ABSTRACT This paper introduces a model to study the trust development processes in intra-organisational relationships at multiple levels. The model is applied to explore a multi-level permeation of trust in a merger. More specifically, the empirical study focuses on how trust develops at different organisational levels in the context of a merger of two universities into one entity. The study applies a process view using qualitative longitudinal data analysed by a discourse analytical approach. The paper emphasises a dynamic nature of trust development suggesting that the discourse analysis approach applies particularly well to studying trust development as a dynamic process in the longitudinal case study setting. This paper contributes to trust research by adding to contextual process studies on trust development over time at different levels of the organisation. The findings show that trust permeates through the organisation influenced by interaction and the organisation-specific attributes that are manifested in the discursive practices of top management and the individual, group and organisation-level actions.

中文翻译：

---

组织内部关系中的信任发展过程：合并大学中信任的多层次渗透

摘要本文介绍了一个模型来研究组织内部多个级别的关系中的信任发展过程。该模型用于探索合并中信任的多层次渗透。更具体地说，实证研究的重点是在两所大学合并为一个实体的背景下，信任如何在不同的组织级别发展。该研究使用通过话语分析方法分析的定性纵向数据来应用过程视图。本文强调了信任发展的动态性质，表明话语分析方法特别适用于在纵向案例研究中将信任发展作为动态过程进行研究。本文通过在组织的不同层次上增加有关信任发展随时间的过程研究，为信任研究做出了贡献。研究结果表明，信任是通过组织的相互作用而渗透的，这种相互作用和组织特有的属性体现在高层管理人员的话语实践以及个人，团体和组织级别的行动中。