Information Exchange, Trust and Identification in Work Groups: a Preliminary Study

Identification with the team, particularly temporary teams, facilitates intra-team collaboration and allows to exchange information and solve problems in an effective way (Hinsz, Tindale & Vollrath, 1997). This study investigates if individual perception of trust towards the team and member centrality in the network of exchanged information influence group identification. A total of 116 individuals, belonging to 34 teams (24 groups of entrepreneurs involved in inter-organizational projects and 10 university students’ groups) answered a survey. Eigenvector Centrality was computed using Social Network Analysis; trust in team scale (Costa & Anderson, 2010) and group identification scale (Mael & Ashfort, 1992) were the other measures. Multiple stepwise linear regression shows that one component of trust (the dispositional propensity of team members to give trust to teammates) has the greater significative impact on group identification. It is also observed the moderating effect of type of participants with monitoring behaviors: employees, in comparison to students, were more identified with their group when there was an higher level of monitoring behaviors. Contrary to expectations, perception of monitoring behaviors do not seem to inhibit, at least in employees, group identification, probably because such behaviors allow to check if other members fulfill what is expected by them. Contrary to hypothesis, centrality has no effect on group identification. Brief description This study originates within a larger one investigating teams that manage inter-organizational projects which involve multiple small and medium companies. Results concerning some psycho-social processes involved in group dynamics, are presented here.