EMERGENCE AND TRANSFORMATION OF TRUST IN WORK TEAMS: A MULTIPLE CASE STUDY OF IT TEAMS

Abstract

Organizations are making their hierarchies less tall and are moving towards team structures and team trust holds a fundamental place for team structures to perform effectively making it a necessity for businesses to succeed. This study aims for enhanced understanding of emergence and transformation of trust at team level. We employed multiple-case study method and interviewed 6 teams from IT sector of Pakistan considering each team as a case. Team members were inquired about their experience with the team and trajectory of their trust development in respective team. We explored on how team members developed their trust in team in early phase of team life and how this trust level has changed with time. Data revealed that trust in team is anchored on personal filter criteria, behavior and organizational processes. It was found that the initial level of team trust developed in early phase of team life is evaluated in uncertain and difficult situations that teams face. This study also concluded that emotional trust cannot be a team level construct.