Abstract

The dynamic relationship, such as mentoring relationships, has led to achievements and success in organisations. Within the current financial constraints and skills shortages, the successes within small groups, such as mentoring relationships, warrant investigation. This case study investigated the success of mentoring relationships in the pulp and paper industry of South Africa. The purposes of the mentoring programme, mentor-protégé characteristics and mentoring coordinator characteristics emerged from the perceptions of the participants. The success of the mentoring programme of this case study is experience as correlating to the characteristic of the mentors and protégés in the mentoring relationship.

Keywords: World of work, employee relations, group dynamics, dyads, relationships, engineer, employment development, qualitative research, mentor characteristics, protégé characteristics.