The Volunteer Experience in Temporary Organizations: Volunteer Role Negotiation and Identification in a Pop-Culture Convention

The present study explores the role negotiations and identity of volunteers at a large Southwestern pop-culture convention. A sensemaking perspective was used to understand how volunteers retrospectively interpret their experiences as volunteers in this temporary organization. Data collection included participant observation and interviews of 26 volunteers. Data were analyzed using constant comparative analysis. Three role negotiation categories were identified: learning roles, negotiating roles, and making sense of roles. Ineffective communication during role learning and negotiation created ambiguity and uncertainty for volunteers. Volunteers identified with the convention primarily through communicative interactions with patrons but also through communicating with staff or by wearing artifacts (e. g., clothing). Results suggest modifying sensemaking theory to recognize individual as well as collective sensemaking.