The spatiality of trust: Factors influencing the creation of trust and the role of face-to-face contacts

In this paper we analyze how the spatiality of interactions influences trust creation in multi-site corporate innovation projects. By drawing on insights from the discussion on initial and gradual trust in combination with contributions from the field of economic geography, we examine factors influencing the creation of trust and their dependence on face-to-face interaction. We develop a conceptual framework that links the spatial constitution of relationships to the creation of both resilient and fragile trust in project work. In doing so, we illustrate the complexity of initial and gradual trust creation and the interplay between personality traits, group-based similarities, situational and institutional factors, reputational inference, and personal interaction. The empirical insights are based on two qualitative case studies on specific innovation projects in multinational companies. Our findings illustrate the need to incorporate spatiality as a facilitating factor in the analysis of trust development.