Trust has often been called “the lubricant of society.” Without trust, collaboration does not work. The philosopher Annette Baier has stated that trust is similar to air, we only notice its relevance when it is gone.
In many ways, current business leaders notice the relevance of trust because of its absence. Employees don’t trust their bosses; customers mistrust advertising; suppliers are wary of their corporate partners, and investors ask for more and more transparency to avoid being cheated.
As trust is key to productivity, innovation, communication, and effective collaboration, I have focused in my work on how organizations can measure and manage stakeholder trust. Throughout my work, I have seen how important the role of value congruence is, i.e. whether employees or customers share the values of the organization. It seems rather obvious to the lay person but less so to the seasoned professional manager that “values” matter – meaning ethical values rather than shareholder value.
The following are some recent articles and papers.
Michael Pirson 