Building Trust for a Stronger Construction Industry: Exploring the Role of Trust in Project Success

Abstract

Construction is a complex industry reliant on a network of stakeholders. Trust, the cornerstone of successful collaboration, plays a crucial role in this ecosystem. This paper explores the significance of trust in improving project outcomes and the overall well-being of the industry. This exploration includes trust's impact on team dynamics, the criteria for establishing trust, and the need for more research on trust in the United States. The absence of trust acts as a substantial collaboration barrier, resulting in adversarial relationships, contractual disputes, and a lack of efficiency among the workforce. Trust fosters open communication, enhanced safety, better quality, predictable schedules, innovation, employee retention, and client satisfaction. Trust encourages addressing root causes, prioritizing people, and promoting a culture of care. This paper recommends areas for future research, including trust measurement, maintaining trust over the project lifecycle, creating psychological safety, and studying the long-term effects of trust.