Can We Count on You at a Distance? The Impact of Culture on Formation of Swift Trust Within Global Virtual Teams

The goal of this chapter is to explore the research question, “How do cultural values impact the formation of swift trust within global virtual teams?" We first introduce the phenomena of global virtual teams and swift trust, and establish a clear understanding of several underlying concepts and definitions such as global virtual teams, swift trust, and in-group and out-group. Next, we look at the concept of in-group vs. out-group based on relevant cultural dimensions from cross-cultural theorists such as Hall (1976), Hofstede (1980), and Trompenaars (1994). Using these theoretical lenses, we examine the impact of cultural values on swift trust formation when people engage in virtual collaboration. We then present several propositions to support the argument that culture does impact the ability to form swift trust within global virtual teams. Finally, we offer some implications and directions for future research.