Question 1

Research studies indicate managers who want to keep volunteers should provide them work deadlines.

Accepted Answer

Research indicates that flexibility and understanding the personal motivations and constraints of volunteers are more effective in retaining them than imposing strict work deadlines, which can be counterproductive in volunteer settings.

Question 2

A volunteer program manager usually hires the first person who applies for a volunteer position. The manager is practicing ______ recruitment.

Accepted Answer

Warm body recruitment is a practice where a volunteer manager hires the first applicant who is willing to take the position, without rigorous screening of candidates. This practice is generally not recommended, as it can lead to the placement of unqualified volunteers who could potentially harm the organization's mission.

Question 3

Nonprofit organizations may be held liable for discriminatory practices applied by outsourced suppliers.

Accepted Answer

Nonprofit organizations can be liable for discriminatory practices by their outsourced suppliers if they know or should have known about the discrimination and failed to take corrective action. This is known as "vicarious liability" and applies to any organization, regardless of its nonprofit status. Therefore, nonprofits should be diligent in selecting and monitoring their suppliers to ensure they comply with anti-discrimination laws.

Question 4

A marginal volunteer is one who is mandated to volunteer.

Accepted Answer

A marginal volunteer is someone who is forced or mandated to volunteer, often as part of a sentence for a criminal offense.

Question 5

It is important for volunteer managers to first form the structure of a volunteer program.

Accepted Answer

The answer of It is important for volunteer managers to...

Question 6

One way to effectively manage volunteers is to be aware of what motivates them.

Accepted Answer

Knowing what motivates volunteers can help a manager tailor their approach to effectively manage and engage with them.

Question 7

Federal employment laws do not apply to nonprofit staff.

Accepted Answer

Federal employment laws do apply to nonprofit staff, just as they apply to all other employees in the United States. Nonprofits must still comply with laws such as the Fair Labor Standards Act, Title VII of the Civil Rights Act, and the Americans with Disabilities Act, among others.

Question 8

The Hawthorne plant experiments indicated that worker performance was not influenced by the attention of supervisors.

Accepted Answer

The Hawthorne plant experiments actually indicated that worker performance was influenced by the attention of supervisors. This concept became known as the Hawthorne effect.

Question 9

A volunteer program manager is a member of the baby boom generation but realizes management styles may need to be adjusted when working with younger volunteers. The program manager is applying which best practice recommended by Denhardt? Managers ______.

Accepted Answer

The program manager is being reflective and proactive about their own motivation by recognizing the need to adjust management styles to effectively work with younger volunteers.

Question 10

Frederick Taylor's theory emphasizes procedures with people operating as machines.

Accepted Answer

Taylor's theory, also known as scientific management, focused on optimizing work processes and tasks by breaking them down into simpler components that could be performed more efficiently, like machines. Workers were expected to follow these standardized procedures as closely as possible to increase productivity.

Question 11

A volunteer reached a high level of confidence through his/her work at a nonprofit organization. However, the volunteer is losing this sense of confidence because the organization may soon close. The volunteer's loss of motivation may be explained using ______ theory.

Accepted Answer

Maslow's hierarchy of needs suggests that individuals have a series of needs that must be met in order to maintain motivation and well-being. The volunteer in this scenario has likely achieved a sense of self-actualization (the highest level of Maslow's hierarchy) through their work at the nonprofit organization. However, with the threat of the organization closing, the volunteer may no longer feel a sense of fulfillment and their motivation may decrease as a result.

Question 12

Volunteers are best assigned to work that ______.

Accepted Answer

Assigning volunteers to work that does not need to be done daily allows for flexibility in their schedule and availability. This also ensures that the volunteer is not overburdened with commitments and can maintain a positive attitude towards their work. Furthermore, assigning work that is already the responsibility of paid staff can lead to tension and confusion within the workplace.

Question 13

A nonprofit organization does not hire staff working at a nearby assisted-living facility but does hire staff working at a nearby senior retirement community. This nonprofit organization may be practicing ______.

Accepted Answer

The nonprofit organization may be practicing disparate impact, which occurs when a policy or practice that is neutral on its face has a disproportionate impact on a protected group. In this case, staff at the assisted-living facility may be predominantly from a protected group, whereas staff at the senior retirement community may not be. The organization may not intend to discriminate, but the outcome of their hiring decisions has resulted in a disparate impact.

Question 14

According to the Independent Sector, one hour of volunteer time contributed to a nonprofit organization in 2016 was worth ______.

Accepted Answer

In 2016, the Independent Sector estimated the value of one hour of volunteer time to be $24.14.

Question 15

A chief executive officer (CEO) encourages the implementation of innovative ideas. The CEO is demonstrating a management style described in which theory?

Accepted Answer

McGregor's Theory Y suggests that employees are motivated and enjoy work, and that managers should encourage creative and innovative ideas to increase job satisfaction and productivity. The CEO in this scenario is encouraging innovation, which aligns with Theory Y. The other options do not align with the scenario described.

Question 16

Maslow's hierarchy of needs shows human needs can move from higher to lower levels of need.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Maslow's hierarchy of needs shows human needs...

Question 17

A volunteer raised $100,000 for a nonprofit organization. The organization paid the volunteer a 10% commission as a reward for his efforts. Paying the volunteer a commission was a legal action.

Accepted Answer

The answer of A volunteer raised $100,000 for a nonprofit...

Question 18

Generation Y individuals were influenced by the civil rights movement.

Accepted Answer

Generation Y individuals were born between 1981 and 1996, which is after the civil rights movement.

Question 19

Forbes and Zampelli's research indicates people who volunteer tend to ______.

Accepted Answer

Forbes and Zampelli's research indicates that people who volunteer tend to be members of social groups, such as religious organizations, community groups, and youth organizations. They did not find consistent patterns related to social status, ethnicity or income levels.

Question 20

The Myers-Briggs indicator provides individuals with insights about their own preferences.

Accepted Answer

The Myers-Briggs indicator is designed to provide individuals with insights about their own preferences and personality traits. It is based on a series of questions that explore different aspects of the way people think, feel, and behave, and is widely used in personal and professional development contexts.

Quiz 9: Managing Staff and Service Volunteers