Who Trusts Who?

2014 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
pp. 17-37
Author(s):  
Risto Seppänen
Keyword(s):  
Qualitative Study ◽  
Organizational Context ◽  
Organizational Trust ◽  
Fundamental Question ◽  
Boundary Spanners ◽  
Business Relationships ◽  
Organizational Relationships ◽  
Individual Level ◽  
Organizational Settings ◽  
Organizational Levels

Previous research on the nature of trust in an organizational context provided somewhat controversial and ambiguous results. There are both conceptual and operational difficulties in exploring this intuitively individual-level phenomenon at organizational and inter-organizational levels. The fundamental question of where trust resides in inter-organizational relationships remains unresolved. This qualitative study focuses on inter-organizational trust in dyadic business relationships. The phenomenon is approached both from the concept of the trustor and the trustee. The results suggest that the trusting party is not the organization itself, but the individuals who constitute it. Instead, the ultimate object of trust in inter-organizational settings is both individual boundary-spanners, and the organization.

Literature Review

2011 ◽  
pp. 22-70
Author(s):  
Pauline Ratnasingam
Keyword(s):  
Literature Review ◽  
Transaction Cost Economics ◽  
Organizational Trust ◽  
Business Relationships ◽  
Organizational Relationships ◽  
Organizational Behaviour ◽  
Political Perspective ◽  
Political Theories ◽  
Research Propositions ◽  
Business To Business

In chapter 2, we discussed the findings of an initial exploratory survey. In this chapter we undertake an in-depth literature review of business-to-business e-commerce and the importance of trust. The task of undertaking a literature review is challenging, especially when it involves theories from multiple disciplines. The chapter begins with a discussion of e-commerce from two perspectives: a technological perspective (including technology trust mechanisms), and a social perspective (discussing trust behaviours in business relationships). Incorporated into the analysis are previous theories that focus on organizational behaviour (inter-organizational relationships), economic perspective (transaction-cost-economics theory), and political perspective (resource dependency theory). The rest of the chapter is organized as follows. First, we discuss the literature pertaining to the need for inter-organizational trust and provide definitions of trust from multi-disciplines, as well as characteristics and the development of trust in business relationships. This is followed by a discussion of the perceived benefits, perceived risks, and technology trust mechanisms in e-commerce leading to outcomes of e-commerce participation. Then, we examine the organizational, economic, and political theories leading to the evolution of inter-organizational systems to inter-organizational trust. Finally, we conclude the chapter with the development of the conceptual model of inter-organizational trust in e-commerce participation, leading to a justification of the research propositions derived from the model.

scholarly journals Multi-level Approach to the “Social Marketing” Context for Innovation: Impact on Organizational Relationships

2016 ◽  
Vol 8 (2) ◽  
pp. 24 ◽  
Author(s):  
Katarzyna Szczepanska-Woszczyna ◽  
Mohammed Nadeem
Keyword(s):  
Organizational Context ◽  
Process Management ◽  
Innovation Management ◽  
Innovation Process ◽  
Organizational Level ◽  
Organizational Relationships ◽  
Individual Level ◽  
The Social ◽  
Multi Level ◽  
The Individual

<p>The aim of the article is to explore the social aspects of innovation at three levels of research: individual, group, and organization. A multi-level approach enhances the understanding of how organizational context shapes and is shaped by the actions and perceptions of individuals. It may provide more precise research findings and more rigorous theory testing by clarifying the level of analysis. A resource-based approach and adaptation theories are used in relation to the organizational level, while at the individual level, psychological theories are applied. We propose a theoretical approach which could link creativity and competencies at the individual level, managerial / leader action and organizational culture with innovation to marketing innovation as a process and outcome of organizational level. The earlier studies used the approach that focused attention on the innovation process and innovation outcomes rather than on developing the ability to take specific innovative action and focused research on the selected level of innovation process management. It is therefore necessary to take into account the complexity of the research subject and include the actual problems resulting from the needs of multi-level innovation management and respect for the diversity of its conditions in the research.</p>

Introduction

2011 ◽  
pp. 1-11 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pauline Ratnasingam
Keyword(s):  
Organizational Trust ◽  
Trading Partner ◽  
Business Relationships ◽  
Organizational Relationships ◽  
Telecommunications Networks ◽  
Business Transactions ◽  
Business Information ◽  
Trading Partners ◽  
Partner Relationships ◽  
Business To Business

