An Analysis of a supervisor-subordinate trust relationship

Abstract

In view of the importance of interpersonal trust as recognized by organizational scholars and the problems associated with the study of trust in organizations, the development of a conceptual model of organizational trust is essential. The aim of this study was to establish empirically the validity of a theoretically sound model of trust in the South African work context. The overall results confirmed a positive relationship between interpersonal trust, trustworthiness and successful trust relationships. The propensity to trust, as well as the length of the supervisorsubordinate relationship, however, did not prove to have a moderating effect on trustworthiness. Opsomming In die lig van die belangrike rol wat navorsers aan vertroue heg en die probleme verbonde aan die bestudering van vertroue in organisasies, is die ontwikkeling van'n konseptuele model van organisatoriese vertroue essensieel. Die doel van hierdie studie was om empiries te bepaal of 'n teoreties gefundeerde model van vertroue in die Suid-Afrikaanse werkskonteks geldig is. In die algemeen bevestig die resultate die bestaan van n beduidend positiewe verband tussen interpersoonlike vertroue, vertrouenswaardigheid en n suksesvolle vertrouensverhouding. Vertrouensgeneigdheid sowel as lengte van toesighouerondergeskikte verhouding het egter nie 'n moderende invloed op vertrouenswaardigheid getoon nie.

Keywords

• Supervisor-subordinate trust relationship