TY - JOUR
T1 - Beyond service production
T2 - Volunteering for social innovation
AU - de Wit, Arjen
AU - Mensink, Wouter
AU - Einarsson, Torbjörn
AU - Bekkers, René
PY - 2019/4/1
Y1 - 2019/4/1
N2 - Building on theories from different fields, we discuss the roles that volunteers can play in the generation, implementation, and diffusion of social innovations. We present a study relying on 26 interviews with volunteer managers, other professionals, volunteers, and one former volunteer in 17 (branches of) third sector organizations in eight European countries. We identify organizational factors that help and hinder volunteer contributions to social innovation. While volunteer contributions to social innovations are encouraged by decentralized organizational structures, systematic “scaling up” of ideas, providing training, and giving a sense of ownership, they are hindered by a reluctant attitude and a lack of resources. This rich, explorative study makes it a fruitful start for further research on the relationship between volunteering and social innovation.
AB - Building on theories from different fields, we discuss the roles that volunteers can play in the generation, implementation, and diffusion of social innovations. We present a study relying on 26 interviews with volunteer managers, other professionals, volunteers, and one former volunteer in 17 (branches of) third sector organizations in eight European countries. We identify organizational factors that help and hinder volunteer contributions to social innovation. While volunteer contributions to social innovations are encouraged by decentralized organizational structures, systematic “scaling up” of ideas, providing training, and giving a sense of ownership, they are hindered by a reluctant attitude and a lack of resources. This rich, explorative study makes it a fruitful start for further research on the relationship between volunteering and social innovation.
KW - human resource management
KW - nonprofit management
KW - social innovation
KW - volunteering
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85063067340&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=85063067340&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1177/0899764017734651
DO - 10.1177/0899764017734651
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85063067340
SN - 0899-7640
VL - 48
SP - 52S-71S
JO - Nonprofit and Voluntary Sector Quarterly
JF - Nonprofit and Voluntary Sector Quarterly
IS - 2S
ER -