IMPACTNonprofit organizations (NPOs) operate under constant pressure, as they must comply with the demands of a multitude of stakeholders. This study shows that how organizations handle external demands has a direct impact on employees. When employees of NPOs feel that tasks such as accounting and working with beneficiaries align well, they experience less tension and perform better at work. When these demands feel conflicting, tensions increase, and employees perceive their performance as lower. The analysis also shows that greater organizational flexibility affects this relationship. Flexible organizational structures can reduce tensions from competing demands and improve individual performance, especially when demands are seen as compatible. Therefore, nonprofit leaders should actively shape and communicate work demands in a way that makes sense to employees. When demands feel aligned and manageable, this supports staff well-being and helps NPOs deliver their mission more effectively.
Kriegel et al. (Fri,) studied this question.