The management of volunteers – What can human resources do? A review and research agenda

Year Published:

Abstract

There is an increasing interest from scholars and practitioners in understanding how non-profit organizations can design and implement human resources (HR) practices to enhance desirable volunteer attitudes and behaviors. This paper presents a comprehensive overview of existing studies on the relationship between HR practices and volunteering outcomes. We use the ability-motivation-opportunity model as a guiding framework to systematically integrate current knowledge on this topic. We identify gaps in existing research and offer detailed suggestions on how scholars can further enhance knowledge on how HR practices can lead to beneficial outcomes for both volunteers and non-profit organizations.

Citation

  • Alfes, K., Antunes, B., & Shantz, A. D. (2017). The management of volunteers – What can human resources do? A review and research agenda. The international Journal of Human Resource Management, 28(1), 62–97.
Access Full Text

Relevant Evidence Summaries

The evidence was reviewed and included in the following summaries: 

What factors impact volunteer recruitment and retention in nonprofit organizations?

This document summarizes the state of available evidence regarding what factors impact nonprofit organizations’ ability to recruit and retain volunteers. It aims to answer the following questions: What practices can managers implement to improve volunteer recruitment and retention in their organization? What are the gaps in the current research on volunteer recruitment and retention?  

About this study

DIRECTION OF EVIDENCE: Inconclusive or mixed impact

FULL TEXT AVAILABILITY: Paid

HOST COUNTRY: Multiple countries

POPULATION: Other

STRENGTH OF EVIDENCE: Inconclusive or mixed impact

TYPE OF STUDY: Suggestive evidence

YEAR PUBLISHED: 2017

More STUDIES

Predictors of turnover amongst volunteers: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Volunteers represent a global workforce equivalent to 61 million full-time workers. A significant decline in volunteering has highlighted the urgency to better understand and address turnover amongst volunteers. To address this, we conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of turnover amongst volunteers. We also examined whether staying or leaving has different predictors. The meta-analysis integrated…

Designing and managing volunteer programs

This chapter elaborates the essential components of the volunteer program and offers suggestions for increasing their effectiveness. Two caveats with respect to coverage are in order. First, one might reasonably add risk management for volunteers and volunteer programs to the listing above, since it has become a concern to many host organizations. Second, the chapter…