{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,3,17]],"date-time":"2026-03-17T22:17:17Z","timestamp":1773785837834,"version":"3.50.1"},"reference-count":56,"publisher":"Emerald","issue":"1","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2007,3,6]],"date-time":"2007-03-06T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1173139200000},"content-version":"tdm","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/www.emerald.com\/insight\/site-policies"}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":[],"published-print":{"date-parts":[[2007,3,6]]},"abstract":"<jats:sec><jats:title content-type=\"abstract-heading\">Purpose<\/jats:title><jats:p>This paper seeks to examine the notion of trust as an enabler or restrictor to online engagement. The purpose of the inquiry is to improve knowledge acquisition within small businesses (SMEs) through engagement in an online network.<\/jats:p><\/jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title content-type=\"abstract-heading\">Design\/methodology\/approach<\/jats:title><jats:p>The paper explains the outcomes from a three\u2010year long Action Research (AR) study into online participation utilising a purpose built Information and Communication Technology (ICT) based networking tool.<\/jats:p><\/jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title content-type=\"abstract-heading\">Findings<\/jats:title><jats:p>The paper finds that the overall notion of trust is deconstructed into component conditions, which are shown to represent conflicting priorities for individuals. These components are reconstructed to form a model that illustrates how trust needs to develop at the level of the individual for an online community to be formed. The paper provides an insight into the complexities of socio\u2010technological engagements in an online environment.<\/jats:p><\/jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title content-type=\"abstract-heading\">Research limitations\/implications<\/jats:title><jats:p>The paper shows that the proposed model is context\u2010specific and has not been subjected to testing for replicability within other settings.<\/jats:p><\/jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title content-type=\"abstract-heading\">Practical implications<\/jats:title><jats:p>The model proposed in this paper is of use to Information System (IS) developers, helping to identify the reasons for participation or non\u2010participation in online networks\/communities.<\/jats:p><\/jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title content-type=\"abstract-heading\">Originality\/value<\/jats:title><jats:p>The paper builds upon existing theories, by applying an extended notion of trust incorporating interrelated individual factors, such as risk, interest, power and information utility, to the development of online communities.<\/jats:p><\/jats:sec>","DOI":"10.1108\/09593840710730554","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2007,3,9]],"date-time":"2007-03-09T03:46:54Z","timestamp":1173412014000},"page":"53-71","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":34,"title":["Individual trust and development of online business communities"],"prefix":"10.1108","volume":"20","author":[{"given":"Terry","family":"Nolan","sequence":"first","affiliation":[],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Ray","family":"Brizland","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Linda","family":"Macaulay","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]}],"member":"140","reference":[{"key":"key2022032119463537100_b1","unstructured":"Abdul\u2010Rahman, A. and Hailes, S. (2000), \u201cSupporting trust in virtual communities\u201d, Proceedings of the Hawaii International Conference on System Sciences, January 4\u20107, Maui, Hawaii."},{"key":"key2022032119463537100_b2","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Avison, D., Baskerville, R. and Myers, M. (2001), \u201cControlling action research projects\u201d, Information Technology & People, Vol. 14 No. 1, pp. 28\u201045.","DOI":"10.1108\/09593840110384762"},{"key":"key2022032119463537100_b3","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Baskerville, R. and Lee, A. (1999), \u201cDistinctions among different types of generalizing in information systems research\u201d, in Ngwenyama, O. et al. (Eds), New IT Technologies in Organizational Processes: Field Studies and Theoretical Reflections on the Future of Work, Kluwer Academic Publishers, New York, NY.","DOI":"10.1007\/978-0-387-35566-5_5"},{"key":"key2022032119463537100_b4","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Baskerville, R. and Wood\u2010Harper, A.T. (1998), \u201cDiversity in information systems action research methods\u201d, European Journal of Information Systems, Vol. 7, pp. 90\u2010107.","DOI":"10.1057\/palgrave.ejis.3000298"},{"key":"key2022032119463537100_b5","unstructured":"Blundel, R. and Smith, D. (2001), \u201cBusiness networks: SMEs and inter\u2010firm collaboration: a review of the research literature with implications for policy\u201d, Report to the Small Business Service, RR003\/01, pp. 70\u201086."