（1991）A Study of Mentor-Protege Relationships in Large Public Accounting Firms（学徒制）.pdfVIP

A Study of Mentor-Proto^ Relationships in Large Public Accounting Firms Ralph E. Viator an d Terri A . Scandura Ralph E. Viator is an Assistant Professor at the University of Kentucky and Tkrri A. Scandura is at the University of Miami. Studies of organizational behavior indicate whether the fi-equency of mentoring relation- that employees who have a mentor feel more ships differs for certain employee categories, integrated into their organization and have a such as employee organizational level and better chance of being promoted.^ A mentor is employee gender. There is some circumstan- generally an older, more experienced employee tial evidence which suggests that the rate of who advises, counsels, and supports the ca- mentoring may differ across employee cat- reer development of younger, less experienced egories. We have attempted to address these employees (referred to as proteges).^ Mentors issues. interpret organizational rules, suggest alter- In regards to employee organizational native courses of action, and inform proteges level, most of the managers interviewed by of firm politics. Dirsmith and Covaleski^ reported having a Dirsmith and Covaleski^ interviewed over mentor, but some lower level staff indicated 100 public accountants from all organizational they did not. Staff members without a men- positions (partner, manager, and staff) and tor described themselves as not feeling fully concluded that mentoring exists in public ac- counting and is a nonformal communication The authors acknowledge the helpful comments of Jerry process. The authors classifie