Trust development mechanism unveiled in a new research article from UNF professor

Can we develop strong relationships with colleagues while working in global virtual teams?

While most of us primarily relate work benefits associated with digital work settings, did you ever think how digital modality of work impacts your social life or long-term relationships with colleagues?

Despite working in a digital work environment, it is possible to embed innovative techniques and facilitate employees in developing strong social bonds, and a new research article by UNF Professor explores that trust development process in-depth.

University of Niagara Falls Canada Master of Management professor Sana Mumtaz coauthored a paper on the topic, ‘How far can I trust you? Understanding the social identity perspective of trust development in global virtual teams’, recently published in the Cross-Cultural and Strategic Management Journal. Her coauthor on the paper was Sadia Nadeem from the National University of Computer & Emerging Sciences.

To understand the mechanism of trust development in a digital work environment, a qualitative research approach was used, and interviews were conducted with 19 senior managers having expertise in the field of technology management. These industrial experts were working as part of global virtual teams and belonged to different countries including Canada, USA, Denmark, China, UK and several others. The findings suggested several opportunities associated with working as part of diverse global virtual teams as well as distinct ways to develop positive work relationships with colleagues in a digital work environment.

Mumtaz shared that these findings are particularly useful for developing conducive and professional work relationships between employees working in Canadian organizations, particularly in the Niagara region, because of the presence of rich diversity in the organizations.

“For instance, given Niagara’s strong tourism and initiation of several new businesses in this region in the recent years, organizations may implement virtual team-building activities, such as online cultural exchange sessions or interactive workshops for employees to foster deeper connections beyond work tasks with each other. Additionally, structured mentorship programs in digital spaces can help employees feel valued and included in a diverse environment, strengthening trust over time.”

The research also identified some of the challenges that employees may face while developing social relationships with colleagues from other cultures in a digital work environment. In this regard, factors such as personality and cultural differences play an integral role in hindering individuals from engaging in proactive social interactions.