Li, Y; He, N; Li, H; Liu, Z and Qi, J (2021) Influencing factors on inter-organizational trust asymmetry behavior in construction projects: Evidence from China. Engineering, Construction and Architectural Management, 28(1), pp. 308-331. ISSN 0969-9988
Abstract
Purpose: The purpose of this paper is twofold: first, determining which factors critically influence asymmetrical trust behaviors in construction projects within the Chinese context; second, proposing corresponding measures to deal with the asymmetrical behaviors of both the owner and the contractor promoting cooperative relationships among participants in construction organizations. Design/methodology/approach: A theoretical model was developed and a questionnaire survey was conducted with 183 professionals. The data collected were analyzed by the structural equation modeling (SEM) technique. Findings: The results identified six critical factors influencing trust asymmetry behavior in construction projects. The power imbalance, information asymmetry and cognitive difference have a positive influence on both upward-trust behavior and downward-trust behavior in the construction organization, while the competence, performance capacity and relationship satisfaction have negative effects. Research limitations/implications: This paper based on the assumption that trust asymmetry behavior has a negative impact on project performance, which should be further studied. Besides, future research may carry out a comparative analysis among the trusting relationships and behavior of different participants dynamically. Originality/value: This paper contributes to the literature in three aspects. First, the factors influencing trust behavior in project organization have been identified for the first time. Second, a comprehensive view of trust asymmetry behavior has been theorized by SEM method. Third, the result bridges the existing gap caused by the lack of empirical evidence to understand the genetic mechanisms of trust asymmetry behavior in the construction industry.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | China; construction projects; influencing factors; structural equation modeling; trust asymmetry behaviour |
| Index terms: | methodology, competence, construction project, questionnaire, evidence, China, information asymmetry, structural equation modelling, comparative analysis, survey, project organization, project performance, construction industry, construction organization, influencing factor, satisfaction, owner, critical factor |
| Subjects: | risk assessment, data collection methods, evaluation and assessment methods, transaction economics, organization, data analysis and analytics, project delivery, research methods, organizational theory, Geography, production management, personnel development, project management theory and practice, sociology, industry analysis, statistical analysis |
| Topics: | Business Strategy, Research Practice, Geographical Context, Project Management, Risk Management, Stakeholder Management, Human Resources |
| Descriptive scope: | 5 PCTEA |
N.B. Descriptive scope is a count of how many of the five facets of empirical research are indicated by the words used in title, abstract and keywords. It is not intended as a judgement on the research; merely a count of the kind of word we would expect to indicate Phenomenon, Concepts, Theoretical framing, Empirical techniques, Analytical techniques. If all five are present, then a code of “5 PCTEA” will indicate this. If you feel the coding for this record is questionable, we welcome discussion around the terms we matched or the way we categorized them. The facet you would expect may not be coded, or a facet may be coded inappropriately. This can also bear on a larger question, of which facets should be treated as defining in construction management research. Please get in touch, and we will look at it. More details here