Ideellt ledarskap En kvalitativ studie som undersöker vilka faktorer som påverkar ledarskapet och engagemanget i två hemslöjdsföreningar

Abstract

The aim of this thesis is to examine what elements that are influencing people’s commitment to two handicraft societies in the non-profit sector and how the leadership is both affecting and affected by the members’ commitment. A great part of the Swedish population has a membership in one or more non-profit organizations, but only a few of this persons take an active part in the organization, why is that? By conducting case studies of two handicraft societies and carry out interviews with the leaders of these societies the understanding of how leadership is practiced and how it is affecting the commitment has been examined. The leadership of an organization depends not only on the leader, but also on the relationship between the leader, the members and the context. The leadership and the affecting elements are also depending on in which position the organization has in its processes of change and regeneration. The study indicates that it may be difficult to consider one self as a leader in a handicraft society. Even if the leader is aware of the role, it is hard to think about the way the leadership is performed. Both informants acted as leaders even though their levels of awareness of the leadership varied. Four elements have been identified as having an influence on both the leadership and the commitment in a handicraft society; age of the society and of the members, time, the degree of responsibility and the relationship between the leader and the members.