Webster goes on to define the buddy system as "an arrangement in which two individuals are paired (as for mutual safety in a hazardous situation).”[2][3] In adventurous or dangerous activities, where buddies are often required, the main benefit of the system is improved safety; each may be able to prevent the other from becoming a casualty or rescue the other in a crisis.
The buddy helps in acclimatizing the new employee to the culture and day-to-day aspects of working, in a shorter period.
It provides new employees with a reliable, motivated, single point of contact for their basic questions regarding their work experience.
The buddy system is an effective method to provide support, monitor stress, and reinforce safety procedures.
Assigning each student a buddy provides an extra measure of safety and removes some of the burdens of keeping an eye on a large number of children in an unfamiliar environment from the supervising adults.
The buddy system encourages open and effective dialogue among peers and tends to break down social barriers with their classmates.
It provides effective support for the students who are at risk and lowers the attrition rate at the higher education level.
A buddy system helps to promote friendship, better support of coursework, behavioral and social needs, and can foster a greater sense of belonging and a more inclusive school community.
The students actively participate with each other and enjoy the informal setting and feel comfortable discussing with peers rather than a teacher.
[citation needed] "When there's a companion available, the physiological measure of stress—cortisol levels in the blood—can be alleviated somewhat", explains Jim Winslow, PhD, a specialist in behavioral neuroscience and pharmacology and head of the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) Intramural Research Program, Non-Human Primate Core.
Christine Hogan states that the buddy system approach is highly appropriate for organizational behavior studies adding to the students' range of learning strategies.
[8] An example of a successful peer buddy system was in Nashville, Tennessee's McGavock High School.
[10] If a system can be implemented that can help autistic or behaviorally challenged children or children with intellectual disabilities, than similar buddy systems can be incorporated into mainstream classrooms to help aid students that have a hard time learning but who may not qualify for the special needs programs.
Carolyn Hughes and Erik Carter suggest starting on a smaller scale, perhaps a classroom or two and then growing a base of support.
[citation needed] For instance – maybe a student is having a bad day, is upset about something or just is not very good at starting conversations or making friends alone.