MENTOR CHARACTERISTICS AND PROTÉGÉ/MENTOR PERCEPTIONS OF MENTORING FUNCTIONS AND QUALITY IN KOREAN COMPANIES BY

The purpose of this study was to examine the relationships between mentor characteristics and level of mentoring functions and quality as reported by both protégés and mentors in a Korean company. In particular, the current study explores the role of mentor learning goal orientation and leadership self-efficacy in relation to level of mentoring functions and quality. The data were collected through an online survey with new employees (i.e., protégés) and their mentors who participated in a formal mentoring program at one Korean IT company in Korea in 2009. A total of 392 employees and their mentors were invited to participate and the final sample included 96 pairs of mentors and protégés. Multiple regressions, in particular, hierarchical regression analyses were conducted to analyze the data. Control variables included frequency of interaction (i.e., average hours of interaction per month and frequency of meetings, as reported by both mentors and protégés) and protégé learning goal orientation. The key findings of the current study indicated that mentor characteristics wer