| UNDERSTANDING THE NATURE OF COMMITMENT IN GRASSROOTS DEVELOPMENT ORGANIZATIONS Sow Hup Chan Issue 31 (Vol. 16, No. 1), June 2006, pp. 41-52. Organizational communication scholars had paid little attention on how commitment can be sustained among members of grassroots human development organizations. This paper examines members�� commitment in such an organization. The objective of the paper is to identify the level of commitment and to explore how members influence and control each other in the development organization. Members of Amanah Ikhtiar Malaysia (AIM) were interviewed to gain a deeper understanding of the dynamics of members' communication. The approach used in the study yields interesting insights into member's commitment in this grassroots organization. The study suggests that the members�� commitment towards the organization is closely related to how they value the group and interpersonal relationship. The results also suggest that grassroots human development organizations will succeed in its effort when their members are committed. The findings contribute to the conceptual understanding of the subject. Areas for future research were included. |