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Does Trust Matter? The Relationship Between Equity Sensitivity and Perceived Organizational Justice

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Abstract.

The present research study was designed to extend our knowledge about issues of relevance for business ethics by examining the role of equity sensitivity and perceived organizational trust on employees’ perceptions of procedural and interactional justice. A model was developed and tested, and results revealed that organizational trust and respect mediated the relationship between an employee’s equity sensitivity and perceptions of procedural, interactional, and social accounts fairness. A discussion of issues related to perceptions of trust and fairness is presented, as well as recommendations for leaders and future scholarship.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Simmons School of Management, 409 Commonwealth Ave, Boston, MA, 02215, U.S.A

    Jill Kickul

  2. Department of Management, DePaul University, 1 E. Jackson Blvd, Chicago, IL, 60604, U.S.A

    Lisa K. Gundry

  3. Department of Management, DePaul University, 1 East Jackson Boulevard, Chicago, IL, 60604, U.S.A

    Margaret Posig

Authors
  1. Jill Kickul
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  2. Lisa K. Gundry
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  3. Margaret Posig
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Jill Kickul.

Additional information

Jill Kickul, Ph.D., is the Elizabeth J. McCandless Professor in Entrepreneurship at the Simmons School of Management. She teaches courses on Entrepreneurship the New Venture Management, Contemporary Entrepreneurial Opportunities, and Strategic Analysis for Competing Globally. She has taught entrepreneurship internationally for the Helsinki School of Economics and for the International Bank of Asia (Hong Kong MBA Program). Her research interests include entrepreneurial intentions and behavior, strategic and innovation processes in start-up ventures, and women in entrepreneurship. Her articles have appeared in publications such as Journal of Management, Frontiers of Entrepreneurship Research, Journal of Small Business Management, and International Journal of Entrepreneurship and Innovation.

Lisa Gundry, Ph.D., is Professor of Management in the Charles H. L. Kellstadt Graduate School of Business at DePaul University where she teaches courses in Creativity in Business and Entrepreneurship Strategy. She has authored three books on entrepreneurship and innovation, and written numerous journal articles for publications including Journal of Business Venturing, Journal of Small Business Management, Journal of Management, Human Relations, Organizational Dynamics, Journal of Developmental Entrepreneurship and Family Business Review. Her research interests focus on entrepreneurship strategy and growth, and creative and innovative processes in organizations. She is Director of the Leo V. Ryan Center for Creativity and Innovation at DePaul University.

Margaret Posig, Ph.D., is an Associate Professor in the Charles H. Kellstadt Graduate School of Business at DePaul University, where she teaches courses in Leadership and Change Management. Her research interests are in the areas of organizational leadership and change management, workplace stress, and women in leadership. Her publications appear in the Journal of Occupational Health Psychology, Women in Management Review, Journal of Managerial Issues, and Journal of Business and Entrepreneurship, among others. Dr. Posig is an Industrial/Organizational psychologist, with a Ph.D. from DePaul University, and directs the Leadership and Change Management concentration. Her consulting focuses on management development and workplace stress management.

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Kickul, J., Gundry, L.K. & Posig, M. Does Trust Matter? The Relationship Between Equity Sensitivity and Perceived Organizational Justice. J Bus Ethics 56, 205–218 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10551-004-0992-0

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