The Economic Consequences of Trust and Distrust in Knowledge-Intensive Organizations
Andrea Bencsik, Maria Jakubik, Timea Juhasz
Keywords:
competitiveness, financial consequences, knowledge-intensive SMEs, knowledge management, trust
and distrust
Abstract:
Studies measuring workplace trust in connection with leadership style and leader responsibility
have become more and more important in recent years. Interest in the subject has been rising
along with the recent introduction of knowledge management systems (KMSs), which has shown
to be one of the most important factors of competitiveness. The aim of this research was to
examine to what extent leaders of organizations are concerned about the presence of trust and/
or distrust, as well as about the economic consequences of trust and distrust. It also focused on
solutions used in KMSs in knowledge-intensive organizations. Based on a model developed by
the authors, the significance of a trust-based culture was examined from the viewpoint of economic
consequences. Situations were analyzed in which, despite the existence of all knowledgerelated
preferences, managers were not concerned about the economic consequences of trust or
distrust. To test the system of relations in the model, a questionnaire survey was conducted in
two neighboring European countries with different cultures. It has been found out that in most
cases, there is a need for the building and/or use of a KMS at a strategic level. Appropriate tools
are also used at an operative level (often spontaneously). However, trust as a general cultural
prerequisite is often lacking. Businesses do not seem concerned about the consequences of trust
and distrust, as related economic impacts are rarely quantified.
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 The Economic Consequences of Trust and Distrust in Knowledge-Intensive Organizations [PDF file] [Filesize: 1.16 MB]
 10.7441/joc.2020.03.02
Bencsik, A., Jakubik, M., & Juhasz, T. (2020). The Economic Consequences of Trust and Distrust in
Knowledge-Intensive Organizations. Journal of Competitiveness, 12(3), 28–46. https://doi.org/10.7441/joc.2020.03.02
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