Beyond the organisation: The design and management of E-mentoring systems

E-mentoring is a relatively new and under-researched field, particularly from a European perspective. The paper presents an evaluation of the process of building and managing E-mentoring systems. A case study illustrates the importance of combining principles of social interaction with those of human–computer interaction to create and maintain an effective online mentoring community. The systems employed a range of resources and communication media not often included in E-mentoring schemes. Additionally, the paper describes a model of psychological profiling and computerised matching for pairing participants.A multi-disciplinary team was formed to combine the social and technical elements required for creating successful E-mentoring systems. Managers of such systems will also need to achieve a balance of technical and human skills. While the research offers insights into a particular group within the labour market, and the potential of E-mentoring for their career and management development, the E-mentoring model may be easily transferred to other groups and contexts. The paper discusses the implications for managers of implementing such a model.