Open AccessAn Exploratory Study of Trust Dynamics in Work‐Oriented Virtual Teams
Author(s) -
Kuo Fengyang,
Yu Chiaping
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
journal of computer‐mediated communication
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 4.15
H-Index - 119
ISSN - 1083-6101
DOI - 10.1111/j.1083-6101.2009.01472.x
Subject(s) - group cohesiveness , knowledge management , competence (human resources) , cohesion (chemistry) , work (physics) , computer science , psychology , social psychology , engineering , mechanical engineering , chemistry , organic chemistry
This study explores trust development and maintenance in temporary, work‐oriented virtual teams, and examines the effect of trust on communication and cohesiveness. Results suggest that for work‐oriented virtual teams formed on a temporary basis, members swiftly develop calculus‐based trust in order to assess the outcomes and costs of maintaining team relationships. Members also rely on prior knowledge to determine other members' competence so that they can make predictions about one another's behaviors. Thus, both calculus‐based and knowledge‐based trust play accentuating roles in the initial development of work‐oriented virtual teams. Identification‐based trust also develops swiftly initially, but is relatively insignificant compared to the other two types of trust. Finally, initial trust may correlate to both later communication and later cohesiveness .