Purpose

In delving into working for the organization and completing the systematic data analysis it become clear there was a theme which began to emerge of why individuals worked for the organizations. However, unlike to Person Centred, theme which clearly emerged from the interviewees who stated the theme, this development emerged from the interpretation of the discussions taking place between the

interviewer and interviewee. The study would state organizational Purpose played an important role for those members of staff being interviewed. The research defined this theme as follows;

Table 7.1 Purpose Theme Description

Nickname

Name Description

Purpose Driving force behind what organization is established for. Driving forces

The onset of each interview during this phase of the research, the participants were asked to reflect on why they had come to work for such an organization. In the following discussions, what emerged provided the rationale behind the Purpose, as a driver to why individuals joined and stayed working for such organizations. The discussion aimed to get the interviewee to reflect on why they work in the organization.

“why I haven’t left to do something else. It’s, it is, there are other jobs I could do, there’s other jobs I am qualified to do and I’d probably earn a lot more money if I did them but I like working in the voluntary sector. “ (Interviewee 3)

The critical interpretation which began the development of the theme related to there being several reasons for the individual to work in other organizations/jobs. However, the individual felt drawn to the sector, this provided an initial concept thought around purpose. This particular individual developed on this aspect by indicating.

“Loyalty, erm, people are all working towards the same goal, they, they appreciate what other people do and support each other” (Interviewee 3)

This in itself begins to suggest an overarching driver to working for the organization, with the reference to the sector and working towards the same goals. However, this may not provide enough basis to suggest as an emergent concept. Nevertheless, all of the other respondents during this phase of the research proposed perspective that could be linked to such concepts of Purpose as a driver for individuals to work for such organizations.

During the reflection discussion interviewee 4, indicated making a difference and

benefiting my local community as key drivers for why they worked in the organization even acknowledging the fact they do reflect on this from time to time.

“making a difference? And am I benefitting my local community? Because, obviously, I also work in the local community. So, I was working in the local community, and, I think that, sometimes.” (Interviewee 4)

However, the various responses to the reflective question did seem to respond and discuss specific purposes of that particular organization. Interviewees 3 and 4 both work for a local VCS development agency who’s organizational purpose is very much community based and to support/develop other VCS organizations. Their responses to the reflective question replicated the purpose of the organization. This pattern emerged when interviewing staff from the second VCS organization in the study. Interviewee 5, was very much driven by the disability focus of the organization they worked for. “KDC became a vehicle for disabled people to access better services and indeed became a vehicle for disabled people to be able to be heard a little bit more readily.” (Interviewee 5)

Nevertheless, this provides further substance to the concept of Purpose as an organizational driver. Building on this concept through the systematic data analysis, the concept focus of Purpose appeared to be a critical factor for all interviewees. Building on several of the specific aspects, several of the interviewee referred to the focus of not for profit and supporting people and communities.

“Um, it’s all about not for profit organisations, supporting those organisations, it’s giving back to the community. “ (Interviewee 7)

“working within a sector, it's not about money, it's about valuing people, erm are they the thing that attract you to this, to this type of organisation?” (Interviewee 8)

One of the interesting aspects identified within the Purpose concept was identified with interviewee 6, who was quite focused on how the organization interacted around the concept of Purpose. The interviewee indicated this is not just specifically what the company does, but how the organization interact in achieving its purpose. They indicated

“What does that company believe in, what company strives to do. How it aims to deliver what it set out to do.” (Interviewee 6)

This raises potential development around Purpose,that involves the interactions internally around those drivers. This is a concept point which will be developed further when pulling together some of the concepts from this stage of the research.

The coverage of the concept of Purpose across Phase 2 of the interviews can be seen in Graph 7.1 Purpose Coverage.

Graph 7.1 Purpose Coverage

The coverage within each interview does vary from 6.65% to 15.36%, this relates to the percentage of coverage within the transcribed interviews which was identified under the Purpose node. However, the research is not suggesting the prevalence is of importance in this instance. Rather that the ideas and concepts developed can be traced back to the research data. During this phase of the research Purpose concept has emerged as a leading development out of the rich date the research has produced. The fact that through data analysis each of the interviewees has contributed to the

development of the theme is important when building the theory concept later in the thesis.