Factors affecting mentoring of professionals in construction firms: Nigerian quantity surveyors’ perspective

Abstract

Mentoring has been associated with many positive outcomes ranging from promotion, increased pay, job satisfaction, knowledge retention in organizations, reduced employee turnover as well as employee development. In spite of all these outcomes, numerous factors lead to the success or failure of mentoring program in the organizations. This paper aimed to evaluate the factors that affect the mentoring of professionals in construction firms with focus on quantity surveyors. Data was collected by administering questionnaires to the quantity surveyors in quantity surveying firms. The data collected was analyzed using mean item score, standard deviation, and Kruskal Wallis test. The results revealed that educational background, availability of supportive learning environment, mentors’ attitudes, mentees’ attitudes, past experience of mentor and mentee are the major factors affecting mentoring of quantity surveyors. The study recommended that top management QS firms should ensure the availability of supportive learning environment for mentoring to thrive in their firms, as the study found that supportive learning environment impacts on successful mentoring program. The study also recommended correct and appropriate matching of mentor and mentee to avoid attitudes that can inhibit the smooth run of the mentoring program in QS firms.