Trust in Knowledge Management and Systems in Organizations

Citation

Cameron, N. (2004), "Trust in Knowledge Management and Systems in Organizations", Online Information Review, Vol. 28 No. 3, pp. 243-244. https://doi.org/10.1108/14684520410543751

When researching knowledge management, it becomes apparent rather quickly that there are numerous influences that contribute to this discipline. Trust is one such influence that has recently gained much attention by researchers wishing to investigate the inextricable human angle of knowledge management.

Trust in Knowledge Management and Systems in Organizations provides a comprehensive and enjoyable journey through the various components and interactions of trust in knowledge management. The book includes 11 essays, which are divided into four sections: trust in performing, Trust in Online Communities, Citizens’ Trust of Institutions and Towards Trust Models. The authors come from a variety of backgrounds and share their expertise in fields such as administrative science, information studies, economics and computer science. An introductory section is provided at the beginning of the text, which provides an excellent overview of the sections in relation to the contributions and concepts put forward by the authors.

The aim of the text is to provide relevant theoretical frameworks for the concept of trust within organizations, integrating the latest research conducted in the area. The editors have placed significant emphasis on the strategic role of trust within organizational culture and ultimately its relationship to the management and creation of knowledge. In accordance with developments in technology, much emphasis has also been placed on the “networked global environment” and the impact changes in communication and system design have had on knowledge sharing and trust building.

An outstanding quality of the text is its fulfilment of the need for a consolidated text on the relationship of trust to knowledge management. Many of the essays provide excellent contributions to the existing body of theory on knowledge management while summarising and compiling current opinions and research results. An essay particularly worthy of mention is “Trust as capital: foundation for management” by Risto Harisalo and Jari Stenvall. This provides a comprehensive definition of trust (giving much emphasis to human interaction) and places the concept within a larger process coined “motivational mapping” which they believe incorporates acceptance, satisfaction, legitimacy and trust. What appears comfortably intuitive about this definition is the belief that trust does not occur in a void, but as a part of a greater process.

Coverage of topics is broad, not only demonstrating the nature of trust, but also the nature of mistrust and how this can serve as an impediment to knowledge management and knowledge creation. A variety of contexts and situations involving trust are explored, including e‐commerce transactions, technology partnerships and the development and management of trust in knowledge‐based organizations.

The editors have presented a very comprehensive and complementary set of essays on trust, incorporating several different angles to provide a rich and detailed perspective. After finishing this book the reader will have an extensive understanding of viewpoints on trust and areas requiring further research and development. This book is an absolute essential read for researchers of knowledge management and those interested in the development of organisational effectiveness and the human side of knowledge management theories.