The social construction of success among leaders of faith-based and secular NGOs in Cambodia: Examining the role of faith

Abstract

ABSTRACTAlthough faith-based organizations (FBOs) and secular nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) provide significant social work interventions, and are believed to bring about positive changes in their clients, the literature has not fully explored distinctions between the ways leaders of these organizations socially construct success. Using qualitative data from 41 interviews with leaders of Christian FBOs and secular NGOs in Cambodia, this article explores the ways in which leaders conceived of success, including what success was attributed to, and the extent to which faith was conceptualized as contributing to client change. While the study revealed the multidimensionality of socially constructed success, the “input” of faith in FBOs served as an important conceptual lens through which leaders viewed their work and client change, resulting in a faith-centric ideological environment which significantly accounted for differences in the ways success was perceived in these organizations. The study builds on the theoretical understanding of faith “infusing” FBOs, clarifying distinct differences—not always clearly evident in other locales—between FBOs and secular NGOs that are critical to conceptualizing the importance of faith to FBOs. The findings provide insight into the importance of considering both the organizational ideological context and the wider development context when seeking to compare FBOs and secular NGOs.