Organizational Antecedents and Moderators that Impact on the Effectiveness of Exemplary Formal Mentoring Programs in Fortune 500 Companies in the United States

摘要

This study seeks to advance current mentoring research by examining the organizational antecedents and moderators that impact on the effectiveness of exemplary formal mentoring programs in Fortune 500 companies headquartered in the United States. The methodology involved interviewing 29 participants within a sample of 17 companies, selected from the Fortune 500 listing, housing exemplary formal mentoring programs. This study revealed that top management support/involvement is a necessary component of the organizational environment, hastening success of a formal mentoring program. Other important environmental factors include a team-focused environment, an open work area with ample opportunities for interaction and a work ethic based on cross-functional operation, collaboration and networking. The study also disclosed that mentoring initiatives can succeed in organizations with several levels in the corporate hierarchy, as well as in those with flattened or flattening hierarchies. A comfortable atmosphere embracing open exchanges of communication among and between levels, and using multiple modes of communication (verbal, technological), is important. A discussion of the results is also presented.