Patterns of Trust and Collaboration among Non-Profit Organizations and Health Funds: A Case-Study

The importance of collaboration between organizations, especially in the modern world, has been discussed extensively by researchers from different fields. However, little empirical research has focused on the role of "trust"... [ view full abstract ]

The importance of collaboration between organizations, especially in the modern world, has been discussed extensively by researchers from different fields. However, little empirical research has focused on the role of "trust" as a main factor influencing the relationships between collaborating partners, and how "trust", on various levels, may affect the collaboration process as a whole. This study evaluates the level of trust in and between organizations. Using the qualitative methodology, we interviewed 11 senior managers who were involved in a specific case-study of collaboration between 4 major organizations: two were central organizations from the health system, one from the third sector and the last from civilian services. Overall, we found that there are two aspects of trust in a collaboration process between organizations: the system's aspect and the personal aspect. Each aspect is influence by various factors, mainly different goals and interest and lack of procedures or regulations (from the system's aspect) and feelings of vagueness in goals and managerial procedures as well as feelings of exploitation (from the personal aspect). In addition, we found that past acquaintances, mutual experience and shared visions raise the level of trust which in turn affects the reciprocal relations and therefore the collaboration process resulting in higher social effectiveness for social serviced.