Developing trust in face-to-face interaction of knowledge-intensive business services (KIBS)

ABSTRACT

The objective of this paper is to understand the reasons for creating temporary spatial proximity in work processes of knowledge-intensive business services. Obligations to create temporary special proximity are linked to developing processes of interpersonal trust. Based on qualitative interviews, focusing and showing appreciation are identified as drivers to create temporary spatial proximity as ‘valuable moments’ throughout project work. Undivided attention in a special and, therefore, valuable moment is created through insulation (outward effect) and bonding (inward effect), which are to be understood as two sides of the same coin and as supporting the development of cognitive trust and affective trust.

KEYWORDS:

• face to face
• knowledge-intensive business services
• spatial proximity
• travel
• trust
• project work

JEL:

• D23
• D83
• D91
• R12

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

The author thanks two anonymous reviewers for their constructive comments on an earlier version of this paper. The usual disclaimers apply.

DISCLOSURE STATEMENT

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author.

ORCID

Anna Growe http://orcid.org/0000-0002-2751-7435

Additional information

Funding

The author thanks the Fritz Thyssen Stiftung Foundation [grant number Az. 20.13.0.042] for financial support which enabled this research.