ABSTRACT
What factors influence the formation of interpersonal trust within organizations? What are the consequences of interpersonal trust within organizations? And what different functions does interpersonal trust perform within organizations? Within the organizational sciences, these questions have been a common focus of empirical research for over 20 years, resulting in a literature that is rich with findings, but so large and dispersed that researchers may find it difficult to comprehend. The present review aims to provide a systematic yet succinct summary of the empirical findings on interpersonal trust within organizational settings. In essence, we aim to provide an answer to the question, “‘What is known empirically regarding interpersonal trust within organizations?”’ From our review, we also aim to highlight strengths and weaknesses of the existing literature, and recommendations for future research.
