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Helping a Small Development Organization Manage Volunteers More Efficiently

Author

Listed:
  • Mauro Falasca

    (Department of Marketing and Supply Chain Management, East Carolina University, Greenville, North Carolina 27858)

  • Christopher Zobel

    (Business Information Technology, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Virginia 24061)

  • Cliff Ragsdale

    (Business Information Technology, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Virginia 24061)

Abstract

Development organizations plan and execute programs that are directed primarily toward promoting human welfare. Because these organizations rely heavily on volunteers to carry out their social missions, efficiently managing their volunteer workforce is important. In this study, we discuss the development of a spreadsheet-based, multicriteria volunteer-scheduling model for a small development organization in a developing South American country. We demonstrate how the model helps to reduce the number of unfilled shifts, decrease total scheduling costs, and better satisfy the volunteers' scheduling preferences, thus supporting the long-term retention and effectiveness of the organization's volunteer workforce.

Suggested Citation

  • Mauro Falasca & Christopher Zobel & Cliff Ragsdale, 2011. "Helping a Small Development Organization Manage Volunteers More Efficiently," Interfaces, INFORMS, vol. 41(3), pages 254-262, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:inm:orinte:v:41:y:2011:i:3:p:254-262
    DOI: 10.1287/inte.1110.0570
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Sperling, Martina & Schryen, Guido, 2022. "Decision support for disaster relief: Coordinating spontaneous volunteers," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 299(2), pages 690-705.
    2. Kaur, Milan Preet & Smith, Safron & Pazour, Jennifer A. & Duque Schumacher, Ana, 2022. "Optimization of volunteer task assignments to improve volunteer retention and nonprofit organizational performance," Socio-Economic Planning Sciences, Elsevier, vol. 84(C).
    3. Lassiter, Kyle & Khademi, Amin & Taaffe, Kevin M., 2015. "A robust optimization approach to volunteer management in humanitarian crises," International Journal of Production Economics, Elsevier, vol. 163(C), pages 97-111.
    4. Escallon-Barrios, Mariana & Noham, Reut & Smilowitz, Karen, 2024. "Dual mode scheduling in volunteer management," Socio-Economic Planning Sciences, Elsevier, vol. 92(C).

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