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We Trust You! A Multilevel-Multireferent Model Based on Organizational Trust to Explain Performance

Author

Listed:
  • Marisa Salanova

    (WANT Research Team, Universitat Jaume I, 12071 Castelló de la Plana, Spain)

  • Hedy Acosta-Antognoni

    (Faculty of Psychology, Universidad of Talca, 3460000 Talca, Chile)

  • Susana Llorens

    (WANT Research Team, Universitat Jaume I, 12071 Castelló de la Plana, Spain)

  • Pascale Le Blanc

    (Human Performance Management Group, Eindhoven University of Technology, 5612 AZ Eindhoven, The Netherlands)

Abstract

This study tests organizational trust as the psychosocial mechanism that explains how healthy organizational practices and team resources predict multilevel performance in organizations and teams, respectively. In our methodology, we collect data in a sample of 890 employees from 177 teams and their immediate supervisors from 31 Spanish companies. Our results from the multilevel analysis show two independent processes predicting organizational performance (return on assets, ROA) and performance ratings by immediate supervisors, operating at the organizational and team levels, respectively. We have found evidence for a theoretical and functional quasi-isomorphism. First, based on social exchange theory, we found evidence for our prediction that when organizations implement healthy practices and teams provide resources, employees trust their top managers (vertical trust) and coworkers (horizontal trust) and try to reciprocate these benefits by improving their performance. Second, (relationships among) constructs are similar at different levels of analysis, which may inform HRM officers and managers about which type of practices and resources can help to enhance trust and improve performance in organizations. The present study contributes to the scarce research on the role of trust at collective (i.e., organizational and team) levels as a psychological mechanism that explains how organizational practices and team resources are linked to organizational performance.

Suggested Citation

  • Marisa Salanova & Hedy Acosta-Antognoni & Susana Llorens & Pascale Le Blanc, 2021. "We Trust You! A Multilevel-Multireferent Model Based on Organizational Trust to Explain Performance," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(8), pages 1-21, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:18:y:2021:i:8:p:4241-:d:537516
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Lenard Huff & Lane Kelley, 2003. "Levels of Organizational Trust in Individualist Versus Collectivist Societies: A Seven-Nation Study," Organization Science, INFORMS, vol. 14(1), pages 81-90, February.
    2. Michael Pirson & Deepak Malhotra, 2011. "Foundations of Organizational Trust: What Matters to Different Stakeholders?," Organization Science, INFORMS, vol. 22(4), pages 1087-1104, August.
    3. Byung-Jik Kim, 2019. "Unstable Jobs Cannot Cultivate Good Organizational Citizens: The Sequential Mediating Role of Organizational Trust and Identification," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(7), pages 1-14, March.
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    1. Álvaro Acuña-Hormazábal & Macarena Dávila-Vera & Rodolfo Mendoza-Llanos & Sebastian Maureira-Meneses & Olga Pons-Peregort, 2023. "Engagement and Burnout in Times of COVID-19: A Comparative Analysis Based on Healthy Organizational Practices," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(23), pages 1-14, November.
    2. Susana Llorens & Marisa Salanova & María José Chambel & Pedro Torrente & Rui P. Ângelo, 2022. "Organizational Drivers of Burnout and Work Engagement: A Multilevel Study in Portuguese Firefighter Brigades," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(7), pages 1-16, March.
    3. Rodolfo Mendoza-Llanos & Álvaro Acuña-Hormazábal & Olga Pons-Peregort, 2022. "We Need Engaged Workers! A Structural Equation Modeling Study from the Positive Organizational Psychology in Times of COVID-19 in Chile," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(13), pages 1-13, June.
    4. Ana Martínez-Díaz & Miguel A. Mañas-Rodríguez & Pedro A. Díaz-Fúnez & José M. Aguilar-Parra, 2021. "Leading the Challenge: Leader Support Modifies the Effect of Role Ambiguity on Engagement and Extra-Role Behaviors in Public Employees," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(16), pages 1-14, August.

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