This part includes four chapters which examine the distinct levels of analysis used to study trust, from micro through to recent more multi-foci approaches. It begins with Serena C. Lyu and Donald L. Ferrin’s exploration of the interpersonal-level of analysis, reviewing the empirical evidence obtained over the last twenty years regarding the antecedents, functions and consequences of interpersonal trust within organizations. Their review is of value to researchers and practitioners as it outlines the key findings and implications which may inform the actions of senior management. They consider which empirical relationships are also mediated or moderated by trust. This chapter has clear links to Chapter 2 by Korsgaard, on the dynamics and raising the importance of cultural metacognitions, as well as Chapter 26 by Den Hartog, on leaders.
Then in Chapter 6 Ann-Marie I. Nienaber, Maximilian Holtgrave and Philipp D. Romeike explore the team level of analysis, and distinguish between trust at the intra- and inter-team levels. Like Lyu and Ferrin, they identify the determinants and outcomes of trust at each level, noting the similarities and differences between intra- and inter-team trust. They highlight both areas for theory development and areas more concerned with improvements to the measurement of trust in teams.
Next, Anna Brattström and Reinhard Bachmann focus on the interorganizational level of analysis. They explore two distinct concepts of cooperation and coordination for inter-organizational relationships. They compare interorganizational trust research from four theoretical perspectives (rational choice, transaction cost, social exchange and neo-institutional theories), by exploring whether and how these concerns of cooperation/coordination are explicitly or implicitly examined. This separation of coordination and cooperation is used to identify important further research questions for interorganizational relationships.
In Chapter 8, C. Ashley Fulmer builds on her earlier work with Gelfand (2012) to outline the use of more complex models for trust that include a cross- and multi-level focus. She reflects on such models and where trust and its antecedents and consequences are at different levels of analysis. She considers studies using this approach including attention on generalized and political trust, trust in co-workers, teams, management/organizations and inter-organizational relationships. She also reviews studies undertaken to examine trust conflicts. She emphasizes how further studies using a cross- or multi-level approach might offer significant and productive avenues for future trust research, developing an agenda for further theory and methods developments.