Information Sources for Trust Judgments in Managerial Relationships over Time: A Conceptual Analysis

Abstract

This article presents a conceptual analysis concerning which factors influencing interpersonal trust are subject to change in their informational utility over the course of a managerial relationship and which factors are more likely to remain salient. Based on existing literature, the authors examine the utility of social categories, trustors’ moods and emotions, third party influences, direct experiences, and shared perspectives as sources of trust-related data over time. A set of propositions are formulated to encourage future intellectual dialogues on trust development in vertical dyads and render a framework for empirical research in this area.