Forming Trust in E-Mentoring: A Research Agenda

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.