},{"key":"key2022032119463537100_b6","unstructured":"Boisot, M. (1987), Information and Organisations: The Manager as Anthropologist, Fontana\/Collins, London."},{"key":"key2022032119463537100_b7","unstructured":"Brown, J. and Duguid, P. (2000), The Social Life of Information, Harvard Business School Press, Cambridge, MA."},{"key":"key2022032119463537100_b8","unstructured":"Castelfranchi, C. and Falcone, R. (1998), \u201cPrinciples of trust for multi\u2010agent systems: cognitive anatomy, social importance and quantification\u201d, In Proceedings of the International Conferences on Multi\u2010Agent Systems, Paris, 2\u20108 July, AAAI \u2013 MIT Press, Cambridge, MA."},{"key":"key2022032119463537100_b9","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Clegg, S.R. (1989), Frameworks of Power, Sage, London.","DOI":"10.4135\/9781446279267"},{"key":"key2022032119463537100_b10","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Coetzee, M. and Eloff, J.H.P. (2005), \u201cAutonomous trust for web services\u201d, Journal of Internet Research, Vol. 15 No. 5, pp. 498\u2010507.","DOI":"10.1108\/10662240510629448"},{"key":"key2022032119463537100_b11","unstructured":"Collison, C. and Parcell, G. (2001), Learning to Fly. Practical Lessons from One of the World's Leading Knowledge Companies, Capstone Publishing Limited, Mankato, MN."},{"key":"key2022032119463537100_b12","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Davison, R.M., Martinsons, M.G. and Kock, N. (2004), \u201cPrinciples of canonical action research\u201d, Information Systems Journal, Vol. 14 No. 1, pp. 65\u201082.","DOI":"10.1111\/j.1365-2575.2004.00162.x"},{"key":"key2022032119463537100_b13","unstructured":"Dick, B. (2000), \u201cPostgraduate programs using action research (on line)\u201d, in Zuber\u2010Skerritt, O. (Ed.), Action Learning, Action Research and Process Management: Theory, Practice, Praxis, Griffith University, Brisbane, available at www.scu.edu.au\/schools\/gcm\/ar\/arp\/ppar.html."},{"key":"key2022032119463537100_b14","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Dimitrakos, T. (2003), \u201cA service\u2010oriented trust management framework\u201d, in Falcone, R., Barber, S., Korba, L. and Singh, M. (Eds), Trust Reputation, and Security: Theories and Practice, Lecture Notes in Computer Science, Springer\u2010Verlag, Berlin, pp. 53\u201072.","DOI":"10.1007\/3-540-36609-1_6"},{"key":"key2022032119463537100_b15","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Duguid, P. (2005), \u201cThe art of knowing: social and tacit dimensions of knowledge and the limits of the community of practice\u201d, The Information Society, Vol. 21, pp. 109\u201018.","DOI":"10.1080\/01972240590925311"},{"key":"key2022032119463537100_b16","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Durkin, P., Durkin, M. and Gillen, J. (2003), \u201cExploring efforts to engender on\u2010line trust\u201d, International Journal of Entrepreneurial Behaviour & Research, Vol. 9 No. 3, pp. 93\u2010110.","DOI":"10.1108\/13552550310476184"},{"key":"key2022032119463537100_b17","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Dutton, W.H. (1996), Information and Communication Technologies \u2013 Visions and Realities, Oxford University Press, Oxford.","DOI":"10.1093\/oso\/9780198774594.001.0001"},{"key":"key2022032119463537100_b18","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Elden, M. and Leven, M. (1991), \u201cCogenerative learning. Bringing participation into action research\u201d, in White, W.F. (Ed.), Participatory Action Research, Sage Publications, Newbury Park, CA\/London\/New Delhi, pp. 127\u201042.","DOI":"10.4135\/9781412985383.n9"},{"key":"key2022032119463537100_b19","unstructured":"Freire, P. (1970), Pedagogy of the Oppressed, Herder and Herder, New York, NY."},{"key":"key2022032119463537100_b20","unstructured":"Grandison, T.W.A. (2003), Trust Management for Internet Applications, Imperial College of Science, Technology and Medicine, Department of Computing, University of London, London, PhD thesis."},{"key":"key2022032119463537100_b21","unstructured":"Hagel, J. and Armstrong, A.G. (1997), Net Gain: Expanding Markets through Virtual Communities, Harvard Business School Press, Boston, MA, p. 233."},{"key":"key2022032119463537100_b22","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Hartman, A. (1995), \u201cComprehensive Information Technology Security: A new approach to respond to ethical and social issues surrounding information security in the 21st century\u201d, Information Security \u2013 The Next Decade, Proceedings of the IFIP TCI 11th International Conference on Information Security, Chapman and Hall, London, pp. 590\u2010602.","DOI":"10.1007\/978-0-387-34873-5_43"},{"key":"key2022032119463537100_b23","unstructured":"Institute of Independent Business (2002), About Us, online research, available at:www.iib.org.uk."