This study aims to present the progress and development in research carried out on the strategies put into practice at nonprofit organisations. To this end, we carried out a systematic review of the literature making recourse to the ISI Web of Knowledge platform for the data collection process that resulted in the 62 scientific articles (published between 1981 and 2016) analysed in this review. This analysis correspondingly sets out a description of the studies, a timeframe for their respective dates of publication and details about the research methods applied. The results convey how, over the last four decades, there have been a range of studies of nonprofit organisation strategy-related themes with the greatest incidence clustered around the terms strategic management, strategic planning, strategic typology (Miles and Snow 1978), innovation strategies and the strategic management of human resources. We found that the 1980s focused on the theoretical foundations of strategy in nonprofit organisations and the 1990s showed a theoretical consolidation of strategy in nonprofit organisations. The first decade of the twenty-first century shows a focus on improving the management of nonprofit organisations, and in the past decade there has been a diversification in the strategies adopted by these organisations. We furthermore set out suggestions for future research alongside the theoretical and practical implications of this study.

There are high political and policy expectations of local and voluntary initiatives of citizens collaborating to provide public services themselves. Despite rising attention, existing research lacks systematic knowledge on the actual outcomes of citizen initiatives and on stimulating or hampering factors. Therefore, we present a systematic literature review using the PRISMA approach on citizen initiatives and related terms. The studies show citizens being able to achieve outcomes touching upon a broad range of public values. Furthermore, the review presents contributing factors, like government support and boundary spanning leadership. Yet, the field of citizen initiatives in the social sciences can benefit from more methodological and analytical rigor. We therefore conclude with a conceptual framework for community self-management that identifies relationships between outcomes and relevant factors and discuss future research directions.

Boards of directors hold critical oversight and governance functions for nonprofit organizations. Even though nonprofit research has stressed the importance of engaging board members in research designs, boards can be surprisingly inaccessible given their volunteer status, rotating term limits, and the protective role of an executive who serves as a gatekeeper to board contact information. For research interested in engaging directly with board members, a challenge emerges on how to access and contact board members. To help identify how prior research had overcome this challenge, a systematic literature review is used to summarize sampling parameters and data collection approaches, as well as data sources for integrating board perspectives in nonprofit research. These findings provide insights for how future research may build off these prior approaches, as well as fill in gaps so that nonprofit research designs adequately include board perspectives.

Voluntary and nonprofit sector studies are relatively young and still seeking common intellectual ground. One vehicle for accomplishing this task is the systematic literature review (SLR). SLRs approach knowledge generation through a rules-driven comprehensive process for finding and analyzing prior knowledge. SLRs support the voluntary sector’s current emphasis on data transparency in publication. They also support the growth of voluntary sector empiricism by offering a greater claim to reliability and generalizability of findings. Finally, they support goals of inclusiveness and knowledge unification that are important to the voluntary sector academy, its funders, and its constituents. This explanatory article draws on examples from the nonprofit and voluntary sector to describe the rationale and methods of the SLR.

Assessing the impact of the nonprofit sector on society has been one of the most fundamental yet challenging questions in public and nonprofit management scholarship. Built on a recent systematic literature review published in VOLUNTAS (Cheng and Choi in Int J Volunt Nonprofit Organ 33:1245–1255, 2022), our meta-analysis synthesizes the existing literature from multiple disciplines and fills this critical knowledge gap. Using 357 effects from 29 studies, our moderation analysis shows that a larger nonprofit sector has a more positive impact on society especially when the impact is political and measured at the city/county level. Studies that used fixed-effects models and quasi-experimental designs also found a more positive societal impact of the nonprofit sector. However, the choice of sector size measure, the selection of impact measure, the use of lagged explanatory variables, publication bias, and publication time seem not to matter.

