12 Downsides to Trust… Seriously – Week 10 in Twelve Weeks to Trust

Inter-organizational trust research focuses primarily on the definition and measurement of trust, on its benefits and its impact on performance; however, very little research explores its downsides which can be considerable. Here are eleven, based on my literature review of economics, marketing, business strategy and business ethics literature. 1.  The costs of building trust mayContinue reading “12 Downsides to Trust… Seriously – Week 10 in Twelve Weeks to Trust”

5 Key Questions on Inter-personal Trust in Inter-organizational Relations – Week 9 in Twelve Weeks to Trust

Obviously, the work of an organization is carried out by its representatives. But is trust built between the people themselves? Is it based on their personal qualities, their professional credentials or their position in the organization? And, if trust is placed in the individual, does it disappear with turnover or is it automatically extended toContinue reading “5 Key Questions on Inter-personal Trust in Inter-organizational Relations – Week 9 in Twelve Weeks to Trust”

Seth’s Blog: Seven marketing sins… and how they relate to brand trust

In his blog today, Seth Godin outlined  Seven marketing sins.It struck me that “selfish”, “self-absorbed” and “deceitful” are actually antonyms of goodwill or benevolence and, since trust = credibility + goodwill/benevolence, these qualities immediately harm trust in a brand. Throw in some “inconsistent” and you’ve damaged your credibility trust too – a grand slam ofContinue reading “Seth’s Blog: Seven marketing sins… and how they relate to brand trust”

Reputation as a Source of Inter-organizational Trust — Week 8: Twelve Weeks to Trust

Experts believe that intangible assets like brand, client lists, reputation, etc.  can be worth up to one-third of a company’s market value. Why? A solid reputation acts as a shortcut to trust – a third party (individual or an organization) acts as a “proof source” or “proxy for trust” vouching for the credibility and goodwillContinue reading “Reputation as a Source of Inter-organizational Trust — Week 8: Twelve Weeks to Trust”