Examining Factors that Influence Organizational Commitment in Volunteer Leaders of Non-profit Islamic Organizations Across Urban Alberta

dc.contributor.advisorChowdhury, Tanvir Turin
dc.contributor.authorQasqas, Mahdi J.
dc.contributor.committeememberGraham, John R.
dc.contributor.committeememberKazemipur, Abdolmohammad
dc.date2020-06
dc.date.accessioned2019-11-15T19:46:28Z
dc.date.available2019-11-15T19:46:28Z
dc.date.issued2019-11-13
dc.description.abstractOngoing resource challenges in the Canadian nonprofit sector and a national decline in volunteer rates and hours necessitates a deeper understanding of factors influencing organizational commitment in volunteer leaders. However, research on volunteer leaders in organizations mostly powered by volunteers and nonprofit Islamic organizations are scarce. The purpose of this mixed-methods cross-sectional study is to provide evidence on factors that influence organizational commitment amongst volunteer leaders in nonprofit Islamic organizations across urban Alberta. Survey data collected from 216 active adult volunteer leaders was used to examine the relationship between intrinsic motivation, position satisfaction, role clarity (explanatory variables), and organizational commitment. Then, data from 36 semi-structured interviews was subjected to applied thematic analysis to provide deeper explanations of the findings plus highlight unique cases and cultural nuances. Results of a hierarchical regression analysis indicate that the explanatory variables account for 40% of the change in organizational commitment. Interview data reveals the paramount importance of feeling a sense of autonomy, competence, and relatedness (the components of intrinsic motivation). Whereas factors that decreased intrinsic motivation included perceived feelings of control (i.e. micromanagement), a sense of failure due to destructive criticism, and feelings of rejection resulting from condescending behaviours of others. Despite periods of dissatisfaction, participants repeatedly identified the salient role religious beliefs had on their reasons to volunteer and/or willingness to keep serving amidst added stressors. Themes included the importance of, serving for the sake of God (sincerity or ikhlas), fulfilling one’s obligations as a leader (amanah), perseverance in the face of stressors (sabr), demonstrating gratitude (shukr), and mutual consultation (shura). Practice and policy-making recommendations involve integrating Islamic values and practices into existing evidence-based volunteer human resource management strategies to increase the likelihood for uptake. Research recommendations include construct development of Islamic values to be developed into scales and/or interventions (e.g. psycho-spiritual first aid). Given the intersection between the dearth of research, inter/intrapersonal dynamics, and diversity amongst volunteer leaders across Canada, utilizing a localized and culturally adapted strategic planning framework for knowledge mobilization can be promising; especially for organizations heavily reliant on volunteers.en_US
dc.identifier.citationQasqas, M. J. (2019). Examining Factors that Influence Organizational Commitment in Volunteer Leaders of Non-profit Islamic Organizations Across Urban Alberta (Doctoral thesis, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada). Retrieved from https://prism.ucalgary.ca.en_US
dc.identifier.doihttp://dx.doi.org/10.11575/PRISM/37243
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/1880/111216
dc.language.isoengen_US
dc.publisher.facultySocial Worken_US
dc.publisher.institutionUniversity of Calgaryen
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.en_US
dc.subjectOrganizational Commitmenten_US
dc.subjectNonprofit Islamic Organizationsen_US
dc.subjectVolunteer Leadersen_US
dc.subjectMotivationen_US
dc.subjectRole Clarityen_US
dc.subjectPosition Satisfactionen_US
dc.subjectPsycho-spiritual first aiden_US
dc.subject.classificationEducation--Social Sciencesen_US
dc.subject.classificationSociology--Organizationalen_US
dc.titleExamining Factors that Influence Organizational Commitment in Volunteer Leaders of Non-profit Islamic Organizations Across Urban Albertaen_US
dc.typedoctoral thesisen_US
thesis.degree.disciplineSocial Worken_US
thesis.degree.grantorUniversity of Calgaryen_US
thesis.degree.nameDoctor of Philosophy (PhD)en_US
ucalgary.item.requestcopytrueen_US
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