Research on populist attitudes has bloomed in recent years, especially among political science and communication scholars. While this trend is undoubtedly positive to unravel what the causes and consequences of individuals’ populism are, rapid accumulation of knowledge is also challenging, as numerous articles are published simultaneously using diverse theoretical, methodological, and data strategies. This systematic literature review considers all articles stored in the Web of Science and published in English that refer to populist attitudes, without time restrictions (N = 138). After a detailed reading of all articles, we focus on the most relevant findings considering populist attitudes both as dependent and independent variables. Main areas of consensus, disagreements, and guidelines for future research are considered.

Long before the current refugee crisis, third sector organizations (TSOs) have played a pivotal role in dealing with the multifaceted challenge of migration. Researchers have analyzed this role in many ways. What is missing, however, is a comprehensive overview of how the third sector contributes to dealing with migration. To close this gap, we conduct a systematic literature review (SLR) that maps the scholarly debate on TSOs and migration. Our SLR identifies four domains of TSO migration engagement: first, the direct provision of basic services and social welfare; second, migrant-oriented capacity development; third, system-oriented advocacy; and fourth, complementary research activities. We propose a conceptual framework that highlights the contribution of TSOs with regard to individual-oriented and system-oriented services that are necessary for a successful integration of migrants. A key implication of our derived framework is to understand migration as a holistic challenge that requires contributions by different actors on different levels, thus highlighting the need for coordination and communication between the TSOs, the state and other stakeholders.

This study compiles the main findings in the field of academic research on pure donation-based crowdfunding (DCF) soliciting monetary contributions for charitable causes. To this purpose, a systematic literature review is conducted, resulting in 92 scientific publications analyzed for the first time in this field of research. The prevailing thematic dimensions and research gaps are identified and discussed. The incipient literature on DCF, with a majority of publications from 2015 onward in the form of empirical articles using quantitative methodologies, focuses on antecedents related to individual donors, organizational promoters as main actors, and online channels and design-related features of campaigns as enablers. However, the effects of DCF on relevant stakeholders (particularly beneficiaries and society in general) remain largely obscure. Based on this analysis, an integrated conceptual framework on DCF is proposed to guide future research. This framework, susceptible of empirical evaluation, allows characterizing the DCF as a distinct and emerging type of philanthropic funding model based on specific and novel antecedents, actors, enablers and effects.

Societal concerns on the environmental impact of manufacturing activities in developing economies have intensified over the past decade. Open innovation (OI) has emerged as a promising approach to mitigate these adverse effects without compromising sustainable performance (SP). This primary aim of this study is to examine and evaluate the current state of research on OI and SP practices for further empirical studies in developing economies. Using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses framework, we systematically reviewed and analysed 108 articles from Scopus, Web of Science, Google Scholar, and ScienceDirect databases related to OI and SP practices. Our study highlights significant knowledge gaps in the relationship between OI and SP in manufacturing, noting a predominant focus on developed countries. This research contributes to the existing literature by identifying critical contextual and theoretical gaps, providing valuable insights and theoretical implications for future OI and SP research agendas in developing countries.

This article provides a systematic literature review of the scholarly work on lobbying coalitions in political science, spanning the period from 1985 to 2023. By applying the PRISMA protocol for scoping reviews, the study maps the key trends, definitions adopted, research methods, and theoretical frameworks within this field, specifically focusing on the main explanations used to account for interest groups’ choice to form or join a coalition. The review reveals that the study of lobbying coalitions has grown in prominence, with a prevailing focus on the United States and the European Union and with a predominant use of large-N quantitative methods. The review identifies the dominance of behavioral definitions of interest groups and lobbying coalitions while also highlighting significant methodological gaps, particularly the underuse of social network analysis and qualitative comparative analysis. Furthermore, the study presents a meta-analysis of theoretical hypotheses, showing that the decision to form or join coalitions is primarily influenced by micro- and meso-level factors such as ideological affinity and issue salience. The review finds mixed empirical support for the idea that coalition formation serves as a ‘weapon of the weak’, with both weaker and stronger groups demonstrating likelihood of joining coalitions under certain conditions. The paper concludes by suggesting avenues for future research, including the further exploration of mixed-method designs and the potential for alternative methodological approaches to refine the understanding of lobbying coalitions.

