This study examined mentoring relationships in organizations from the perspective of mentors. A model which included personal and situational antecedents of mentoring was developed, based on previous research findings. Data were obtained by questionnaire from 94 mentors employed in 7 high technology firms. Support was found for the proposed model Mentor-protege similarity emerged as an important predictor of mentors' functions Practical implications of the findings for organizations and further directions for research on mentoring are proposed.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
BurkeR. J. (1984) Mentors in organizations. Group and Organization Studies, 9, 253–272.
2.
BurkeR. J.McKeenC. A. (1989) Developing formal mentoring programs in organizations. Business Quarterly, Winter, 69–76.
3.
ClawsonJ. G.KramK. E. (1984) Managing cross gender mentoring. Business Horizons, 27, 22–31.
4.
DaltonG. W.ThompsonP. A.PriceR. L. (1977) The four stages of professional careers—a new look at performance by professionals. Organizational Dynamics, 6, 19–42.
5.
DreherG. F.AshR. A. (1990) A comparative study of mentoring among men and women in managerial, professional and technological positions. Journal of Applied Psychology, 75, 539–546.
6.
FagensonE. A. (1989) The mentor advantage: Perceived career/job experiences of proteges versus non-proteges. Journal of Organizational Behavior, 10, 309–320.
7.
FittL. W.NewtonD. A. (1981) When the mentor is a man and the protege is a woman. Harvard Business Review, 61, 56–59.
8.
GilliganC. (1982) In a different voice. Cambridge, MA: Harvard Univer. Press.
9.
GrantJ. (1988) Women as managers: What they can offer to organizations. Organizational Dynamics, 17, 56–63.
10.
GreenbergM. S. (1980) A theory of indebtedness. In GergenK. J.GreenbergM. S.WillisR. H. (Eds.), Social exchange: Advances in theory and research. New York: Plenum. Pp. 3–23.
11.
HuntD. M.MichaelC. (1983) Mentorship: A career training and development tool. Academy of Management Review, 8, 475–485.
12.
KanterR. M. (1977) Men and women of the corporation. New York: Basic Books.
13.
KlaussR. (1981) Formalized mentor relationships for management and executive development programs in the Federal Government. Public Administration Review, 41, 489–496.
14.
KramK. E. (1985a) Improving the mentoring process. Training and Development Journal, 38, 40–43.
15.
KramK. E. (1985b) Mentoring at work. Glenview, IL: Scott Foresman.
16.
LevinsonD. J.DarrowC. M.KleinE. G.LevinsonM. H.McKeeB. (1978) The seasons of a man's life. New York: Knopf.
17.
LindholmJ. (1985) A comparison of mentoring relationships and typical subordinates: The mentor's perspective. Paper presented at the 1985 meeting of the Academy of Management, San Diego, California.
18.
LundingF. S.ClementsC. E.PerkinsD. S. (1978) Everyone who makes it has a mentor. Harvard Business Review, 56, 89–101.
19.
McKeenC. A.BurkeR. J. (1989) Mentor relationship in organizations: Issues, strategies and prospects for women. Journal of Management Development, 8, 33–42.
NoeR. A. (1988) Women and mentoring: A review and research agenda. Academy of Management Review, 13, 65–78.
22.
NoeR. A. (1989) An investigation of the determinants of successful assigned mentoring relationships. Personnel Psychology, 41, 457–479.
23.
RaginsB. R. (1989) Barriers to mentoring: The female manager's dilemma. Human Relations, 42, 1–22.
24.
RaginsB. R.CottonJ. L. (1991) Easier said than done: Gender differences in perceived barriers to gaining a mentor. Academy of Management Journal, 34, 939–951.
25.
RileyS.WrenchD. (1985) Mentoring among women lawyers. Journal of Applied Social Psychology, 15, 374–386.
26.
RocheG. R. (1979) Much ado about mentors. Harvard Business Review, 57, 14–28.
27.
ScanduraT. A. (1992) Mentorship and career mobility: An empirical investigation. Journal of Organizational Behavior, 13, 169–174.
28.
StumpfS. A.LondonM. (1981) Management promotions: Individual and organizational factors influencing the decision process. Academy of Management Review, 6, 539–549.
29.
WhitelyW.DoughertyT. W.DreherG. F. (1991) Relationship of career mentoring and socio-economic origin to managers' and professionals' career progress. Academy of Management Journal, 34, 331–351.
30.
WhitelyW.DoughertyT. W.DreherG. F. (1992) Correlates of career-oriented mentoring for early career managers and professionals. Journal of Organizational Behavior, 13, 141–154.
31.
ZaleznikA. (1977) Managers and leaders: Are they different?Harvard Business Review, 55, 67–78.
