A TEST OF CONCEPTUAL MODELS DEPICTING THE DEVELOPMENTAL COURSE OF INFORMAL MENTOR-PROTEGE RELATIONSHIPS IN THE WORK PLACE

The initial step in assessing conceptual models of the developmental c ourse of mentor-protege relationships (MPRs) was completed in this cro ss-sectional study which assessed proteges' retrospective accounts of their mentors' behaviors during their work relationship. Respondents w ere 138 protege and 218 nonprotege middle- and upper-level managers fr om a broad range of industry. Respondents completed a survey which mea sured their perceptions of the frequency with which their superior pro vided career and psychosocial functions over the course of the work re lationship. The analyses focused on the presence and types of function s displayed during the early, middle, and late parts of the MPR, as we ll as on their frequency. The results were consistent with Missirian ( 1982) and provided some support for aspects of Kram's (1983) model. Li ttle support was found for Phillips' (1977) model. (C) 1995 Academic P ress, Inc.