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    Towards a model of organizational citizenship behaviour where it matters the most : civil society workplaces : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Psychology at Massey University (Albany Campus), New Zealand
    (Massey University, 2022) Langdon, Steven James
    Organizational citizenship behaviour is argued to be particularly important to civil society organizations, especially during a pandemic. However, organizational citizenship behaviour needs further theoretically driven research in the civil society sector, which is the overarching aim of this thesis. This thesis identifies two competing measurement models of organizational citizenship behaviour, and a corresponding need to explore its correlates, positioned as proximal correlates (burnout and engagement) and related job attitudes. This thesis recruited N = 442 employees from 217 civil society organizations in New Zealand. Confirmatory factor analysis, interclass correlation coefficients, and within-group agreement indices tested two competing measurement models of organizational citizenship behaviour. These analyses revealed that employees of civil society organizations tended to perform citizenship behaviour in accordance with one of the models: Organ’s (1988) five-factor organizational citizenship behaviour, independent of their organization. Using the data collected from New Zealand’s civil society sector, two-stage structural equation modelling (SEM) was used to develop and test two models of correlates to organizational citizenship behaviour. The results of this analysis suggest that perceived time demands linked positively to burnout, which in turn had a weak positive link to organizational citizenship behaviour. In addition, there was a positive link between citizenship motivation and engagement, which then had a positive relationship with Organ’s (1988) five sub-facet based organizational citizenship behaviour. As a comparative analysis, one-stage meta-analytic structural equation modelling was used to develop and test simplified comparison models of the correlates to organizational citizenship behaviour in the wider literature, that is, excluding civil society. N = 34 independent samples were included in the meta-analysis. The meta-analytic results suggested that negative job attitudes had a positive relationship with burnout, but burnout had no relationship with organizational citizenship behaviour. However, positive job attitudes had a positive relationship with engagement, which in turn had a positive relationship with organizational citizenship behaviour in the wider organizational literature. The thesis revealed that there is a key difference between correlates to organizational citizenship behaviour in the wider literature, as tested in the meta-analysis, and in New Zealand’s civil society sector, as tested by structural equation modelling. The relationship between burnout and organizational citizenship behaviour differs across the for-profit and civil society sectors. Burnout was found to have a positive relationship with organizational citizenship behaviour in the civil society sector, but not in the meta-analytic test of the for-profit sector.
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    New roles in civil society : current and potential roles in decentralised decision-making in rural Nepal : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Masters of Philosophy in Development Studies at Massey University, Palmerston North, New Zealand
    (Massey University, 2004) Sherpa, Helen Bernadette
    This study attempts to develop a better understanding of the roles civil society plays in rural Nepal. Makawanpur district has a diverse population and villages both remote and close to national highways and urban centres. The study was carried out during a period of political instability and civil war during which the functioning democratic government was replaced by an administration appointed by the King. At the community level an active civil society undertakes a range of roles and responsibilities. The most significant organisations involving large numbers of people were those contributing directly to supporting livelihoods, including dairy cooperatives, savings and credit groups, forest and water user groups. State-controlled sectors such as education and health had weaker participation. Religious and ethnic organisations do not play significant roles while non-government organisations are present and contribute to welfare and development but do not have large memberships Many civil society organisations were "induced" but over time had evolved and developed their own agendas. Roles being undertaken included management of resources and utilities, supporting poverty alleviation and improved livelihoods, participation in decentralised governance and addressing social issues. Microfinance was a powerful motivating factor used both to form and keep groups together. Groups claimed "inclusiveness" but this could not be independently verified in this study. Civil society theory holds that a healthy society balances the Prince (State), Merchant (commercial sector) and Citizen (civil society). Applying and understanding this theory in a rural environment is challenging and raises many questions as to what "balance" would look like. The State presence is small, mostly in the form of schools and health posts, but it controls policies that affect civil society. Organisations felt they had little influence on policy. The commercial sector is also very poorly developed. In this environment, community based civil society organisations undertake many roles. Civil society is complex and can only be viewed in context of the given point in history and specific community power relations. As communities undertake more roles and responsibilities, they will need to be better understood and supported by the development industry if they are to achieve their full potential.
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    Too many hats : exploring the possibilities for women's political empowerment within Cook Islands civil society : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Philosophy in International Development at Massey University, Manawatu, New Zealand
    (Massey University, 2013) Stenson, Barbara-Anne
    This thesis explores the possibilities for women’s political empowerment beyond numbers represented in national parliament. Women’s perspectives and contributions to policy decision making are seen as a key factor in a nation’s development and women’s representation in national parliament is a key indicator of the Millennium Development Goal Three on Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment. However, this thesis argues that there are other forms of political empowerment beyond numbers in national parliament that should be considered Pacific women have the lowest representation in national parliaments globally. The international community is encouraging Pacific countries to increase the number of women in national parliaments by introducing gender quotas. However, there has been little investigation into women’s political voices in Pacific societies outside of national parliament. This thesis thus investigates how women’s political empowerment is understood within Cook Islands civil society and explores the various ways in which women in Cook Islands civil society exercise political power. A gender and development empowerment approach formed the theoretical basis for this research. Moser’s (1989) ideas on the triple role of women and practical and strategic gender needs were used as tools of analysis. Fieldwork took place over four weeks in the Cook Islands in mid-2012. Development research principles, as well as Pacific methodologies, guided the fieldwork which utilised a mixed methods approach. The findings of this study show that despite women being underrepresented in national parliament women do exercise political power within Cook Islands civil society. Women often use strategies to exercise political power indirectly, through context-specific and culturally acceptable ways so as to maintain important social and political relationships. Women work collaboratively with government and many contribute to policy development and implementation. Despite this however, women are being stretched in their roles within the community by neoliberal donor and government policies and programmes. The main implications of the findings, and the conclusion of the thesis, is that development policy and practice must take into consideration women’s multiple roles and recognise that advocacy work within civil society is an important strategic gender need. Civil society advocacy should be supported by donor programmes to encourage women to be politically involved in their country’s development.