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Virginia Tech

The Mentoring Compass: Directing Knowledge Toward the Future

Abstract

dc:description.abstract

In 1983 Merriam published a critical review of mentoring literature. Since that time a preponderance of mentoring literature has continued to flow. The purpose of this study was to expand on Merriam's article with a critical literature review of mentoring literature published since 1983. Additionally, this study built upon Merriam's work by focusing on the dynamics of the mentoring relationship as it applies to career development in the business community. Merriam's four criticisms were reviewed and revealed only minor changes since 1983. The literature review was augmented with interviews in the business community in order to look at how mentoring is currently practiced in the field. The interviews consisted of both open and closed-ended questions, which were qualitatively analyzed. After conducting the interview phase of this study, it became apparent that mentoring is valued and respected within the business community as a career development and succession planning strategy. However, it is also apparent that further research is needed with a larger population of diverse organizations. Additional evaluation of organizational dynamics mentoring program goals needs to be further examined in order to validate the viability of mentoring as a career development resource. A concluding section highlights areas for future research on mentoring.

Degree

thesis:*
Name thesis:degree_name
Master of Science
Level thesis:degree_level
masters
Discipline thesis:degree_discipline
Human Development
Department dc:contributor.department
Human Development
Grantor dc:publisher
Virginia Tech
Year dc:date.issued
1999

Author and committee

dc:creator, dc:contributor.*
Author dc:creator
  • Sutter, Denise Lynn
Committee members dc:contributor.committeemember
  • Kimball, Lisa
  • Merz, Jacqueline A.
  • Boucouvalas, Marcie

Subjects

dc:subject × 3

Rights

dc:rights
Statement dc:rights
  • In Copyright

Identifiers

dc:identifier.*
Dc Identifier Other
etd-060399-211901
OAI identifier oai:identifier
oai:vtechworks.lib.vt.edu:10919/42856

Chain of custody

source
Harvested from
Virginia Tech
Base URL
vtechworks.lib.vt.edu/oai/request
Last updated
2026-07-22
Source record
OAI-PMH GetRecord
citation

Sutter, Denise Lynn. The Mentoring Compass: Directing Knowledge Toward the Future. masters thesis, Virginia Tech, 1999. http://hdl.handle.net/10919/42856