Date of Conferral

2016

Degree

Ph.D.

School

Management

Advisor

Walter McCollum

Abstract

Trust is in decline within organizations resulting from poor management and ethical indifference. Failing to address trust perceptions has led to stress between management and employees. Researchers have studied organizational trust as a constant quality within groups but have neglected the uniquely individual constructs of trust that inhibit trust-building efforts. The purpose of this quantitative study was to evaluate how personal constructs of trust may affect outcomes at the organizational level among workers and managers in hierarchal structured organizations. The topics of the research questions addressed the extent which cultural values and the relative trust situation affected individuals' perceptions of the state of trust in organizations. The recruitment strategy included 92 managers and workers over the age of 18 from the Survey Monkey Audience participation pool. The theoretical framework was Glidden's structuration and Bandera's social cognitive theories. The data analysis strategy involved implementing Pedhazur and Schmelkin's procedures for multiple regressions along with effect coding. The study included a survey instrument composed of Hofstede's Values Survey Module 2013 and Chathoth's Trust and Employee Satisfaction Survey. The results indicated an association between social-cultural values and trust. The results from Chathoth's Trust and Employee Satisfaction Survey indicated that the variables of integrity, commitment, and dependability all had a significant statistical association with the demographic role in the organization and with Hofstede's quality of individualism. To enact positive social change, organizational leaders would benefit from evaluating the managerial and worker relationships indicated in the study and incorporate them into trust-building programs.

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