Forming Trust in E-Mentoring: A Research Agenda

Joanne D. Leck, Penny M. Wood

Director General Military Personnel Research and Analysis, Department of National Defence, Ottawa, Canada.
Telfer School of Management, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Canada.

DOI: 10.4236/ajibm.2013.31013                

Abstract

Mentoring has been identified as a valuable tool for learning and career development, as well as organizational advancement. E-mentoring has increased in popularity as a means of creating global access to mentors while reducing organizational training costs, and reducing both time and geographical constraints for mentors and mentees. E-mentoring has proven to most benefit the mentee and mentor when mutual trust has been established. However, e-mentoring is still a relatively new phenomenon and it is unclear how online trust is established and sustained between mentors and mentees. This paper presents a research agenda to better understand how trust is formed in e-mentoring.

Keywords

Mentoring; E-Mentoring; Trust; Online Trust; Interpersonal Trust

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

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