CIM: Why is trust for you the hardest currency?
Dr. Schweer: Our social relationships are essentially determined by (the lack of) trust. Whether in a private or professional context – trust is a fundamental basis for positive satisfactory experiences. At the same time trust is a fragile asset, disappointments can have profound effects. Moreover, we are often “forced” to trust, in other words to give up control. How else could we allow ourselves to be operated on?
You just kicked-off for the project VERMIKO – Trust Management Systems for Innovation Cooperation in Product and Services Development Processes. What lies behind it?
In order to remain competitive firms increasingly depend on innovation and thus in general on cooperation. This entails a series of risks, such as the fear that employees will be poached or that know-how stolen. Promoting trust by means of a practice-oriented trust management system is thus the core. It is developed within the framework of the project, exercised in the participating firms via prototypes and evaluated, enabling the transfer to others.
Can trust be managed at all?
The fact that trust cannot be strategically employed is decisive. It would be transformed into its opposite, since authenticity is crucial. Nevertheless, “management” is possible to the extent that participants can be sensitised for processes that either promote or hinder trust. Starting with non-verbal signals and proceeding to communication and organisational structures encouraging transparency and self-responsibility. People often underestimate that reflecting on the high value of trust alone has substantial positive effects in itself.
You attend many conferences. How important is it that delegates trust each other?
Trust plays a crucial role to the degree that presented results are reliable and obtained according to the binding criteria of the scientific community. Trust between scientists – together with perceived competence and the feeling of sympathy – encourages cooperation, which is increasingly significant in the research world and between the individual disciplines.
Does your ZfV support planners who want to include the issue of trust in their programmes with information and speakers?
Ever since the founding we have received numerous enquiries, from companies and associations. Our research centre is very interested not just in scientific research in the narrow sense but in making a significant contribution to solving social problems. For this reason we are very happy to provide such support when our limited resources allow us.
