What is it about?
This study is about trust between managers and employees in the workplace. It compares how employees in China and Pakistan perceive managerial trust, including whether managers treat employees fairly, respect them, listen to their concerns, and appreciate their hard work. By examining employees working in media organizations in both countries, the research shows that trust is understood and experienced differently across cultures. The study highlights why managers need to consider cultural differences when building trust, especially in organizations that operate internationally or employ people from diverse cultural backgrounds.
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Why is it important?
Trust between managers and employees affects how well people work together, how motivated they feel, and how successful organizations become. As businesses increasingly operate across countries especially between China and Pakistan misunderstanding how trust is viewed in different cultures can lead to conflict, low morale, and poor performance. This study helps managers and organizations understand these cultural differences so they can build fairer, more respectful, and more effective workplaces. It also supports better leadership practices and stronger cooperation in international and multicultural organizations.
Perspectives
Writing this article was a rewarding experience, as it allowed us to explore an issue that is often discussed but rarely examined carefully across cultural trust in management. Working with my co-author strengthened an ongoing academic collaboration and deepened our shared interest in cross-cultural management research. More importantly, this study helped us reflect on how everyday managerial actions, such as fairness, respect, and listening to employees, shape trust in very different cultural settings. I hope this article encourages managers, researchers, and students to think more carefully about how trust is built in multicultural workplaces and to recognize that effective leadership requires cultural understanding, not one-size-fits-all solutions.
Muhammad Rafiq
UCSI University
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: Managerial trust outlook in China and Pakistan, Human Systems Management, November 2017, IOS Press,
DOI: 10.3233/hsm-17157.
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