},{"key":"key2022032119463537100_b24","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Introna, L.D. (1997), Management, Information and Power, Macmillan, Basingstoke.","DOI":"10.1007\/978-1-349-14549-2"},{"key":"key2022032119463537100_b25","unstructured":"Jordan, K., Hauser, J. and Foster, S. (2003), \u201cA report for the link tank\u201d, paper presented at the Planetwork Conference, San Francisco, CA, June 6."},{"key":"key2022032119463537100_b26","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Karau, S.J. and Williams, K.D. (1993), \u201cSocial loafing: a meta\u2010analytic review and theoretical integration\u201d, Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, Vol. 65, pp. 681\u2010706.","DOI":"10.1037\/0022-3514.65.4.681"},{"key":"key2022032119463537100_b27","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Kimble, C., Hildreth, P. and Wright, P. (2001), \u201cCommunities of practice: going virtual\u201d, Knowledge Management and Business Model Innovation.","DOI":"10.4018\/978-1-878289-98-8.ch013"},{"key":"key2022032119463537100_b28","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Klein, H.K. and Myers, M.D. (1999), \u201cA set of principles for conducting and evaluating interpretive field studies in information systems\u201d, MIS Quarterly, Vol. 23, pp. 67\u201094.","DOI":"10.2307\/249410"},{"key":"key2022032119463537100_b29","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Kock, N.F. Jr, McQueen, R.J. and Scott, J.L. (1997), \u201cCan action research be made more rigorous in a positivist sense? The contribution of an iterative approach\u201d, Journal of Systems and Information Technology, Vol. 1 No. 1, pp. 1\u201024.","DOI":"10.1108\/13287269780000732"},{"key":"key2022032119463537100_b30","unstructured":"Kollock, P. (1996), \u201cDesign principles for online communities\u201d, paper presented at Harvard Conference on the Internet and Society, September."},{"key":"key2022032119463537100_b31","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Kollock, P. and Smith, M. (1996), \u201cManaging the virtual commons: cooperation and conflict in computer communities\u201d, in Herring, S. (Ed.), Computer\u2010Mediated Communication: Linguistic, Social, and Cross\u2010Cultural Perspectives, John Benjamins, Amsterdam.","DOI":"10.1075\/pbns.39.10kol"},{"key":"key2022032119463537100_b32","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Kozinets, R.V. (1999), \u201cE\u2010tribalized marketing? The strategic implications of virtual communities of consumption\u201d, European Management Journal, Vol. 17 No. 3, pp. 252\u201064.","DOI":"10.1016\/S0263-2373(99)00004-3"},{"key":"key2022032119463537100_b33","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Lave, J. and Wenger, E. (1991), Situated Learning: Legitimate Peripheral Participation, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge.","DOI":"10.1017\/CBO9780511815355"},{"key":"key2022032119463537100_b34","unstructured":"Lee, A. (2001), Editorial, Management Information Systems Quarterly, Vol. 25 No. 1, pp. iii\u2010vii."},{"key":"key2022032119463537100_b35","unstructured":"Leiwo, J. and Heikkuri, S. (1996), An Analysis of Ethics Foundations of Information Security in Distributed Systems, TR, Nokia TeleC, Helsinki."},{"key":"key2022032119463537100_b36","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Lewicki, R.J. and Bunker, B.B. (1996), \u201cDeveloping and maintaining trust in work relationships\u201d, in Kramer, R.M. and Tyler, T.R. (Eds), Trust in Organisations: Frontiers of Theory and Research, Sage Publications, Thousand Oaks, CA, pp. 114\u201039.","DOI":"10.4135\/9781452243610.n7"},{"key":"key2022032119463537100_b37","unstructured":"Lightfoot, G. (1998), \u201cFinancial management and small firm owner managers\u201d, unpublished PhD thesis, Kingston University, Kingston."},{"key":"key2022032119463537100_b41","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"McKay, J. and Marshall, P. (2001), \u201cThe dual imperatives of action research\u201d, Information Technology & People, Vol. 14 No. 1, pp. 46\u20109.","DOI":"10.1108\/09593840110384771"},{"key":"key2022032119463537100_b42","unstructured":"McKnight, D.H. and Chervany, N.L (1996), The Meaning of Trust, Technical Report 94\u201004, Carlson School of Management: University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN."},{"key":"key2022032119463537100_b39","unstructured":"Marsh, S. (1994), \u201cFormalising trust as a computational concept\u201d, PhD thesis, University of Stirling, Stirling."