From People to Theory and Back Again; Towards Excellence in Third Sector Organisations

Laura Lebec ()
Additional contact information
Laura Lebec: University of the West of Scotland

A chapter in A Human-Centered Approach to Quality and Excellence in Management, 2025, pp 101-118 from Springer

Abstract: Abstract The theory of third sector organisational performance measurement and quality has received little attention to date in a predominantly practice led research field. Adopting appropriate quality and performance practices is accepted as essential for the viability and effectiveness of the delivery of vital welfare services, but the lack of an appropriate theoretical underpinning could undermine the operationalisation of these approaches. Outlining the key theories proposed in the field, this paper aims to identify an appropriate theoretical perspective to underpin an effective and person-centred approach to excellence for the third sector. Drawing on empirical data from third sector organisations in Scotland and the existing literature, the key theoretical lenses conceptualising third sector organisational performance and quality are addressed. Recognising tensions between interpretive approaches, such as institutional theory, and positivist approaches such as contingency theory, a case is made for the application of stakeholder theory. Stakeholder theory has significant resonance for quality and performance and underpins the multi-stakeholder service delivery environment of the third sector. Improving understanding of the multiplicity of stakeholders’ competing claims will contribute to supporting the sustainability and person-centred ethos of third sector organisations. The research provides evidence that organisational excellence in the third sector will be enhanced with an applied understanding of stakeholder theory and management. The research outlines the importance of a developing a theoretical underpinning in the complex field of third sector organisational performance and enhances our understanding of how this can contribute to ensuring organisational excellence.

Keywords: Third sector; Organisational performance measurement; Quality; Stakeholder theory; Person-centred (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
References: Add references at CitEc
Citations:

There are no downloads for this item, see the EconPapers FAQ for hints about obtaining it.

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:spr:prbchp:978-3-032-00063-7_5

Ordering information: This item can be ordered from
http://www.springer.com/9783032000637

DOI: 10.1007/978-3-032-00063-7_5

Access Statistics for this chapter

More chapters in Springer Proceedings in Business and Economics from Springer
Bibliographic data for series maintained by Sonal Shukla () and Springer Nature Abstracting and Indexing ().