The thesis “Development and Maintenance of Exemplary Formal Mentoring Programs in Fortune 500 Companies” by Christine Danielle Hegstad was published in 2002 under the ProQuest Dissertations and Theses Global platforms. The author sought to advance, through a scientific study, “current mentoring and human resource development research by examining the development and maintenance of exemplary formal mentoring programs in the nation’s top performing companies” (Hegstad, 2002, p. 7). The key argument the scholar provides is that the ADDIE model of instructional systems design can be combined successfully with a mentoring process model to ensure proper mentoring within multinationals.
It is important to note that the scholar used a questionnaire as the primary research tool for collecting her data. Additionally, the author used basic descriptive statistics and a multi-step content analysis methodology in her study (Hegstad, 2002, p. 50). A critique of the selected research methodology reveals that the two approaches were best for the study. The descriptive analysis was critical in simplifying the primary data that was collected. Further, the multi-step content analysis methodology allowed for a wider evaluation of both the conceptual framework and the literature review.
A key implication of the research is that it allowed for future debate on the importance of both mentorship and the approaches used to ensure effectiveness. One can agree with the scholar that despite the numerous advancements made towards mentorship programs, little has been done to ensure structure and formality within the process. Hegstad (2002) concludes that the ADDIE design systems framework offers important steps that can be customized to become structures for proper mentorship programs. It is arguable that the need for such steps will not only make the coaching process easier, but will also allow the top 500 companies to monitor the process.
Reference
Hegstad, C. D. (2002). Development and maintenance of exemplary formal mentoring programs in fortune 500 companies (Order No. 3044110). [Doctoral dissertation, University of Illinois]. ProQuest Dissertations & Theses Global.