Model for Fostering Trust and Building Relationships in China’s Construction Industry
Publication: Journal of Construction Engineering and Management
Volume 131, Issue 11
Abstract
Trust is an underlying psychological condition that can cause cooperation or risk-taking. Trust is considered as a predominant feature and a central mechanism in business transactions, especially among Chinese. Trust-based relationships create advantages in conducting business such as lowering cost, shortening duration, and improving performance. Indispensable conditions for trust to arise are relationships and risks. Different risks surface as a result of different levels of relationships. Sustained trust is therefore fostered by various means to counterbalance those risks. In order to assess the links between distinct trust-related features, a model is constructed and tested through a questionnaire survey in China. The findings generally support the model in terms of explaining the dominant relationships, inherent risks, and trust-fostering tools. It is recommended that firms adopt the refined model and utilize successful practices verified in this paper to foster trust and relationships and in turn secure project success.
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Information & Authors
Information
Published In
Journal of Construction Engineering and Management
Volume 131 • Issue 11 • November 2005
Pages: 1224 - 1232
Copyright
© 2005 ASCE.
History
Received: Feb 2, 2004
Accepted: May 16, 2005
Published online: Nov 1, 2005
Published in print: Nov 2005
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