Exploring the Commitment of Volunteers in Little Athletic Centres
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Author(s)
Engelberg, Associate Professor Terry
Skinner, James
Zakus, Dwight
Year published
2006
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Show full item recordAbstract
The organisational commitment of volunteers has been identified as a key factor affecting
the organisation and delivery of community-based sport. However, research has primarily
focussed on commitment to the whole organisation overlooking the fact that volunteers can
develop commitments to various organisational targets. In this study we drew on Meyer and
Herscovitch’s (2001) general model of commitment to assess the commitment of volunteers
in Little Athletics centres in NSW to three targets: the centre, the work team, and the
volunteering role. An examination of the intercorrelations amongst the targets of commitment
indicated ...
View more >The organisational commitment of volunteers has been identified as a key factor affecting the organisation and delivery of community-based sport. However, research has primarily focussed on commitment to the whole organisation overlooking the fact that volunteers can develop commitments to various organisational targets. In this study we drew on Meyer and Herscovitch’s (2001) general model of commitment to assess the commitment of volunteers in Little Athletics centres in NSW to three targets: the centre, the work team, and the volunteering role. An examination of the intercorrelations amongst the targets of commitment indicated that the various commitment constructs were distinguishable. Commitment also differed according to variables such as volunteer age, number of children enrolled and role held within the centre. Consistent with Meyer and Herscovitch’s (2001) conceptualisation of commitment, these findings indicate that volunteers may hold differing commitments to targets other than the sporting organisation. Future research should focus on exploring the relationship between targets of commitment and outcomes such as volunteer retention and performance. Practical implications are also addressed.
View less >
View more >The organisational commitment of volunteers has been identified as a key factor affecting the organisation and delivery of community-based sport. However, research has primarily focussed on commitment to the whole organisation overlooking the fact that volunteers can develop commitments to various organisational targets. In this study we drew on Meyer and Herscovitch’s (2001) general model of commitment to assess the commitment of volunteers in Little Athletics centres in NSW to three targets: the centre, the work team, and the volunteering role. An examination of the intercorrelations amongst the targets of commitment indicated that the various commitment constructs were distinguishable. Commitment also differed according to variables such as volunteer age, number of children enrolled and role held within the centre. Consistent with Meyer and Herscovitch’s (2001) conceptualisation of commitment, these findings indicate that volunteers may hold differing commitments to targets other than the sporting organisation. Future research should focus on exploring the relationship between targets of commitment and outcomes such as volunteer retention and performance. Practical implications are also addressed.
View less >
Conference Title
Inaugural Volunteering research symposium
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Copyright Statement
© The Author(s) 2006. The attached file is reproduced here with permission of the copyright owner[s] for your personal use only. No further distribution permitted. For information about this conference please refer to Volunteering Australia website or contact the author[s].