Author:

Keywords:

CSI Flanders, middenveld, professional, work, civil society, political role, service role, challenges

Abstract:

Workers in civil society organisations (CSOs) are confronted with several societal changes and new challenges, which not only influence the way these organisations work and are organised, but might also have an impact on the day to day jobs of the employees. This paper summarizes existing literature on the potential impact of societal changes on the professional in CSOs, his job and job quality, tasks and skill needs. The first part of the paper sheds a light on the definition and core elements of professional work in CSOs and its particular job characteristics, tasks, responsibilities, skill needs and the specific motivational characteristics of CSO jobs. In the second part this paper summarises existing findings on the potential impacts of among others marketization, professionalization, individualisation, diversity and digitalisation on professionals in CSOs. The findings suggest considerable changes in job quality and intrinsic motivation, new or different skill needs and changing roles. In the third part we explore literature on innovative HRM frameworks, policies and practices. We discuss how high-commitment HRM or values-based HRM as a managerial strategy can provide innovations in the civil society sector and discuss the importance of a fit between the HRM policies and practices and the organisational strategy, mission and values.