Understanding the Meaning of the Nonprofit Organizational Mission through Informal Learning in the Workplace: An Interpretive Case Study

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atmire.migration.oldid4179
dc.contributor.advisorKawalilak, Colleen
dc.contributor.authorHenning, Barbara
dc.contributor.committeememberDonlevy, James Kent
dc.contributor.committeememberFriesen, Sharon L.
dc.contributor.committeememberBrandon, James Edward
dc.contributor.committeememberLedger, Susan F.
dc.date.accessioned2016-02-05T23:44:39Z
dc.date.available2016-02-05T23:44:39Z
dc.date.issued2016-02-05
dc.date.submitted2015en
dc.description.abstractThe purpose of this research is to examine how employees working at two nonprofit organizations negotiate their understanding and conceptualize the meaning of the organizational mission through informal learning in their day-to-day interactions and practices. A qualitative interpretive case study was employed as methodology. Symbolic interactionism, a theory that studies the process of interaction in the formation of meaning for individuals (Blumer, 1969), provided a theoretical lens through which to interpret and analyse the data. Semi-structured interviews, participant observation, and document analysis were the chosen methods for data collection. Three major themes with sub-themes emerged from this study. The findings of the study show that: (1) informal learning played a key role in how participant learned, negotiated and conceptualized the meaning of the mission; (2) there is evidence of a strong presence for a client-centered mission in a nonprofit organization that is reproduced through employees’ interactions and actions; (3) specific management practices can support a client-centered mission; (4) leaders should rethink the elements the mission statement to include and define employee behaviour. This study is the attempt to provide leaders and managers with ideas to improve and enhance nonprofit organizations ability to be mission-focused.en_US
dc.identifier.citationHenning, B. (2016). Understanding the Meaning of the Nonprofit Organizational Mission through Informal Learning in the Workplace: An Interpretive Case Study (Doctoral thesis, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada). Retrieved from https://prism.ucalgary.ca. doi:10.11575/PRISM/28570en_US
dc.identifier.doihttp://dx.doi.org/10.11575/PRISM/28570
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/11023/2850
dc.language.isoeng
dc.publisher.facultyGraduate Studies
dc.publisher.institutionUniversity of Calgaryen
dc.publisher.placeCalgaryen
dc.rightsUniversity of Calgary graduate students retain copyright ownership and moral rights for their thesis. You may use this material in any way that is permitted by the Copyright Act or through licensing that has been assigned to the document. For uses that are not allowable under copyright legislation or licensing, you are required to seek permission.
dc.subjectEducation--Adult and Continuing
dc.subject.classificationNonprofiten_US
dc.subject.classificationLeadershipen_US
dc.subject.classificationManagementen_US
dc.titleUnderstanding the Meaning of the Nonprofit Organizational Mission through Informal Learning in the Workplace: An Interpretive Case Study
dc.typedoctoral thesis
thesis.degree.disciplineEducational Research
thesis.degree.grantorUniversity of Calgary
thesis.degree.nameDoctor of Philosophy (PhD)
ucalgary.item.requestcopytrue
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