Trust Categories and Their Impacts on Information Exchange Processes in Vertical Collaborative Networked Organisations

Naoufel Cheikhrouhou, Michel Pouly, Garikoitz Madinabeitia
2012 Social Science Research Network  
Whereas Small and Medium Enterprises can answer the different business challenges through cooperation within Collaborative Networked Organizations (CNOs), human aspects constitute a fundamental issue in these networks since it is neither organizations nor information systems but people that cooperate. This paper addresses the major human aspect considered in vertical CNOs, namely trust that can significantly impact knowledge and know-how exchange as well as information sharing. A case study on
more » ... wiss Microtech, a vertical collaborative network from the industry of machining operations, is presented and discussed with respect to these issues. With the help of an Analytic Hierarchical Process technique designed and developed, different trust types are identified, their corresponding weights are evaluated and their relationships with information sharing and exchange are discussed. The results show that the institutional perceptions of trust and its attributes in the enterprises studied are very close to each others. Furthermore, out of the five identified types, only competence, relational and contractual trust categories have a significant impact on strengthening the relationships between enterprises belonging to a vertical CNO.
doi:10.2139/ssrn.2149541 fatcat:ugk4xdif2respgtclvchra5qu4