This chapter addresses the concept and importance of interpersonal trust through the use of the Internet in an organizational setting. In particular, personal Web usage is explored by examining employee interpersonal trust. | Section II Managing Personal Web Usage from a Human Resource Perspective Copyright 2004 Idea Group Inc. Copying or distributing in print or electronic forms without written permission of Idea Group Inc. is prohibited. 80 Lippert ChapterV The Effect of Trust on Personal Web Usage in the Workplace Susan K. Lippert Drexel University USA ABSTRACT This chapter addresses the concept and importance of interpersonal trust through the use of the Internet in an organizational setting. In particular personal Web usage is explored by examining employee interpersonal trust. Personal Web use refers to an employee s utilization of the Internet for non-job related activities within a work environment. Examples of personal Web use include online banking participating in instant messaging or chat sessions buying goods or services and any other activity in which the Internet is accessedfor non-work-related tasks. A discussion regarding the importance of trust its nature and strategiesfor building interpersonal Copyright 2004 Idea Group Inc. Copying or distributing in print or electronic forms without written permission of Idea Group Inc. is prohibited. The Effect of T rust on Personal Web Usage in the Workplace 81 trust in an organizational setting are offered. Generalized guidelines for organizational practice and recommendations to support a culture of trust within the work environment are presented. This chapter addresses the notion of trust through personal Web usage as a human resource management issue. WHY IS TRUST IMPORTANT Trust is important in organizations due to the potential economic savings derived from increasing trust between individuals Williamson 1975 . There is an inverse relationship between transaction costs and trust such that as trust increases costs decrease Bromiley Cummings 1995 . Transaction costs are expenditures for controlling monitoring and processing work-related activities. Processing costs a subset oftransaction costs include the extrinsic and .
