Trust, and high control: an exploratory study of Counterproductive Work Behaviour in a high security organization

Figures & data

Table 1. Coding illustration.

Codes (First Order)	Theme (Second Order)	Illustrative Quote
Trust and professional identity Vetting as a signal of trust Trust as a core organizational value Breakdown in trust foundation and depleting impact on relationships	Trust as normative control of professional behaviour	“there is a general feeling here that if you have been given one of these [security passes] you are trustworthy, and you all work together and we trust each other and you do each other no harm”.
Response to CWB: Fear of HR over-reaction Distrust and self-protection	Over-control: imbalance of control relative to trust	“It’s interesting, when we have gone to talk to people … they distrust HR. I think because it sets off disciplinaries and grievances too regularly, or their perception is you are into some formal process very quickly”.
Local team climate as informal control Dark side of trust Re-framing of organizational values	Relational norms	“[we’re] not always that effective at communicating. And I think sometimes this ‘need to know’ [only basis] culture where you blinker things off, gets to an extreme where people don’t say anything”.
Hierarchy impacts on process control management Organizational changes – trust/distrust of new leaders Local managerial approach to process controls	Mixed messages: impact on controls	“I think a lot depends in terms of who line managers are and on their personal qualities in all honesty. You know some are very good and some may not be so professional”.

Table

Interviewee Level	Department	Tenure	Gender
Non-manager	Science & Technology	27 years	Male
Non-manager	Science & Technology	4.5 years	Male
Non-manager	Science & Technology	9.5 years	Male
Non-manager	Commercial	12 years	Male
Non-manager	Security	3 years	Female
Non-manager	Security	9 years	Male
Non-manager	Security	16 years	Male
Mid-level manager	Science & Technology	16 years	Male
Mid-level manager	Science & Technology	12 years	Male
Mid-level manager	Science & Technology	10 years	Male
Mid-level manager	Commercial	20 years	Male
Mid-level manager	Security	13 years	Male
Mid-level manager	HR	19 years	Female
Senior manager	Communication and engagement	5 months	Male
Senior manager	Security	4 years	Male
Senior manager	HR	2 months	Male