Purpose

Transference-based trust (TBT) via referral sources is a cognitive process where trust in third-party information about an individual transfers to trust in the individual. TBT via referral sources can have significant effects on early trust development in a virtual team (VT). This study aims to examine the potential influence of Hofstede’s (1980) cultural variables and two proposed combinations of these cultural variables on early trust development in VT, including the effects of referral source.

Design/methodology/approach

This study adopted multigroup analysis partial least squares structural modeling to examine potential cultural differences in the responses of 357 university students from 51 different countries to understand early trust development in VT.

Findings

TBT via referral sources as in interpersonal construct has a positive, direct impact on early trust development. TBT mediated the individual and organizational model constructs. There were significant differences in the high/low values of 3 of the 56 tested cultural dimensions.

Research limitations/implications

Reaffirmed the validity of cognitive-based trust models in understanding early trust development in VTs TBT as an interpersonal construct and has a significant influence on early trust development in VTs. TBT via referral sources mediated the individual and organizational constructs of the model. There were significant differences in the high/low measures of three cultural dimensions (i.e. IV, M and the combination of IV-M-LT) in the relationship of early trusting beliefs to early trusting intensions.

Practical implications

To positively influence interpersonal and organizational aspects of trust development, managers should ensure that the early phases of VTs, before actual implementation begins, are well organized. Managers could make VT members fully aware of how referral sources can influence early trust development. Managers could encourage individuals to have open access to relevant social media accounts for other VT members and encourage individuals to research referral sources on other VTs members. The implication for managers of culturally diverse VT is that the development of early trust is largely by individual choice, rather than differences in national culture.

Social implications

People need to maintain and actively manage their online presence, ensuring that online information about them is accurate and updated. Referral sources could help VT members learn about one another, which might in turn help foster early trust in their online teams.

Originality/value

Although some studies have found significant cultural differences in early trust development, other studies, including a meta-analysis of 43 studies, found no significant cultural differences in early trust development. This study confirmed the results of the meta-analysis.

中文翻译：

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文化对虚拟团队早期信任发展的影响

目的

通过推荐源进行的基于转移的信任（TBT）是一种认知过程，其中对个人第三方信息的信任转变为对个人的信任。通过推荐来源进行的 TBT 可以对虚拟团队 (VT) 中的早期信任发展产生重大影响。本研究旨在探讨 Hofstede（1980）的文化变量以及这些文化变量的两种拟议组合对 VT 早期信任发展的潜在影响，包括推荐来源的影响。

设计/方法论/途径

本研究采用多组分析偏最小二乘结构模型来检验来自 51 个不同国家的 357 名大学生的反应中潜在的文化差异，以了解 VT 的早期信任发展。

发现

在人际构建中，通过推荐来源进行的 TBT 对早期信任发展具有积极、直接的影响。 TBT 调解了个人和组织模型的构建。 56 个测试的文化维度中有 3 个的高/低值存在显着差异。

研究局限性/影响

重申了基于认知的信任模型在理解 VT 早期信任发展方面的有效性 TBT 作为一种人际结构，对 VT 早期信任发展具有重大影响。 TBT 通过推荐源调节模型的个人和组织结构。早期信任信念与早期信任意图关系的三个文化维度（即IV、M和IV-M-LT的组合）的高/低测度存在显着差异。

实际影响

为了对信任发展的人际和组织方面产生积极影响，管理者应确保 VT 的早期阶段（在实际实施开始之前）组织良好。管理者可以让 VT 成员充分了解推荐来源如何影响早期信任发展。管理者可以鼓励个人开放访问其他 VT 成员的相关社交媒体帐户，并鼓励个人研究其他 VT 成员的推荐来源。对于文化多元化的 VT 管理者来说，这意味着早期信任的发展很大程度上取决于个人选择，而不是民族文化的差异。

社会影响

人们需要维护并积极管理他们的在线状态，确保有关他们的在线信息准确且最新。推荐来源可以帮助 VT 成员相互了解，这反过来又可能有助于培养对其在线团队的早期信任。

原创性/价值

尽管一些研究发现早期信任发展存在显着的文化差异，但其他研究，包括对 43 项研究的荟萃分析，发现早期信任发展没有显着的文化差异。这项研究证实了荟萃分析的结果。