Interdependence and Information Exchange Between Conflicting Parties: The Role of Interorganizational Trust

Abstract

It is difficult to avoid conflict in interorganizational relationships, and information exchange is critical for resolving conflict. This article reveals a mechanism that shows the separate and joint influences of different dimensions of trust and interdependence on information exchange in the process of conflict resolution. Based on survey data from the construction industry, the empirical results suggest that competence trust, total interdependence, and interdependence asymmetry positively affect information exchange when trust and interdependence act separately. When they act together, in the case of symmetric interdependence, competence trust plays a positive mediating role in the relationship between total interdependence and information exchange, whereas goodwill trust plays a negative mediating role. In the case of asymmetric interdependence, competence trust below the average level strengthens the positive impact of interdependence asymmetry on information exchange. Only when goodwill trust is above, the average level can strengthen the positive effect of interdependence asymmetry on information exchange. This article expands the research on information exchange, trust, and interdependence, which helps practitioners address conflict.