The mediating role of a good match in achieving mentorship objectives

Abstract

Using the theory of social exchange, we investigated the mediating role of a good match between commitment and personal character (independent variables) and achievement of mentorship program objectives (dependent variables). Even though mentorship programs are designed to fulfill their designated objectives, the extent to which they are achieved is often not fully known. The focus of the study is a post-secondary professional mentorship program offered Haskayne School of Business, University of Calgary, which matches undergraduate and graduate students with business professionals. Data were collected primarily through questionnaires. We found that commitment (both the mentees' commitment and the mentees' perception of their mentors' commitment) and the mentors' character are important variables to actuate the exchange mechanism for learning to occur. These input variables are significant in predicting a good match and ultimately in determining whether the mentee's expectations are met, which had not been tested through an empirical analysis in prior literature. Also, our findings suggest that the importance of the mentor's personal character as a role model must be considered in the matching process. Care must be taken to customize the match to the needs of the specific mentor and mentee. Based on the findings, several suggestions are made for improvement of mentorship programs.