In this chapter we introduce the motivation for the study and discuss the background of inter-organizational trust, followed by significant prior research leading to a rationale of this study. Then we discuss previous research in e-commerce adoption, its history, growth, and an analysis of the factors that drive and inhibit e-commerce adoption. E-commerce is the sharing of business information, maintaining business relationships, and conducting business transactions by means of telecommunications networks (Zwass, 1996:3). E-commerce applications facilitate communication and information exchanges between organizations, thereby enabling mass manufacturing, production, and customization to occur (Giaglis et al., 1998). E-commerce is changing the shape of competition, the dynamics of trading partner relationships, and the speed of fulfillment (Kalakota and Robinson, 2001). In this study, a trading partner is considered to be an organization which engages in business-to-business e-commerce. Trading partners can play various roles of suppliers, merchants, brokers, or customers. They interact with one another to form Inter-organizational relationships (IOR’s). To avoid the possibility of anthropomorphizing the organization, and inferring that the trustor is an organization, inter-firm trust is viewed as the collectively held cognitive belief of a group of well-informed individuals within a firm (Zaheer, McEvily, and Perrone, 1998). Thus, in this study the terms trading partner trust and inter-organizational trust are used interchangeably.

Development and Construct Validation of the German Workplace Trust Survey (G-WTS)

2010 ◽  
Vol 26 (1) ◽  
pp. 3-10 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nale Lehmann-Willenbrock ◽  
Simone Kauffeld
Keyword(s):  
Convergent Validity ◽  
Affective Commitment ◽  
Discriminant Validity ◽  
Organizational Context ◽  
Organizational Trust ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Work Related ◽  
Reliable Assessment ◽  
Workplace Trust

In research on trust in the organizational context, there is some agreement evolving that trust should be measured with respect to various foci. The Workplace Trust Survey (WTS) by Ferres (2002) provides reliable assessment of coworker, supervisor, and organizational trust. By means of a functionally equivalent translation, we developed a German version of the questionnaire (G-WTS) comprising 21 items. A total of 427 employees were surveyed with the G-WTS and questionnaires concerning several work-related attitudes and behaviors and 92 of these completed the survey twice. The hypothesized three-dimensional conceptualization of organizational trust was confirmed by confirmatory factor analysis. The G-WTS showed good internal consistency and retest reliability values. Concerning convergent validity, all of the three G-WTS dimensions positively predicted job satisfaction. In terms of discriminant validity, Coworker Trust enhanced group cohesion; Supervisor Trust fostered innovative behavior, while Organizational Trust was associated with affective commitment. Theoretical and practical contributions as well as opportunities for future research with the G-WTS are discussed.

scholarly journals Revolution From Above? Female Directors’ Equality-Related Actions in Organizations

2021 ◽  
pp. 000765032110018
Author(s):  
Anja Kirsch
Keyword(s):  
Gender Equality ◽  
Organizational Context ◽  
Key Factors ◽  
Organizational Settings ◽  
Female Directors ◽  
Board Processes ◽  
Supervisory Boards ◽  
German Stock ◽  
Board Culture ◽  
Informal Settings

Drawing on interviews with women and men who serve on the supervisory boards of German stock-listed companies, this qualitative study examines why some female directors seek to augment gender equality in their organizations while others do not. Those who take action do so both in formal board processes and in informal settings. A sense of belonging to women as a social group and a sense of responsibility for women in the organization are key factors in explaining why some female directors contribute to gender equality. In addition, the study highlights the relevance of a board culture supportive of gender equality and positive expectations by other organizational members about female directors’ role in advancing gender equality. Board chairs influence how supportive female directors perceive the organizational context to be. Where the organizational context is not seen as supportive, those who take equality-related action anyway are experienced directors. Surprisingly, the presence of other women on the board does not appear to be related to whether or not female directors take action. Examining female directors’ actions and paying close attention to both their identities and their specific organizational settings shows how the interplay between social identity and situational opportunities and constraints affects board behavior.

