Table 3.

Structure and Flexibility in Stages of Mentoring Processes.

Stage	Elaboration	References
Structure
Matching Stage	The host establishes its selection, vetting, matching and training for mentees and mentors	47,67,83,85,88,90-93,95-101,104,107,111,118,121,123-125,129,133,134,136,138,142
	And may use contractual agreements	67,90,92-94,101,102,131
	To align expectations	47,84,85,88,90,92,97,101,108-110,131,139,142,144
	And clarify goals, timelines, and roles	53,106,112,115,118,119,138,156
	And responsibilities	53,54,106,112,115,118,119
Pre-mentoring Stage	Sets out its own objectives establishes and oversees the entry criteria, goals, selection, and matching processes	84,92,97,99,101,103,105,124,142,144,147
	And the mentoring approach	85,88,95,98,101,103,104,142
	Within a formal curriculum	47,87,88,94,95,98,104,111,116,117,119,126,130,134,136,139,148,150,155,156
Flexibility
Matching Stage	Accounts for the mentor’s and mentee’s goals and interests	47,52,84,85,92,97,101,111,126,132,142,144
	Personalities	101
	Preferences on how they would like to initiate mentoring relationships	67,101,110,111,129,132
	Gender	83,96,132
	Background	87,96
	Ethnicity	67,92
Pre-mentoring stage	Flexibility is apparent in the:	47,67,90,92,97,101,106,108,109,117,129
	structure, form and frequency of meetings, codes of conduct, roles and responsibilities and standards of practice established	47,87,90,92,96,97,101,141
	consideration of individual mentee’s and mentor’s expectations	47,108,111
	goals	47,85,105,106,147
Mentoring Process	Adaptable	25,47,87,90,92,96,97,101,141
	And longitudinal evaluations are employed to account for changes in the mentoring relationships and shifts in individual academic, social, research, and personal situations of mentees and mentors	84-87,89-93,96,97,102,115,142,144,149
	Flexibility is also evident as hosts respond and adapt its approach and support in response to appraisals	67,87,91,92,99,101,106,107,111,118,127,138,146