Mentee characteristics in inter-organizational mentoring for managers: a hybrid Delphi survey

2020 ◽  
Vol 44 (4/5) ◽  
pp. 369-389
Author(s):  
Nuria Gisbert-Trejo ◽  
Eneka Albizu ◽  
Jon Landeta ◽  
Pilar Fernández-Ferrín

Purpose Inter-organizational mentoring (IOM) is a human resource development tool that is used when the mentor and mentee belong to different organizations. As mentees are the focus of the IOM process, the success of this type of program is highly reliant on their characteristics. Therefore, the purpose of this paper was to derive the most desirable characteristics for mentees in IOM. Design/methodology/approach An intensive review of the literature on mentoring for managers and business professionals was carried out to identify mentee characteristics. These characteristics were then ranked for their importance to IOM using the Hybrid Delphi method (with 130 informants taking part in a Delphi survey and 19 expert IOM practitioners taking part in Focus Group and Nominal Group Technique sessions). An exploratory factor analysis identified the three main underlying factors behind the listed mentee characteristics. Findings In total, 17 relevant mentee characteristics were identified and ranked and then synthesized into three essential factors for the mentee. The results were discussed in the light of existing studies. Originality/value The mentee characteristics and factors identified in this study will be of great practical value to coordinators of IOM programs. Also, the review of the literature and the obtained results will help other researchers who wish to expand on this topic.

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Xinyi Bian

Purpose The current review sought to bring light to the issue of an underexplored career phenomenon – career indecision. Career indecision is a significant developmental stage in one’s career life and has been a prominent topic in vocational psychology research in the past decades. However, it has received scant scholarly attention in the human resource development (HRD) field. Besides, the career indecision literature, in general, is lacking theoretical refinement and analytical review. The present study aims to stimulate HRD scholars’ interests by providing an introductory context for understanding the richness and potentialities of researching career indecision in the HRD area. Design/methodology/approach To address the gap, the author conducted an integrative review (Torraco, 2005, 2016) of 60 peer-reviewed articles and synthesized the existing knowledge of career indecision. More importantly, antecedent and outcome factors associated with career indecision were identified and analyzed. Findings A nomological network about career indecision was provided. Besides, the results of the integrative review revealed several omissions in the career indecision literature. Building upon that, implications for HRD research and practice are presented and discussed. Originality/value As an initial attempt to synthesize career indecision literature, this study sought to stimulate HRD professionals’ interest in examining this underexplored career phenomenon.


2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jeniffer Fonseca Zanitt ◽  
Izabela Simon Rampasso ◽  
Osvaldo Luiz Gonçalves Quelhas ◽  
Milena Pavan Serafim ◽  
Walter Leal Filho ◽  
...  

Purpose This study aims to analyse how the materials selection courses of engineering undergraduate programmes can be better aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Design/methodology/approach Initially, a content analysis was performed in 39 materials selection course descriptions from 40 engineering undergraduate programmes of Brazilian higher education institutions, and subsequently, Delphi method procedures were conducted with professors that teach or have taught the course and are knowledgeable in the subject of sustainability. Findings Considering the analysed course descriptions, it was shown that most of the materials selection courses do not consider or present little emphasis on sustainability aspects. Regarding the Delphi method, eight items were evidenced to consider sustainability aspects in the analysed courses. Originality/value This study contributes to the debates about sustainability insertion in engineering undergraduate programmes. More specifically, the findings presented consolidated information that professors and coordinators can use to align materials selection courses with the SDGs better.


2020 ◽  
Vol 25 (50) ◽  
pp. 425-449 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lalita A. Manrai ◽  
Ajay K. Manrai ◽  
Stefanie Friedeborn

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to provide a comprehensive review of the literature and develop a model of the determinants, indicators and effects of destination competitiveness (DC), as well as several propositions. Design/methodology/approach This study thoroughly reviewed extant literature to develop a conceptual model and propositions. Findings Two key findings are listed below. First, 12 different environmental factors are identified and 12 propositions are developed linking these environmental factors to DC. Second, a new indicator of DC is developed, namely, Tourism Attractions-Basics-Context (TABC) model. The TABC model is simple and directly taps into the benefits tourists seek in a destination. Research limitations/implications Directions for future research are discussed in detail in the paper. Practical implications Managerial implications are discussed in detail in the paper. Originality/value The extant research on the topic of DC has been rather fragmented and incomplete in scope. The research presented in this paper addresses these limitations.


