Tour leaders and guides’ multiple mentoring functions: scale development and validation

• Published in: Tourism review (Association internationale d'experts scientifiques du tourisme) 2024-01, Vol.79 (1), p.205-218
• Main Authors: Huang, Wen-Shiung, Lin, Yung-Sen, Tsao, Chiung-Lin
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Apprenticeship; Career development planning; Careers; Communication; Counseling; Efficiency; Knowledge; Mental health; Mentoring programs; Mentors; New employees; Skill development; Skills; Talent management; Tourism; Training
• ISSN: 1660-5373; 1660-5373; 1759-8451
• DOI: 10.1108/TR-09-2022-0458

Purpose Based on the mentoring literature, this study aims to explore the mentoring functions developed by the travel industry and develop a multiple mentoring function scale (MMFS) for tour leaders. Design/methodology/approach Study One of this research involved in-depth interviews with 23 tour leaders for establishing the initial question bank and pilot test scale. In Study Two, the initial scale was pilot tested by 225 tour leaders for identifying the factor structure through exploratory factor analysis. In Study Three, the model was verified through confirmatory factor analyses of 251 calibration samples. In Study Four, cross-validation was verified by 227 validation samples. Findings In Study One, through the content analyses, an initial question bank of 51 questions was established. The question bank was reviewed by 15 experts, resulting in the development of a pilot test scale of 36 questions. In Study Two, 16 questions were retained after the initial scale was pilot tested, and four dimensions were identified, including career competency, reverse mentoring, career development and psychosocial functions. In Study Three, the model was verified through confirmatory factor analyses and confirmed to have good reliability and construct validity. Finally, a first-order, four-factor scale that consisted of 16 questions was established. In Study Four, cross-validation was verified. Research limitations/implications MMFS establishment underwent a rigorous development process, and the scale’s reliability and validity are supported. It is suggested that future research should develop and construct a multifunctional model for tour-leading professionals based on the MMFS to evaluate the long-term impact of the MMFS. Originality/value Previous studies have mainly focused on typical mentoring functions. Multiple mentoring functions derived from the characteristics of tour leaders and guides have rarely been discussed. This research can fill the gap in the application of mentoring system to human resource management research in the tourism industry. As a result, this four-dimensional multiple mentoring functions scale provides a progressive perspective and be regarded as the first version of the scale development in the tourism industry. 研究目的 基于师徒文献, 本研究探讨了旅游业的师徒功能, 并为旅游领队发展多元师徒功能量表（MMFS）。 设计/方法/途径 研究一, 涉及与 23 位领队的深度访谈, 以建立初始题库和预试量表。研究二, 初始量表由225名领队进行试测, 通过探索性因素分析确定因素结构。研究三, 通过验证性因素分析251个校准样本以验证模型。研究四, 由 227 个验证样本进行复合效化。 结果 研究一, 经过内容分析, 建立了51道题的初始题库。初始题库由 15 位专家审阅,