Leadership and Management Flashcards

A health education organization is experiencing high staff turnover. According to Maslow's hierarchy, which need level should managers address first if employees report feeling physically unsafe in their work environment?

Answer: Safety needs

Maslow's hierarchy places safety needs (physical and psychological security) at the second level, which must be met before higher-order needs can be addressed.

Which type of organizational structure gives employees dual reporting relationships — to both a functional manager and a project manager?

Answer: Matrix structure

A matrix structure creates a grid where employees report to both their department head and a project leader, enabling flexibility but sometimes creating role confusion.

A health educator is reviewing a program's theory of change. What distinguishes a theory of change from a logic model?

Answer: A theory of change explains the 'why' behind causal assumptions, while a logic model shows the 'what'

A theory of change articulates the underlying assumptions about why and how change will occur, while a logic model visually maps program components without necessarily explaining the causal reasoning.

Which federal law protects employees who report workplace safety violations or participate in safety investigations from employer retaliation?

Answer: Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSH Act) whistleblower provisions

The OSH Act's whistleblower protection provisions prohibit employers from retaliating against workers who report safety concerns or participate in OSHA investigations.

A health education coordinator is onboarding a new staff member. Which training approach pairs the new employee with an experienced colleague for job-specific skill transfer?

Answer: Mentoring or job shadowing

Mentoring and job shadowing place the new employee alongside an experienced colleague to observe and practice job-specific skills in real work contexts.

In the context of health program sustainability, which funding strategy reduces dependency on a single source?

Answer: Revenue diversification across multiple funding streams

Revenue diversification spreads financial risk across grants, contracts, fee-for-service, donations, and other sources so that losing one stream does not collapse the program.

Which communication approach is most effective when a health education leader needs to deliver critical feedback to an underperforming employee?

Answer: Conduct a private, timely, specific, and constructive one-on-one conversation

Effective performance feedback should be delivered privately, promptly, with specific examples, and focused on behaviors and improvement rather than personal criticism.