Seasonal affective disorder (SAD) is a seasonal pattern modifier to recurrent major depressive disorder. Despite cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) having a strong evidence base of efficacy for depression, little research exists assessing CBT for SAD, especially in the acute phase of depression during winter months. The aim of this study was to determine the efficacy of CBT for acute SAD in adults. Eligible randomised controlled trials (RCTs) testing the efficacy of CBT on depression symptoms in adults with SAD were included. Depression outcomes were assessed using the Revised Cochrane Risk-of-Bias Tool for Randomized Trials. A meta-analysis using a fixed effects model was conducted to assess the effects of CBT on depression symptoms compared with light therapy (LT) at post-intervention and 1–2 years follow-up. Narrative synthesis was used for recurrence and remission rates. Three RCTs and two follow-up papers met the inclusion criteria. All RCTs measured efficacy of group-CBT for acute SAD and compared to LT. There was substantial variation in risk of bias for all outcomes across the trials. Three RCTs (n=220 participants) were included in the meta-analysis that found CBT was effective in reducing depressive symptoms compared with LT at 1–2-year follow-up post-intervention [MD=–4.5, 95% confidence interval (CI) (–6.88, –2.12), p<0.05]. There was no difference between CBT and LT at immediate post-intervention. Group-CBT appears equivalent to LT in treating acute SAD in adults at post-intervention, but appears more effective at long-term follow-up. The findings should be taken with caution due to few included studies and variation in risk of bias across studies.

Key learning aims

1. (1) Previous research into CBT and seasonal affective disorder has focused primarily on delivery of CBT during the non-acute phase of SAD, typically in non-winter months.

2. (2) There are limited high quality randomised controlled trials testing the efficacy of CBT for seasonal affective disorder in the acute phase during winter months.

3. (3) It appears that group-CBT for SAD is superior to LT at 1–2 years follow-up.

The growing body of literature on corporate purpose has underscored its potential as a strategic driver for firms. However, its practical implementation remains challenging due to the concept’s multifaceted and often abstract nature. By reviewing 118 articles, this systematic literature review develops a process framework on how corporate purpose can be translated into concrete organizational strategies across three dimensions: antecedents, management, and consequences. Specifically, we identify the foundational conditions that shape a purpose statement in firms, examine how purpose is embedded and shared within them, and assess the multilevel outcomes of an effective purpose. The review highlights actionable levers to align purpose with strategy and practice, discussing how firms can implement their ‘reason why’. In doing so, the study provides contributions to better understand corporate purpose from both a theoretical and managerial perspective, within the broader field of strategic management.

The Brazil nut tree Bertholletia excelsa is an icon of Amazon conservation through sustainable use. Moderate disturbance, such as that caused by swidden agriculture, favours this heliophilic species. Our systematic literature review of Bertholletia studies and historical records addresses the following questions: do slash-and-burn farming systems increase Bertholletia density and growth? What do historical records reveal about the links between Bertholletia life history and human occupation? And what policies and regulations shape the current context for harnessing this synergistic potential for sustainable use? Compared to mature forests, slash-and-burn fallow seedling/sapling densities (11–82 individuals ha–1, with a mean of 29 individuals ha–1) are greater and faster-growing. Extant Bertholletia trees that were cut and burned during swidden preparation resprout as forked individuals and supplement new seeds buried by Dasyprocta spp. The presence of large forked Bertholletia trees and the occurrence of anthropogenic soils, particularly brown soils associated with Brazil nut tree groves, provide evidence that extant Bertholletia groves may be islands of active and passive agroecological management by ancestral Indigenous populations and local communities. This supports the notion that conservation through sustainable use can maintain Amazonian megadiversity. Furthermore, fire has been used in the Amazon since the onset of crop cultivation (including Bertholletia) c. 4500 years ago, suggesting that a more effective approach than banning fires would be to implement a systematic and methodical fire and fuel management strategy, given the ineffectiveness of command-and-control policies in this regard. The 124 conservation units and Indigenous lands in the Amazon containing Brazil nut trees reinforce the importance of policies to create protected areas. Evidence suggests that the presence of an Amazonian biocultural forest – a phenomenon resulting from the interaction between human activities and natural processes – can be sustainably used to promote what might be termed ‘sociobiodiversity conservation’.

