People management in the Portuguese nonprofits

Abstract

This study is focused on the People Management – Human Resources – in the Portuguese nonprofit organizations. The objective of this research is to contribute to the understanding of the nonprofit sector in terms of the human factor, and at the same time intends to cast light on the factors that compensate and motivate employees. Through a qualitative approach, after conducting a number of interviews to assorted nonprofit organizations, we reach the result that more often than not these organizations have fragile procedures in what concerns staffing, performance evaluation and training & development. On the other hand, these organizations have an abundant human acumen in what concerns compensation and motivation. The experience of volunteer work supports this finding. Given this, there is a vast array of knowledge that the social sector can transmit to the private sector.