2019 ◽  
Vol 31 (1) ◽  
pp. 64-91
Author(s):  
José Osvaldo De Sordi ◽  
Reed Elliot Nelson ◽  
Manuel Meireles ◽  
Marcos Hashimoto ◽  
Carlos Rigato

Purpose Although exaptation is recognized as a means of creation capable of generating significant economic implications for organizations, this mechanism has not been explored in depth in the field of management, where it remains restricted to innovation and product research and development. With this limitation in mind, this study aims to explore and discuss exaptation along with other entities that are more greatly concerned with the interests of and direct contact with practitioners and academics in the field of management, such as processes, data, tacit knowledge and skills. Design/methodology/approach For the purposes of this study, a comprehensive review of the literature on exaptation was conducted, and 46 entrepreneurs from companies of different sizes and segments were interviewed. Findings The results of the review of the literature and interviews with entrepreneurs helped to identify and describe 13 cases of exaptation associated with nine different kinds of organizational entities. For four of these entities, which are closely associated with management, the restrictions of the business environment regarding the exaptation of these entities are discussed, together with the more favorable organizational structures for their occurrence. Practical implications This paper discusses the exaptation to the four types of entity closely linked with management: tacit knowledge, data, process and skill. For each one of these entities the following is discussed: the organizational characteristics that hinder the exaptation of the entity in question and the managerial actions that could alter these characteristics and facilitate the occurrence of the exaptation mechanism with the entity in question. Originality/value This process led to the development of an algorithm for analyzing the exaptation mechanism and the adaptation of the attributes associated with the agent-artifact[entity]-context tripartite to describe and analyze exaptation event, including another attribute: the type of entity.


2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Lee Bosher ◽  
Ksenia Chmutina ◽  
Dewald van Niekerk

PurposeThe way that disasters are managed, or indeed mis-managed, is often represented diagrammatically as a “disaster cycle”. The cyclical aspects of the disaster (risk) management concept, comprised of numerous operational phases, have, in recent years, been criticised for conceptualising and representing disasters in an overly simplistic way that typically starts with a disaster “event” – and subsequently leads onto yet another disaster. Such cyclical thinking has been proven to not be very useful for the complexities associated with understanding disasters and their risks. This paper aims to present an alternative conceptualisation of the Disaster Risk Management phases, in a way that can better factor in the underlying root causes that create differential levels of vulnerability.Design/methodology/approachThis is a conceptual paper developed, through a review of the literature and discussions between the authors, as a counterpoint to the pervasive “disaster cycle”.FindingsThe “Disaster Risk Management (DRM) Helix” is presented as an alternative way of conceptualising the DRM phases. The helictical conceptualisation of DRM phases presented in this paper is intentionally presented to start a discussion (rather than as an end point) on how best to move away from the constraints of the “disaster cycle”.Originality/valueIt is envisaged that the helictical conceptualisation of DRM can be suitably malleable to include important factors such as temporal considerations and the underlying root causes that create differential levels of vulnerability. It is, thus, the intention that the DRM Helix can provide a catalyst for exciting discussions and future adaptations of the diagram that can better capture the dynamic (non-cyclical) nature of disasters and their root causes.


2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
David William Stoten

PurposeThe purpose of this conceptual paper is to advocate the adoption of heutagogic principles within management education and to show how it could be implemented.Design/methodology/approachThis paper is the outcome of a review of the literature on learning theory and management education.FindingsThis paper demonstrates how heutagogic principles have been introduced in three areas: entrepreneurial education, executive coaching and e-learning.Originality/valueThis paper makes an original contribution to the discourse on heutagogy through the OEPA model that maps the heutagogic learning journey.


2018 ◽  
Vol 26 (3) ◽  
pp. 4-6
Author(s):  
Jol Stoffers ◽  
Ilse Schrijver ◽  
Anne Kleefstra

Purpose This paper aims to investigate the expectations of adult part-time participants enrolled in training programs. The purpose was to provide knowledge for the adequate design of those programs. Design/methodology/approach The design was a combination of complementary research methodologies. A literature review exploring the topic marked the start of the investigation. On the basis of this review, questions were formulated for group interviews, using the Delphi method, a qualitative research method. Findings The results revealed that participants in training programs have high expectations, in terms of facilities and organization, as well as in content, instructional formats, and trainers, albeit that these expectations differ per course. Practical implications Insights into participants’ expectations provide educational institutes with the opportunity to respond to the target group more appropriately, and to fulfill their obligation to facilitate lifelong learning for employees.This paper also supports human resource development professionals to select and design adequate training programs for their employees. Originality/value This is one of the few studies using the Delphi method, a qualitative research method, to investigate the expectations of adult part-time participants enrolled in training programs.


