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The aim of this paper is to give an overview of the phenomenon of professionalization that is observable in organizations from the nonprofit sector. Empirical research was conducted among Hungarian nonprofit organizations, and the data were collected within the framework of a country-wide survey. Through the analysis of the research results, the paper provides deeper insights into knowledge about professionalization trends in the nonprofit sector. It proves that organizational development positively impacts nonprofit organizations’ improvement of their professionalization level and the members of these organizations.

The paper is based on international research and on the ongoing research of the authors in the field of professionalization of nonprofit organizations. Desk research is supported by the analysis of the results of the pilot project of an organizational development programme in Hungary. The findings of the empirical research serve as a benchmark for the large sample research. Since the paper gives insight over changes in the operational environment of nonprofit organizations that are connected to their learning needs and chosen solutions, and brings practical evidence, it contributes to the current research of professionalization of nonprofit sector organizations internationally.

A Pecsi Tudomanyegyetem Kozgazdasagtudomanyi Karan sok eve folyo HR-kutatas legujabb eredmenye ez a beszamolo, amely 74 Magyarorszagon is műkodő multinacionalis vallalat helyi leanyvallalatanak HR-gyakorlatat vizsgalja. Az adatfelvetel (tobbsegeben helyszini interju) ideje 2010. aprilis-november. Igy a megallapitasok mar a valsagbol valo kilabalas időszakara is vonatkoznak: mit es hogyan tettek a HR-szervezetek, valamint a vonalbeli vezetők a HR-munka hatekonysaganak novelesere. A felallitott 5, ezzel kapcsolatos hipotezist a szerzők vizsgalataik alapjan reszben igazolni tudtak. A fő megallapitas: a nemzetkozi vallalatok – minimalis letszamcsokkentessel – kitartottak Magyarorszag mellett, megerősitettek a helyi leanyvallalatoknal folyo HR-munkat. A kutatas nemzetkozi keretekben jelenleg is folytatodik: 6 orszagban keszulnek tanulmanyok a helyi hasonlo vallalati korre, a magyarorszagieval azonos HR-vizsgalati szempontok alapjan. _________ This article is the result of the several year long HR-research conducted at the Faculty of Business and Management of the University of Pecs, and it analyzes the HR-practices of the Hungarian subsidiaries of 74 multinational enterprises. Data collection (mostly interviews at the subsidiaries) took place during the period of April-November 2010. Hence, the findings also relate to the period of the recovery from the recession: what and how the HR-units/ and line managers did to increase the efficiency of the HR work. The 5 hypotheses in relation with this, could partially be verified by the research of the authors of this paper. The main finding is that the multinational enterprises – with a slight decrease of headcount – stood beside Hungary and strengthened the HR-activities at their subsidiaries. Research is still being continued internationally: studies are being prepared in 6 countries on similar groups of local companies, by using the same HR-research aspects as those used in Hungary.

The nonprofit sector today has to meet growing demands for better quality services and growing competition from business and public organizations, and also from other nonprofit organizations. Because of these circumstances they have to become more professional in their activities. The paper examines the professionalization and knowledge management in nonprofit organizations. The theoretical issues of knowledge management of nonprofit organizations are supported by examples from (earlier and recent) research of the authors. The aspects of knowledge management presented in this paper, not only give an insight over the contribution of nonprofit organizations to the success of a larger project, but they ca be an example for other nonprofits dealing with similar problems, facing similar challenges.

A tanulmány a tudásalapú társadalom jellegzetes szereplőinek, a tudásintenzív üzleti szolgáltatásokat (TIÜSZ) nyújtó szervezeteknek a bemutatásával foglalkozik. Olyan szervezetekről van szó, amelyek tudásalapú szolgáltatásokat nyújtanak más cégeknek, azaz az ún. tudásintenzív üzleti szektorhoz tartoznak. A tanulmányból megismerjük főbb jellemzőiket, helyüket a gazdasági szektorokon belül, valamint a gazdaságban játszott szerepüket. A dolgozat kitér a tudáskommunikáció, elsősorban a tudásteremtés és -transzfer kérdésére. Széles körű nemzetközi kitekintés alapján körvonalazza a tudásintenzív szolgáltatások jövőbeli fejlődésének várható tendenciáit.

International research results underpin that turbulent, continuously changing environment makes everyday operations for nonprofit (nongovernmental, voluntary) sector organizations harder. It also can be observed that in this situation, nonprofit organizations acquire knowledge from business sector organizations which enables them to improve their structures and processes. They implement methods of the business sector as means of ensuring long term existence, better performance and sustainable success. In recent years, this process has generated new dilemmas for those who are concerned with the future of this sector: if and how the strengthening focus on knowledge processes such as learning and development of individuals working for nonprofit organizations impact organizational knowledge and organizational development and, how important professionalization is for them.The goal of this paper is, to give an overview of special issues of learning and growing professionalization of non profit organizations, and to contribute to the research of these processes. Empirical evidence is provided on the base of a large sample survey that involves approximately 1.000 Hungarian foundations or associations. With the help of the research findings the paper shall expand our general knowledge about professionalization trends in the sector, and also provide deeper insight in details of the relationship between participation in organizational development programs and becoming more professional in everyday operations and services. This work is licensed under aCreative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.

In the last decade of the 20th century knowledge has gained importance in the economy. This lead to the emergence of knowledge-based activities: knowledge-intensive organizations, and particularly knowledge-intensive services. These organizations function as external knowledge sources for other organizations. Their performance depends largely on professional knowledge. Since their performance has an impact on the success of their clients, it is important to look at those factors which influence the knowledge transfer between service provider and client organization. Based on theory and empirical research, the paper addresses the specific aspects of knowledge transfer from knowledge-intensive business service organizations to client organizations.