With China’s economy transitioning into a post-industrial phase focused on knowledge and technology, there has been a notable shift in the patterns of Chinese Outward foreign direct investment (OFDI). This change has led to the emergence of new research perspectives, underscoring the importance of organizing them systematically. To address this, our research presents a thorough analysis of eighty-eight publications examining Chinese OFDI in natural resource-rich (NRR) and technology-intensive (TI) locations across various global regions and countries. Based on the geographical scope and comprehensive coverage of studies published between 1998 and 2023, we summarize the major themes, theories, and methodologies used in this research area. Identifying three elements related to Chinese investment (antecedents and motives, operational strategies, and investment outcomes), we develop a matrix based on the discussion of Chinese firms’ investment behavior in the foreign environment in which they operate. We describe the theoretical distinctions between investments in NRR global regions, such as Africa and Central Asia, and TI regions, such as Europe and North America, with regard to technology acquisition, creation, co-creation, and transfer. We identify several research sub-themes (e.g., control and learning mechanisms, technology transfer, intellectual property, etc.) that remain under-investigated and suggest future research opportunities.

The sharing economy has expanded rapidly, reshaping consumption, labor, and service delivery across sectors. While much research highlights its benefits, critical perspectives on its limitations remain fragmented. This study addresses that gap through a systematic literature review, identifying and categorizing the main drawbacks of the sharing economy across five dimensions: social, legal, technological, economic, and environmental. By synthesizing these critiques into a cohesive framework, the study offers a more comprehensive understanding of the structural challenges associated with sharing economy platforms. It draws on interdisciplinary perspectives to highlight issues such as platform power asymmetries, regulatory gaps, and labor precarity – concerns that have intensified in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. The paper contributes to theory by integrating insights across academic domains and to practice by offering targeted recommendations for policymakers and managers. These include differentiated regulation and improved governance strategies to support fairer, more sustainable platform models.

Participation is a prevalent topic in many areas, and data-driven projects are no exception. While the term generally has positive connotations, ambiguities in participatory approaches between facilitators and participants are often noted. However, how facilitators can handle these ambiguities has been less studied. In this paper, we conduct a systematic literature review of participatory data-driven projects. We analyse 27 cases regarding their openness for participation and where participation most often occurs in the data life cycle. From our analysis, we describe three typical project structures of participatory data-driven projects, combining a focus on labour and resource participation and/or rule- and decision-making participation with the general set-up of the project as participatory-informed or participatory-at-core. From these combinations, different ambiguities arise. We discuss mitigations for these ambiguities through project policies and procedures for each type of project. Mitigating and clarifying ambiguities can support a more transparent and problem-oriented application of participatory processes in data-driven projects.

Growing concerns with political polarization have led to a proliferation of research on its consequences. This paper presents results of a systematic literature review and meta-analysis of 25 articles that study the effects of polarization on participation. We categorize studies depending on polarization type (affective or ideological), level (individual or system), and participation type (electoral or non-electoral), to analyze the theoretical arguments proposed by studies in each category. According to a meta-analysis of all 104 coefficients describing the focal effect, individual-level affective and ideological polarization have a positive effect on participation even after publication bias is accounted for. The same analysis finds no evidence of an effect of system-level ideological polarization on election turnout net of publication bias. We conclude with a discussion of the challenges researchers of polarization and participation face, as well as gaps in the extant literature and opportunities for further research on this topic.