Helping a Small Development Organization Manage Volunteers More Efficiently

Development organizations plan and execute programs that are directed primarily toward promoting human welfare. Because these organizations rely heavily on volunteers to carry out their social missions, efficiently managing their volunteer workforce is important. In this study, we discuss the development of a spreadsheet-based, multicriteria volunteer-scheduling model for a small development organization in a developing South American country. We demonstrate how the model helps to reduce the number of unfilled shifts, decrease total scheduling costs, and better satisfy the volunteers' scheduling preferences, thus supporting the long-term retention and effectiveness of the organization's volunteer workforce.