Research opportunities for determining the elements of early trust in virtual teams

Purpose - This paper aims to analyze cognitive-based trust development during the beginning phase of virtual teams (VT) before any trustor’s firsthand, knowledge-based trust of a trustee can develop. At this phase, early cognitive trust development is largely an individual construct that can help set the tone for subsequent phases and may also influence final VT effectiveness and performance. Design/methodology/approach - This study begins with an analysis of cognitive-based trust and trust in VT and then focuses on the models and antecedents of early trust development in VT. Findings - The conclusion offers a precise visualization of the research on early trust development in VT that identifies new research opportunities, particularly valuable for new field research. Research limitations/implications - This literature review could be useful to both researchers of early trust formation in VTs and to organizations that use VTs as a part of their workforce. The figures and tables produced in this literature could be useful to researchers of early trust development in VTs in two areas. First, researchers can use this information to quickly identify the academic literature associated with each component of early trust models, the type of research conducted for each component. Second, new research opportunities based on this sample for each component of the early trust model is clearly identified. Practical implications - Organizations need to ensure that members of VTs can form quickly and operate effectively within a short period. Identifying factors that may influence early trust formation could give managers and VT members an understanding of the importance of trust development in the early stages of VTs and how this may ultimately influence a VTs performance, effective teamwork and productivity. Originality/value - The conclusion offers a precise visualization of the research on early trust development in VT that identifies new research opportunities, particularly valuable for new field research.