This study has examined the determinants of interpersonal trust in lateral and vertical relationships, and its impact on knowledge sharing behavior' among the employees. The data were collected from 303 respondents using structured questionnaire, across the service and manufacturing organizations belonging to junior, middle, and higher levels in the hierarchy. The result showed that enabling factors with regard to colleagues, seniors, and juniors were positively associated with the dimensions of interpersonal trust, which facilitated knowledge sharing. It has implications for the management and policy makers as they have to create a culture for the development of trust among the employees to facilitate knowledge sharing.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
AbramsL. G., CrossR., LesserE. and LevinZ. (2003). Nurturing Interpersonal Trust in Knowledge Sharing Networks. Academy of Management Executive, 71 (4), pp. 64-77.
2.
AndrewsK. M. and DelahayeB. L. (2000). Influences on Knowledge Processes in Organizational Learning: The Psychosocial Filter. Journal of Management Studies, 37(6), pp. 797-810.
3.
AmmeterA. P. F. (2000). Determinants of Trust in Workgroup Relationship. Dissertation Abstract International, UMI No. 3004207.
4.
BabbieE. (2001). The Practice of Social Research, Wadsworth, Belmont, CA.
5.
BaierA. (1986). Trust and Antitrust. Ethics, 96, pp. 231-260.
6.
BartolK. M., and SrivastavaA. (2002). Encouraging Knowledge Sharing: The Role of Organizational Reward System. Journal of leadership & Organisational Studies, 9(1), pp. 64-76.
7.
BiesR. J., and TrippT. M. (1996). Beyond Trust: “Getting Even” and Need for Revenge. In KramerR. M., & TylerT. R. (Eds.), Trust in Organization: Frontiers of Theories and Research,London:Sage Publication, pp. 246-260.
8.
BoonS. D., and HolmesJ. G. (1991). The Dynamics of Interpersonal Trust: Resolving Uncertainity in the Face of Risk. In HindeR. A. & GroebelJ. (Eds), Cooperation and Prosocial Behavior,Cambridge, UK:Cambridge University Press, pp. 190-211.
9.
BoussouaraM., and DeakinsD. (2000). Trust and the Acquisition of Knowledge from Non-executive Directors by High Technology Entrepreneurs. International Journal of Entrepreneurial Behaviors and Research, 6(4): pp. 204-226.
10.
BromileyP., and CummingsL. L. (1995). Transaction Cost in Organizations with Trust. In LewickiR. J., BiesR., & SheppardB. H. (Eds.), Research on Negotiation in Organizations,Greenwich, CT:JAI Press,5: pp. 219-247.
11.
BukowitzW., and WilliamsR. (1999). Knowledge Management Field Book, Financial Times: Prentice Hall, London, UK.
12.
ButlerJ. K.Jr., (1991). Towards Understanding and Measuring Conditions of Trust: Evolution of a Condition of Trust Inventory. Journal of Management, 17, pp. 643-663.
13.
ButlerJ., and CantrellR. S. (1984). A Behavioral Decision Theory Approach to Modeling Dyadic Trust in Supervisors & Subordinates. Psychological Reports, 55, pp. 19-28.
14.
CarleyK. (1991). A Theory of Group Stability. American Sociological Review, 56, pp. 331-354.
15.
ChowdhuryS. (2005). The Role of Affect and Cognition Based Trust in Complex Knowledge Sharing. Journal of Managerial Issues, 17(3), pp. 310-326.
16.
CookJ., and WallT. D. (1980). New Work Attitude Measures of Trust, Organizational Commitment and Personal Need Non Fulfillment. Journal of Occupational Psychology, 53, pp. 39-52.
17.
CostiganR., literS. and BermanJ. (1998). A Multidimensional Study of Trust in Organizations. Journal of Managerial Issues, 10 (3), pp. 303-317.
18.
CreedW. E. D., and MilesR. E. (1996). Trust in Organization: A Conceptual Framework Linking Organizational Forms, Managerial Philosophies and the Opportunity Cost of Control. In KramerR. M., & TylerT. R. (Eds.), Trust in Organization: Frontiers of Theory and Research,Thousands Oaks, CA:Sage, pp. 16-38.
19.
CurralS., and JudgeT. (1995). Measuring Trust between Organizational Boundary Role Persons. Organisational Behavior and Human Decision Processes, 64, pp. 151-170.
20.
DarrochJ. (2003). Developing the Measure of Knowledge Management Behaviors and Practices. Journal of Knowledge Management, 7(5), pp. 41-54.
21.
DavenportT. H. (1993). Process Innovation Reengineering Work through Information Technology. Boston, MA: Harvard Business School Press.
22.
DavenportT. H., and PrusakL. (1998). Working Knowledge: How Organizations Manage What They Know. Cambridge, MA: Harvard Business School Press.
