A meta-analysis of interpersonal trust and team performance.

摘要

The purpose of the present study was to investigate the relationship between interpersonal trust and team performance using meta-analysis. Thirteen studies were included in the analysis, yielding 21 effect sizes, N teams = 1,004. Although somewhat weak, a positive relationship between the level of interpersonal trust and team performance was found. Subsequent moderator analyses of team type and type of performance measure were conducted. It appeared that trust among virtual team members was strongly related to performance levels while the trust-performance relationship in conventional teams was quite weak. Studies using subjective assessments showed a moderately strong trust-performance relationship in comparison to those studies using objective measures of performance. Theoretical implications, practical implications and limitations are discussed, and recommendations for the future study of trust formation in teams and the inclusion of trust as a factor in team effectiveness models are presented.