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Optimising self-organised volunteer efforts in response to the COVID-19 pandemic

Author

Listed:
  • Anping Zhang

    (Tsinghua University, University Town)

  • Ke Zhang

    (Tsinghua University, University Town)

  • Wanda Li

    (Tsinghua University, University Town)

  • Yue Wang

    (Tsinghua University)

  • Yang Li

    (Tsinghua University, University Town)

  • Lin Zhang

    (Tsinghua University, University Town)

Abstract

Crowdsource volunteering efforts have contributed significantly to pandemic response and recovery during the COVID-19 outbreak. In such efforts, individual volunteers can collaborate to achieve rapid mobilisation toward emergent community demands. In this study, we quantitively study this phenomenon using the concept of self-organisation, by proposing a data-driven framework to investigate when and how self-organisation emerged during the pandemic response and how it relates to effectiveness of volunteer organisations in general. Using activity data collected from a mobile volunteer platform in Shenzhen, China, we found that volunteers’ task participation and social and task preferences show multiple phases of self-organisation in response to changing epidemic situations and centralised interventions. Simulation experiments further show that the self-organised volunteer system can become more responsive and more robust in the face of uncertain community demands with minimal centralised guidance.

Suggested Citation

  • Anping Zhang & Ke Zhang & Wanda Li & Yue Wang & Yang Li & Lin Zhang, 2022. "Optimising self-organised volunteer efforts in response to the COVID-19 pandemic," Palgrave Communications, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 9(1), pages 1-12, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:pal:palcom:v:9:y:2022:i:1:d:10.1057_s41599-022-01127-2
    DOI: 10.1057/s41599-022-01127-2
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Steven Bauer & Dongkuk Lim, 2019. "Effect of Communication Practices on Volunteer Organization Identification and Retention," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(9), pages 1-17, April.
    2. Miao, Qing & Schwarz, Susan & Schwarz, Gary, 2021. "Responding to COVID-19: Community volunteerism and coproduction in China," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 137(C).
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