Title: Interpersonal trust in organisations: an empirical investigation of workplace outcomes in two countries

Authors: Aziz Bakay; Bülent Akyüz; Abidin Ateş

Addresses: Department of Logistics Management, Gediz University, Gazi Mustafa Kemal Mh. Kaynaklar Cd., No: 115, B-227, Seyrek, Menemen, İzmir 35665, Turkey ' Department of Business and Management, Çanakkale Onsekiz Mart University, Terzioğlu Yerleşkesi, Çanakkale 17200, Turkey ' Department of Management, Gediz University, Gazi Mustafa Kemal Mh. Kaynaklar Cd., No: 115, B-225, Seyrek, Menemen, İzmir 35665, Turkey

Abstract: This research hypothesised that particular workplace behavioural outcomes can be explained by interpersonal trust, considering the traditional perspectives on trust as a social glue lowering transaction costs. We employed an approach of distinguishing three trust objects, namely, trust in peers, trust in the supervisor, and trust in top management. Survey data on interpersonal trust, affective commitment (AC), intention to turnover (ITT), job satisfaction (JS) and job performance (JP) was collected from professionals working in Turkey (N = 134) and the USA (N = 150). Data were analysed using partial least square based structural equation modelling. Findings in general suggested a normative point of view of trust, and discussions from comparative cultural contexts were given. Evidence shows that AC was positively associated with trust in peers and trust in top management in both countries. JS was explained by trust in supervisors in the US sample, whereas trust in top management predicted JS in the Turkey sample. ITT, due to its economic-grained nature, did not associate with any of the trust variables, implying the distinction between social exchange and economic exchange. JP and trust were inversely associated in the samples from both countries, revealing a team effect and contradicting the initial hypothesis. Practical implications were discussed.

Keywords: cross-cultural trust; interpersonal trust; organisational behaviour; PLS based SEM.

DOI: 10.1504/EJCCM.2016.083807

European Journal of Cross-Cultural Competence and Management, 2016 Vol.4 No.2, pp.116 - 145

Accepted: 05 Feb 2016
Published online: 24 Apr 2017 *