An investigation into what motivates volunteers to work at events and the issues that event managers face in managing volunteers

View/ open
Author
Jordan, Lauren Dee
Date
2009Type
Thesis
Publisher
Cardiff Metropolitan University
Metadata
Show full item recordAbstract
The purpose of this study was to investigate the motivations of volunteers at events and to discover the issues faced by managers of volunteers at events in order to recommended effective solutions.
The data used in this study was obtained through both qualitative and quantitative research methods to provide an in-depth analysis in to the subject area. Through the process of random sampling event volunteers were surveyed, to ascertain their thoughts on motivation and their experiences of volunteering at events. Several volunteer managers were interviewed using a semi structured structure to understand the issues that they perceived to be involved with managing volunteers and to gain an insight into effective management practices.
Helping others was found to be the most prevalent motivation for volunteering at events. Although in the age group 18-30 work experience was also found to be a major motivational factor.
The overall evidence from the study suggests that volunteer motivation for events cannot be prescribed and very much depends on the individual, supporting the need for managers to get to know volunteers and their motivations in order to effectively manage them.
The main issues that managers face in managing volunteers at events where found to be lack of formality and disciplinary issues. It was found in the survey that volunteer's motivations change due to time and circumstances, managers stated this to be another issue faced.
A number of recommendations discussed further in chapter four are summarised as follows:
• Managers need to have an extensive knowledge of possible motivations that volunteers are influenced by.
• Managers should use an induction interview to assess volunteer motivation in order to allocate appropriate tasks.
• Appraisals should be carried out in order to constantly assess motivation due to motivation being affected by circumstances and age.
• The appraisals should also be used to ensure that volunteers are being given the opportunities to develop themselves and their skills.
• All of these will hopefully aid retention thus cutting organisations costs.
Description
BA (Hons) Events Management
Collections
Related items
Showing items related by title, author, subject and abstract.
-
What motivates individuals to volunteer at events?
Richards, Nia Eleri (Cardiff Metropolitan University, 2010)This study has been undertaken as part of an MSc in Events Management course at UWIC. As the events management industry has grown, understanding events management has emerged as an academic discipline and there needs to ... -
A comparative study on motivations of volunteering in three different event sectors; festivals, agricultural events, charity events and how it impacts the event industry using Glastonbury, The Great Dorset Steam Fair and The Stoke Association Resolution Run as case studies.
Hill, Emily (Cardiff Metropolitan University, 2016-04)The purpose of this research study is to investigate the motivations of individual volunteers at three events in three different sectors of the event industry, as well as discovering the impacts managers believe volunteer ... -
Motivations of Volunteers at Music Festivals: An Analysis of Event Company Human Resource Strategies.
Rey-Conliffe, Alicia (Cardiff Metropolitan University, 2014)This research project focuses on what motivates individuals to volunteer at music festivals and takes into account the human resource strategies from the event organisations that hire volunteers. This project is made up ...