},{"key":"key2022032119463537100_b43","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Mullins, B.A. and Hogg, M.A. (1999), \u201cMotivations for group membership: the role of subjective importance and uncertainty reduction\u201d, Basic and Applied Social Psychology, Vol. 21 No. 2, p. 91.","DOI":"10.1207\/S15324834BA210202"},{"key":"key2022032119463537100_b44","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Mumford, E. (2001), \u201cAdvice for an action researcher\u201d, Information Technology & People, Vol. 14 No. 1, pp. 12\u201027.","DOI":"10.1108\/09593840110384753"},{"key":"key2022032119463537100_b45","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Nolan, T. (2005), \u201cEngaging with SMEs: power, politics and communication\u201d, International Journal of Social Policy, Vol. 25 No. 8.","DOI":"10.1108\/01443330510629063"},{"key":"key2022032119463537100_b46","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Olesen, K. and Myers, M. (1999), \u201cTrying to improve communication and collaboration with information technology: an action research project which failed\u201d, Information Technology & People, Vol. 12 No. 4, p. 317.","DOI":"10.1108\/09593849910301621"},{"key":"key2022032119463537100_b47","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Pauleen, D.J. and Yoong, P. (2001), \u201cFacilitating virtual team relationships via Internet and conventional communication channels\u201d, Internet Research: Electronic Networking Applications and Policy, Vol. 11 No. 3, pp. 190\u2010202.","DOI":"10.1108\/10662240110396450"},{"key":"key2022032119463537100_b48","unstructured":"Reason, P. (1994), \u201cThree approaches to participative inquiry\u201d, in Denzin, N.K. and Lincoln, Y.S. (Eds), Handbook of Qualitative Research, Sage, London, pp. 324\u201099."},{"key":"key2022032119463537100_b49","unstructured":"Reed, D.P. (2001), \u201cThe law of the pack\u201d, Harvard Business Review, February, pp. 23\u20104."},{"key":"key2022032119463537100_b50","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Santos, J.L.G. (1991), \u201cParticipatory action research: a view from Xerox\u201d;, in Whyte, W.F. (Ed.), Participatory Action Research, Sage Publications, Thousand Oaks, CA.","DOI":"10.4135\/9781412985383.n5"},{"key":"key2022032119463537100_b52","unstructured":"Shannon, C.E. and Weaver, W. (1949), The Mathematical Theory of Communication, Urbana University of Illinois Press, Chicago, IL."},{"key":"key2022032119463537100_b53","unstructured":"Storey, D.J. (1993), Should We Abandon Support Start\u2010up Business?, Warwick Business School Business Research Centre, Kingston University, Kingston, November."},{"key":"key2022032119463537100_b55","unstructured":"Susman, G. (1983), \u201cAction research: a socio\u2010technological systems perspectives\u201d, in Morgan, G. (Ed.), Beyond Method: Strategies for Social Research, Sage, Newbury Park, CA, pp. 95\u2010113."},{"key":"key2022032119463537100_b56","unstructured":"Tan, Y.H. and Thoen, W. (1999), \u201cA generic model of trust in electronic commerce\u201d, Proceedings of the 13th Bled Conference on Electronic Commerce, Bled, Slovenia, No. 1, pp. 346\u201059."},{"key":"key2022032119463537100_b57","unstructured":"Ulrich, W. (2001), \u201cCritically systemic discourse: a discursive approach to reflective practice in ISD (Part 2)\u201d, The Journal of Information Technology Theory and Application, Vol. 3 No. 3, pp. 85\u2010106."},{"key":"key2022032119463537100_b58","unstructured":"Wenger, E. (1998), \u201cCommunities of practice: learning as social systems\u201d, Systems Thinker, Vol. 9 No. 5, pp. 3\u20107."},{"key":"key2022032119463537100_frg1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Curran, J. (2000), \u201cWhat is small business policy in the UK for? Evaluation and assessing small business policies\u201d, International Small Business Journal, Vol. 18 No. 3, pp. 36\u201050.","DOI":"10.1177\/0266242600183002"},{"key":"key2022032119463537100_frg2","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"MacDonald, S. and Cook, M. (1997), \u201cLetters from America: a lesson for business link?\u201d, International Small Business Journal, Vol. 16 No. 1, pp. 74\u20109.","DOI":"10.1177\/0266242697161005"}],"container-title":["Information Technology &amp; People"],"original-title":[],"language":"en","link":[{"URL":"http:\/\/www.emeraldinsight.com\/doi\/full-xml\/10.1108\/09593840710730554","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"text-mining"},{"URL":"https:\/\/www.emerald.com\/insight\/content\/doi\/10.1108\/09593840710730554\/full\/xml","content-type":"application\/xml","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"text-mining"},{"URL":"https:\/\/www.emerald.com\/insight\/content\/doi\/10.1108\/09593840710730554\/full\/html","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2025,7,25]],"date-time":"2025-07-25T00:36:51Z","timestamp":1753403811000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"http:\/\/www.emerald.com\/itp\/article\/20\/1\/53-71\/183554"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2007,3,6]]},"references-count":56,"journal-issue":{"issue":"1","published-print":{"date-parts":[[2007,3,6]]}},"alternative-id":["10.1108\/09593840710730554"],"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1108\/09593840710730554","relation":{},"ISSN":["0959-3845"],"issn-type":[{"value":"0959-3845","type":"print"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2007,3,6]]}}}