Journal of Undergraduate Research
Keywords
fractured identities, mission drift, South Africa, nonprofit organization
College
Marriott School of Management
Department
Management
Abstract
Nonprofit organizations (NPOs) face a tradeoff between activities which further their mission and those which generate revenue to pay salaries and bills. For many NPOs, management’s increasing attention to cash flow suppresses the organization’s service-oriented mission and alienates staff. This ORCA grant funded a case study of this phenomenon at RSEF, a small development NPO in South Africa. I use organizational identity theory to explore ways in which a loss of mission focus affects how staff identify with their work, and how decreased identification impacts the organization’s ability to serve society. By understanding the relationship between job commitment, organizational identification, and program effectiveness, managers can fashion NPOs that fully engage staff with their work which, in turn, leads to more successful social service programs.
Recommended Citation
Darsow, Eric C.; Meek, Dr. Christopher; and Woodworth, Dr. Warner
(2013)
"“Working to Put Food on the Table”: Fractured Identities and Mission Drift in a South African Nonprofit Organization,"
Journal of Undergraduate Research: Vol. 2013:
Iss.
1, Article 2488.
Available at:
https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/jur/vol2013/iss1/2488