2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Bhairab Chandra Patra ◽  
Usha Lenka

Purpose The purpose of this study is to analyze the entrepreneurial intentions (EI) of women to better understand the cognition process of women which will help to identify the reason for their inadequate participation in the field of entrepreneurship. Design/methodology/approach This study follows the method of a traditional literature survey followed by scientometric analysis to identify the primary factors to the EI of women. The factors obtained from the literature review were provided to the nominal group, and the process of nominal group technique (NGT) was carried out to frame a research framework. The factors were then ranked based on their significance using the analytic hierarchy process (AHP), taking into consideration the review of experts. Findings Among the primary factors, personal factors were found to be the most influential factors and weighted 54%. Self-efficacy was found to be the most prominent secondary variable and had a global weight of 22.14%. Research limitations/implications The research outcome has implications for policymaking bodies, investors, academicians and potential women entrepreneurs. Future researchers can apply exploratory research methods and confirmatory research methods to test the research framework. Originality/value Very few researchers have used the technique of scientometric analysis for the review of literature on EI of women, and to the best of the authors’ knowledge, no earlier researcher has attempted to use the technique of NGT or AHP after scientometric analysis.


2019 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
pp. 90-98 ◽  
Author(s):  
Louise Grimmer ◽  
Oskaras Vorobjovas-Pinta

Purpose The visitor economy is increasingly being recognised by local authorities, governments and destination marketing managers as having a significant effect on local retail precincts. This research note proposes that there is a link between the rise of the sharing economy (notably Airbnb) and the growing awareness and appreciation of the impact of the visitor economy. The purpose of this paper is to provide an example of the marketing efforts of a specific retail precinct to attract visitors engaged in the sharing economy. Design/methodology/approach The approach taken involves a review of the literature pertaining to the sharing and visitor economies. Using an example from an Australian tourist city – Hobart, Tasmania, this research reviews a collaborative marketing campaign undertaken by retailers in a city precinct designed to appeal to stakeholders in the visitor economy. Findings Shopping at local stores and retail precincts form an integral part of the travel experience. This research note offers an overview of the nexus between the sharing and visitor economies. In particular, it presents the potential implications of collaborative marketing efforts to attract visitors to a retail precinct. It is suggested that the development of new marketing and branding strategies, specifically retailer-led collaborative efforts, are a positive approach to attract stakeholders involved in the sharing and visitor economies. Originality/value This research note is one of the first to recognise the relationship between the rise of the sharing economy and the subsequent conceptualisation of a visitor economy. This note recognises the particular importance of the nexus between the sharing and visitor economies for retail precincts.


2019 ◽  
Vol 42 (8) ◽  
pp. 926-953
Author(s):  
Jesús De Frutos-Belizón ◽  
Fernando Martín-Alcázar ◽  
Gonzalo Sánchez-Gardey

Purpose The knowledge generated by academics in the field of management is often criticized because of its reduced relevance for professionals. In the review of the literature, the authors distinguish between three streams of thought. The review of the literature and the understanding of the research streams that have been addressed by the academic–practitioner gap in management has allowed to clarify that what truly underlies each of these approaches is a different assumption or paradigm from which the management science focusses. Design/methodology/approach This paper reviews the main approaches that have analysed this topic, drawing a number of conclusions. Findings The knowledge generated by academics in the field of management is often criticized because of its reduced relevance for professionals. In the review of the literature, the authors distinguish between three main perspectives. The review of the literature and the understanding of the research streams that have been addressed by the academic–practitioner gap in management has allowed us to clarify that what truly underlies each of these approaches is a different assumption or paradigm from which the management science focusses. To represent the findings of the literature review in this sense, the authors will present, first, a model that serves as a framework to interpret the different solutions proposed in the literature to close the gap from a positivist paradigm. Subsequently, they question this view through a reflection that brings us closer to a more pragmatic and interpretive paradigm of management science to bridge the research–practice gap. Originality/value In recent studies, researchers agree that there is an important gap between management research and practice, which may bear little resemblance to each other. However, the literature on this topic does not seem to be guided by a rigorously structured discourse and, for the most part, is not based on empirical studies. Moreover, a sizeable body of literature has been developed with the objective of analysing and contributing solutions that reconcile management researchers and professionals. To offer a more systematic view of the literature on this topic, the paper classifies previous approaches into three different perspectives based on the ideas on which they are supported. Finally, the paper concludes with some reflections that could help to reorient the paradigm from which the management research is carried out.


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