23.
DieneschR. M., and lindenR. C. (1986). Leader-member Exchange Model of Relationship: A Critique and Further Development. Academy of Management Review, 11, pp. 618-634.
24.
DoneyP. M., CannonJ. P., and MullenM. R. (1998). Understanding the Influence of National Culture on the Development of Trust. Academy of Management of Review, 23 (3), pp. 601-620.
25.
DunnP. (2000). The Importance of Consistency in Establishing Cognitive Based Trust: A Laboratory Experiment. Teaching Business Ethics, 4(3), pp. 285-306.
26.
EdvinssonL., DvirR., RothN., and PasherE. (2004). Innovations: The New Unit of Analysis in the Knowledge Era: The Quest and Context for Innovation, Efficiency and Management of IC. Journal of Intellectual Capital, 5(1), pp. 40-58.
27.
GabarroJ. J. (1978). The Development of Trust Influence and Expectation. In AthosA. G. & GabarroJ. J. (Eds.), Interpersonal Behavior: Communication and Understanding in Relationships,Englewood Cliffs, NJ:Prentice-Hall, pp. 290-303.
28.
GiffinK. (1967). The Contribution of Studies of Source Credibility to a Theory of Interpersonal Trust in the Communication Process. Psychological Bulletin, 68, pp. 104-120.
29.
GulatiR. (1995). Does Familiarity Breeds Trust? Implication of Repeated Ties for Contractual Choice in Alliance. Academy of Management Journal, 38, pp. 85-112.
30.
HarrisonR., DibbenM., and MasonC. (1997). The Role of Trust in the Informal Investor's Investment Decision: An Exploratory Analysis. Entrepreneurship: Theory and Practice, 21(4), pp. 63-82.
31.
HedlundG., and NonkaI. (1993). Models of Knowledge Management in the West and Japan. In LorangeP. et. al. (Eds.). Implementing Strategic Process: Change, Learning and Co-operation,Oxford:Basil Blackwell, pp. 117-144.
32.
JeffriesF., and ReedR. (2000). Trust and Adaptation in Relational Contracting. Academy of Management Review, 25(4), pp. 873-890.
33.
KaserP. A. W., and MilesR. E. (2001). Knowledge Activists: The Cultivation of Motivation and Trust Properties of Knowledge Sharing Relationships. Academy of Management Proceedings.
34.
KramerR. (1999). Trust and Distrust in Organizations: Emerging Perspectives, Enduring Questions. Annual Review of Psychology, 50, pp. 569-598.
35.
KramerR. M., and TylerT. R. (1996). Trust in Organization: Frontiers of Theory and Research, 16-38. Thousands Oaks, CA: Sage.
36.
LevinD. Z., CrossR., AbramsL. C., and LesserE. L. (2003). Trust and Knowledge Sharing: A Critical Combination. Institute for Knowledge-based Organizations white paper.
37.
LewisD., and WeigertA. (1985). Trust as a Social Responsibility. Social Forces, 63, pp. 967-985.
38.
LinH. F. (2006). Impact of Organizational Support on Organizational Intention to Facilitate Knowledge Sharing. Knowledge Management Research and Practice, 4, pp. 26-35.
39.
LindskoldS. (1978). Trust Development, the GRIT Proposal, and the Effects of Conciliatory Act on Conflict and Cooperation. Psychological Bulletin, 85, pp. 772-793.
40.
MayerR. C., and DavisJ. H. (1999). The Effect of Performance Appraisal System on Trust for Management: A Quasi Field Experiment. Journal of Applied Psychology, 84, pp. 123-136.
41.
MarchJ. P., and OlsenJ. P. (1990). The Uncertainty of the Past: Organizational Learning Under Ambiguity. In March, J.P. (Ed.), Decisions and Organisations, Blackwell, London, pp. 335-358.
42.
MayerR. C., DavisJ. H., and SchoormanF. D. (1995). An Integrative Model of Trust Academy of Management Review, 20, pp. 709-734.
43.
McAllisterD. J. (1995), Affect and Cognition-based Trust as Foundation for Interpersonal Trust in Organization. Academy of Management Journal, 38, pp. 24-59.
44.
McDermottR., and O'DellC. (2001). Overcoming Cultural Barriers to Sharing Knowledge. Journal of Knowledge Management, 5(1), pp. 76-85.
45.
McEvilyS. K., DasS., and McCabeK. (2000). Avoiding Competence Substitution through Knowledge Sharing. Academy of Management Review, 25(2), pp. 294-311.
46.
McKnightD. H., and ChervanyN. L. (2005). What Builds System Troubleshooter Trust the Best: Experential and Non-experential Factors? Information Resource Management Journal, 8(3), pp. 32-49.
47.
