Collective orientation on a volunteer public advisory board team: A multiple regression analysis of motivation factors

This study examined the relationship between motivation and collective orientation in a public sector, team setting of volunteers. Advisory boards are an important method of community participation in government, comprised of volunteers from the constituency who work in a team with elected officials and public servants in decision making (Wang, 2001); an area that is understudied. Perry and colleagues' theory of public service motivation and Clary and colleagues' volunteer functions theory were utilized to test the predictive value of motivation for performance on a volunteer advisory board. Propensity for team work or collective orientation was used as an attitudinal proxy for effectiveness or performance. The results of multiple regression do not support the research hypotheses. Implications for public service motivation and volunteer functions theory refinement are discussed. Suggestions for future research are presented in the areas of team motivation, volunteer performance, and public volunteering.