Speaker Series 2005-2006

Repairing interpersonal trust: Accounts, actions, and attributions

Kurt T. Dirks
John M. Olin School of Business
Washington University in St. Louis

Friday, April 21, 2006, 10:30 AM - 12:00 NOON
Room 1518 

Abstract:  Although trust is commonly recognized as a vital foundation for work relationships, this foundation can quickly disappear when a transgression occurs. The impact of such violations and the frequency with which they can happen has been well documented in the research literature and in the popular press. There is surprisingly little research, however, on how trust can be repaired following a transgression. I will discuss a program of research that investigates the cognitive mechanisms underlying the trust repair process. A series of empirical studies provide insight into how and when a range of responses, including verbal accounts and substantive responses, may repair trust in work settings.

Kurt Dirks main area of expertise focuses on interpersonal relationships in the workplace. In particular, Dirks studies the issue of gaining or breaking trust, the development of a sense of ownership and the nature of teams. Prior to joining Olin, Professor Dirks served as an assistant professor at Simon Fraser University in British Columbia, and as a visiting professor at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

Curriculum Vita