MillerD. (1991). Handbook of Research Design and Social Measurement, Sage, Newbury Park, CA.
48.
MishraA. K. (1996). Organizational Response to Crises: The Centrality of Trust. In KramerR. M. & TylerT. R. (Eds), Trust in Organization: Frontiers of Theory and Research,Newbury Park CA.Sage, pp. 261-287.
49.
NonkaI. (1994). A Dynamic Theory of Organizational Knowledge Creation. Organizational Science, 5, pp. 14 -37.
50.
PenleyL. E., and HawkinsL. (1985). Studying Interpersonal Communication in Organizations: A Leadership Application. Academy of Management Journal, 28, pp. 209-226.
51.
RempelJ. K., HolmesJ. G. and ZannaM. P. (1985), Trust in Close Relationships. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 49(1), pp. 95-112.
52.
RingP. (1996). Fragile and Resilient Trust and their Roles in Economic Exchanges. Academy of Management Review, 24(Jan), pp. 148-175.
53.
RobertsJ. (2000). From Know-how to Show-how? Questioning the Role of Information and Communication Technologies in Knowledge Transfer. Technology Analysis and Strategic Management, 12(4), pp. 429-443.
54.
RollandN., and ChauvelD. (2000). “Knowledge Transfer in Strategic Alliance. In Despres, C. & Chauvel, D. (Eds), Knowledge Horizon: The Present and the Promise of Knowledge Management, Butterworth Heinemann, Boston, MA, pp. 225-236.
55.
RousseauD. M., SitkinS. B., BurtR.S., and CamererC. (1998). Not So Different After AU: A Cross Discipline View of Trust. Academy of Management Review, 23(3), pp. 393-404.
56.
ShapiroD. L., SheppardB. H., and Cheraskin, (1992). Business on a Handshake. Negotiations Journal, 8 (4), pp. 365-377.
57.
SengeP. (1997). Sharing Knowledge. Executive Excellence, 14 (11), pp. 17-18.
58.
ShawR. B. (1997). Trust in the Balance: Building Successful Organization on Results, Integrity and Concern. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.
59.
SitkinS. B., and RothN. L. (1993). Explaining the Limited Effectiveness of Legalistic Remedies for Trust/Distrust. Organisation Science, 4, pp. 367-392.
60.
SpagnoloG. (1999). Social Relations and Cooperation in Organization. Journal of Economic Behavior and Organisation, 38, pp. 1-25.
61.
SrinivasV. (2000). Individual Investors and Financial Advice: A Model of Advice Seeking Behavior in the Financial Planning Context. Ph. D. Thesis, Rutgers University.
62.
StarbuckW. H. (1992). Learning by Knowledge Intensive Firms. Journal of Management Studies, 29, pp. 713-740.
63.
ThornD. H., and CampbellB. (1997). Patient-physician Trust: An Exploratory Study. Journal of Family Practice, 44, pp. 169-176.
64.
TsaiW., and GhosalS. (1998). Social Capital and Value Creation: The Role of Intra Firm Networks. Academy of Management Journal, 41, pp. 464—476.
65.
UzziB. (1997). Social Structure and Competition in Interfirm's Networks: The Paradox of Embeddedness. Administrative Science Quarterly, 42(1), pp. 35-68.
66.
VelezP. (2000). Interpersonal Trust between Supervisor and Subordinate. Doctoral Dissertation, University of California.
67.
WhitenerE. M., BrodtS. E., KorsgaardM. A. and WernerJ. M. (1998). Managers as Initiators of Trust: An Exchange Relationship Framework for Understanding Managerial Trustworthy Behavior. Academy of Management Review, 23, pp. 513-530.
68.
WicksA., BermanS., and JonesT. (1999). The Structure of Optimal Trust: Moral and Strategic Implications. Academy of Management Review, 24(Jan), pp. 99-116.
69.
WilsonD. O. (1988). Effects of Task Uncertainty upon Links Multiplexity for High and Low Performance Project Teams. Unpublished doctoral dissertation, University of California.
70.
YammarinoF., SkinnerS. and ChildersT. (1991). Understanding Mail Survey Response Behavior: A Meta Analysis. Public Opinion Quarterly, 55(4), pp. 613-639.
71.
ZaheerA., McEvilyB., and PerroneV. (1998). Exploring the Effects of Interorganizational and Interpersonal Trust on Performance. Organisational Science, 9, pp. 141-159.
72.
ZandD.E. (1981). Information, Organization and Power. New York: McGraw-Hill.
73.
ZandD. E. (1972). Trust and Managerial Problem Solving. Administrative Science Quaterly, 17, pp. 229-239.
74.
ZuckerL. (1986). Production of Trust: Institutional Sources of Economic Structure, 1940-1920. Research in Organizational Behavior, 8, pp. 53-111.
