The Effect of Superiors' Mentoring on Subordinates' Organizational Identification and Workplace Outcomes

Abstract

This dissertation investigated the relationships between subordinates’ perceptions of the mentoring they receive from their superiors and their reports of organizational identification and workplace experiences. Specifically, the relationships between (1) career development and psychosocial mentoring functions and organizational identification, (2) organizational identification and job satisfaction, communication satisfaction, and organizational commitment, (3) and career development and psychosocial mentoring functions and job satisfaction, communication satisfaction and organizational commitment were examined. Furthermore, the indirect effect of mentoring functions on job satisfaction, communication satisfaction, and organizational commitment through organizational identification was examined. Paid, fully-employed adults completed an online survey measuring their perceptions of mentoring from their direct superior, organizational identification, job satisfaction, communication satisfaction with their superior, and organizational commitment. Results showed significant positive relationships between (1) the career development and psychosocial mentoring functions and organizational identification, (2) organizational identification and job satisfaction, communication satisfaction, and organizational commitment, and (3) mentoring functions and job satisfaction, communication satisfaction, and organizational commitment. Results also indicated evidence of an indirect effect of mentoring functions on subordinates’ job satisfaction, communication satisfaction, and organizational commitment through subordinates’ increased organizational identification. These results suggest that organizational identification is an important factor in enhancing employees’ workplace experiences and that organizational leaders may consider fostering workplace environments in which employees are likely to identify with the organization