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Managerial trust-building through the use of legitimating formal and informal control mechanisms

Publication ,  Journal Article
Sitkin, SB; George, E
Published in: International Sociology
September 1, 2005

This article examines formal and informal decision criteria used by organizational decision-makers when making potentially controversial, legitimacy-relating decisions that could damage trust. Two experimental studies found consistent patterns of persistent use of formal controls and reduced use of informal controls under higher levels of perceived threat to trust. Institutional theory is consistent with the proposition that increased use of legitimated control uniformly enhances trust. In contrast, this article posits and finds support for an attenuated legalistic institutional proposition that increased use of even legitimated control can predictably foster, or undermine, trust - but such predictions can be made only if we systematically distinguish formal and informal control. Results suggest institutional pressures manifest at the individual level provide a complementary focus to macro-organizational institutionalization.

Duke Scholars

Published In

International Sociology

DOI

ISSN

0268-5809

Publication Date

September 1, 2005

Volume

20

Issue

3

Related Subject Headings

  • Sociology
  • 4410 Sociology
  • 4404 Development studies
  • 1608 Sociology
 

Citation

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ICMJE
MLA
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Sitkin, S. B., & George, E. (2005). Managerial trust-building through the use of legitimating formal and informal control mechanisms. International Sociology, 20(3). https://doi.org/10.1177/0268580905055479
Sitkin, S. B., and E. George. “Managerial trust-building through the use of legitimating formal and informal control mechanisms.” International Sociology 20, no. 3 (September 1, 2005). https://doi.org/10.1177/0268580905055479.
Sitkin SB, George E. Managerial trust-building through the use of legitimating formal and informal control mechanisms. International Sociology. 2005 Sep 1;20(3).
Sitkin, S. B., and E. George. “Managerial trust-building through the use of legitimating formal and informal control mechanisms.” International Sociology, vol. 20, no. 3, Sept. 2005. Scopus, doi:10.1177/0268580905055479.
Sitkin SB, George E. Managerial trust-building through the use of legitimating formal and informal control mechanisms. International Sociology. 2005 Sep 1;20(3).
Journal cover image

Published In

International Sociology

DOI

ISSN

0268-5809

Publication Date

September 1, 2005

Volume

20

Issue

3

Related Subject Headings

  • Sociology
  • 4410 Sociology
  • 4404 Development studies
  • 1608 Sociology