When are declared trust and trustworthiness coherent in supply chains? A fsQCA approach

Abstract

Trust is essential for effective supply chain management, yet most research assumes that declared trust reflects the partner's trustworthiness. This study challenges this assumption by examining when declared trust corresponds to assessments of the partner's trustworthiness. Drawing on fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis and data from 422 Polish firms in the manufacturing and service sectors, we identify multiple configurations of conditions that jointly produce such coherence. The findings reveal equifinal pathways combining conditions such as long-standing relationship, satisfying relationship with the supplier, high perceived performance, large firm and manufacturing sector. They show that coherence between declared trust and trustworthiness assessments is a situational accomplishment emerging from specific bundles of conditions. This study extends the theoretical research on supply chain trust by shifting focus from trust as a reflection of partner attributes to trust as an internally calibrated judgement shaped by contextual contingencies.