボランティアを提供すると、グループにおいて問題となる場合がある。時間とエネルギーを費やそうとする人々のいる環境では表向きはサポートされるが、破壊的な行動が共通となることを提案する。動物避難所のボランティアについての民族誌的研究では、問題のある行動につながる要因を識別する。本論文では、ボランティア間における不確実性につながる構造的条件によって、ボランティアの必要性と組織の必要性において不一致がある場合、トラブルが発生することを主張する。この調査結果は、広くボランティアの行動に焦点を当てているし、破壊的な行動を取る機会を提示する。結果として、組織を最大化できる利点を持つボランティアを提案する。
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Jaskyte, K. Voluntary Membership and Well-Being of Nonprofit, Government, and Business Employees. Voluntas 28, 358–378 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11266-016-9781-5
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11266-016-9781-5