Sexual Harassment in the Military

2017 ◽  
Vol 44 (1) ◽  
pp. 25-43 ◽  
Author(s):  
Richard J. Harris ◽  
Daniel P. McDonald ◽  
Corey S. Sparks
Keyword(s):  
Sexual Harassment ◽  
Organizational Context ◽  
Organizational Factors ◽  
Persistent Problem ◽  
Individual Level ◽  
Power Differentials ◽  
The Military ◽  
Organizational Climates ◽  
Data Constraints ◽  
Research And Policy

Purpose: Sexual harassment remains a persistent problem in the U.S. military despite extensive research and policy initiatives. Theoretical explanations identify individual circumstances (e.g., power differentials) and organizational factors (e.g., climate, culture). However, data constraints limit the capacity to link individual contexts with independent measures of environments. Data/Methods: A unique Defense Equality Opportunity Climate Survey allows assessment of organizational climates and individual experiences with multilevel analyses. Results: Sexist environmental context increases the likelihood of personal harassment experiences after controlling for individual-level variables. However, unit-level climate, group cohesion, and job satisfaction are not significant. Conclusion: Both individual and organizational factors are important. However, the organizational context has less to do with culture or unit cohesion and more to do with tolerance of sexism. Focusing on problem units may be effective for reducing the prevalence and persistence of sexual harassment.

Specifying Software Models with Organizational Styles

2011 ◽  
pp. 1141-1161
Author(s):  
Manuel Kolp ◽  
Yves Wautelet ◽  
Stéphane Faulkner
Keyword(s):  
Real World ◽  
Organizational Context ◽  
System Development ◽  
Software System ◽  
Organizational Models ◽  
Organizational Settings ◽  
Development Methodology ◽  
Software Models ◽  
Organizational Theories ◽  
Organizational Patterns

Organizational Modeling is concerned with analyzing and understanding the organizational context within which a software system will eventually function. This chapter proposes organizational patterns motivated by organizational theories intended to facilitate the construction of organizational models. These patterns are defined from real world organizational settings, modeled in i* and formalized using the Formal Tropos language. Additionally, the chapter evaluates the proposed patterns using desirable qualities such as coordinability and predictability. The research is conducted in the context of Tropos, a comprehensive software system development methodology.

scholarly journals The use of Twitter for innovation in business markets

2020 ◽  
Vol 38 (5) ◽  
pp. 587-601
Author(s):  
Helen Cripps ◽  
Abhay Singh ◽  
Thomas Mejtoft ◽  
Jari Salo
Keyword(s):  
Social Media ◽  
Peer Interactions ◽  
Methodological Approach ◽  
Relationship Building ◽  
Business Relationships ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Content Type ◽  
B2b Marketing ◽  
Individual Level ◽  
The Individual

PurposeThe purpose of this research is to investigate the use of Twitter in business as a medium for knowledge sharing and to crowdsource information to support innovation and enhance business relationships in the context of business-to-business (B2B) marketing.Design/methodology/approachThis study uses a combination of methodologies for gathering data in 52 face-to-face interviews across five countries and the downloaded posts from each of the interviewees' Twitter accounts. The tweets were analysed using structural topic modelling (STM), and then compared to the interview data. This method enabled triangulation between stated use of Twitter and respondent's actual tweets.FindingsThe research confirmed that individuals used Twitter as a source of information, ideas, promotion and innovation within their industry. Twitter facilitates building relevant business relationships through the exchange of new, expert and high-quality information within like-minded communities in real time, between companies and with their suppliers, customers and also their peers.Research limitations/implicationsAs this study covered five countries, further comparative research on the use of Twitter in the B2B context is called for. Further investigation of the formalisation of social media strategies and return on investment for social media marketing efforts is also warranted.Practical implicationsThis research highlights the business relationship building capacity of Twitter as it enables customer and peer conversations that eventually support the development of product and service innovations. Twitter has the capacity for marketers to inform and engage customers and peers in their networks on wider topics thereby building the brand of the individual users and their companies simultaneously.Originality/valueThis study focuses on interactions at the individual level illustrating that Twitter is used for both customer and peer interactions that can lead to the sourcing of ideas, knowledge and ultimately innovation. The study is novel in its methodological approach of combining structured interviews and text mining that found the topics of the interviewees' tweets aligned with their interview responses.

Patterns for Organizational Modeling

2009 ◽  
pp. 2262-2284
Author(s):  
Manuel Kolp ◽  
Stéphane Faulkner
Keyword(s):  
Real World ◽  
Organizational Context ◽  
System Development ◽  
Software System ◽  
Organizational Models ◽  
Organizational Settings ◽  
Development Methodology ◽  
Organizational Theories ◽  
Organizational Patterns

Organizational modeling is concerned with analyzing and understanding the organizational context within which a software system will eventually function. This paper proposes organizational patterns motivated by organizational theories intended to facilitate the construction of organizational models. These patterns are defined from real world organizational settings, modeled in i* and formalized using the Formal Tropos language. Additionally, the paper evaluates the proposed patterns using desirable qualities such as coordinability and predictability. The research is conducted in the context of Tropos, a comprehensive software system development methodology.

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