Human resource management in the voluntary sector: Challenges and opportunities

This article discusses issues facing personnel specialists within the volun tary sector who are trying to implement people management policies associat ed with the Human Resource Management (HRM) model. It outlines the pressure s for change in management practice in the voluntary sector and then focuse s more precisely on the definition of HRM theory, providing a rationale for voluntary agencies to develop policies and practices. The difficulties man agers and personnel practitioners may face when attempting to implement the se practices are described. Finally, an agenda for further research in this area is proposed.