Trust Management as Social Capital in Building Organizational Sustainability
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.62872/5g1bgt87Keywords:
Organizational Trust, Social Capital, Organizational Sustainability, ESG Performance, Employee EngagementAbstract
This study examines trust management as a form of social capital and its implications for organizational sustainability in increasingly complex and dynamic environments. Trust is recognized as a critical element that shapes stakeholder relationships, enhances collaboration, and supports sustainable performance across environmental, social, and governance (ESG) dimensions. The study aims to develop an integrative framework that explains how trust contributes to sustainability outcomes. A qualitative approach was employed using a systematic literature review and conceptual synthesis of scholarly articles published between 2021 and 2025. Data were collected through document analysis and analyzed using thematic content analysis combined with a systems thinking approach. The findings reveal that trust operates as a multidimensional construct encompassing internal, external, and institutional dimensions, influencing employee engagement, innovation, ESG performance, and organizational resilience. The discussion highlights that trust facilitates knowledge sharing, strengthens governance, supports digital transformation, and enhances collaborative partnerships, thereby contributing to long-term sustainability. In conclusion, trust management serves as a strategic mechanism that enables organizations to navigate uncertainty, improve adaptability, and achieve sustainable performance.
Downloads
References
Al-Omoush, K., Ribeiro-Navarrete, S., Lassala, C., & Škare, M. (2022). Networking and knowledge creation: Social capital and collaborative innovation in responding to the COVID-19 crisis. Journal of Innovation & Knowledge, 7, 100181–100181. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jik.2022.100181
Baka, W., Rianse, I., & La La Zulfikar, Z. (2024). Palm oil business partnership sustainability through the role of social capital and local wisdom: Evidence from palm oil plantations in Indonesia. Sustainability. https://doi.org/10.3390/su16177541
Batool, F., Mohammad, J., & Awang, S. (2022). The impact of human capital factors on organizational sustainability in the Malaysian hotel industry: The mediation role of trust. Society and Business Review. https://doi.org/10.1108/sbr-11-2021-0220
Cachón‐Rodríguez, G., Blanco‐González, A., Prado‐Román, C., & Del-Castillo-Feito, C. (2022). How sustainable human resources management helps in the evaluation and planning of employee loyalty and retention: Can social capital make a difference? Evaluation and Program Planning, 95, 102171. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.evalprogplan.2022.102171
Fan, R., Xu, Y., Yu, L., & Qiu, R. (2025). Sustainability needs trust: The role of social trust in driving corporate ESG performance. Economic Analysis and Policy. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eap.2025.05.007
Hussain, M., Qian, Y., Usman, M., & Hussain, K. (2025). Leading green: The role of CEO social trust and governance in driving sustainable innovation. Business Strategy and the Environment. https://doi.org/10.1002/bse.70129
Khan, A., Chen, C., Suanpong, K., Ruangkanjanases, A., Kittikowit, S., & Chen, S. (2021). The impact of CSR on sustainable innovation ambidexterity: The mediating role of sustainable supply chain management and second-order social capital. Sustainability. https://doi.org/10.3390/su132112160
Malik, G., & Singh, P. (2024). Fostering social sustainability: Unveiling HR’s power in enhancing employee resilience via social exchange and broaden-and-build theories. Employee Relations: The International Journal. https://doi.org/10.1108/er-08-2023-0427
Montenegro, C., Lavado, M., & Vigo, E. (2024). Weaving the sustainable future hand in hand with social capital: An approach from community participation. SCIÉNDO. https://doi.org/10.17268/sciendo.2024.054
Prayitno, G., Auliah, A., Ari, I., Effendi, A., Hayat, A., Delisa, A., Siankwilimba, E., & Hiddlestone-Mumford, J. (2023). Social capital for sustainable tourism development in Indonesia. Cogent Social Sciences, 10. https://doi.org/10.1080/23311886.2023.2293310
Shabbir, M., & Batool, F. (2025). Social entrepreneurship for community development: The role of social capital in establishing sustainable enterprises. Journal of Social Entrepreneurship. https://doi.org/10.1080/19420676.2025.2492060
Tang, T., & Yang, L. (2023). Shaping corporate ESG performance: Role of social trust in China's capital market. China Finance Review International. https://doi.org/10.1108/cfri-07-2023-0187
Toseef, M., Kiran, A., Zhuo, S., Jahangir, M., Riaz, S., Wei, Z., Ghauri, T., Ullah, I., & Ahmad, S. (2022). Inspirational leadership and innovative communication in sustainable organizations: A mediating role of mutual trust. Frontiers in Psychology, 13. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2022.846128
Wamalwa, L., Nang'ole, P., & Saruchera, F. (2025). Social capital and supplier adaptation of social and environmentally sustainable practices. Business Strategy and the Environment. https://doi.org/10.1002/bse.4167
Wang, Z., & Han, D. (2025). The fragility of social capital: How lack of specific trust undermines sustainability in comprehensive welfare centers for the elderly—A case study of permanent lease housing areas in South Korea. Journal of Gerontological Social Work, 1–27. https://doi.org/10.1080/01634372.2025.2522344
Xiao, S., Roh, T., Park, B., Al‐Tabbaa, O., & Seo, K. (2025). Unpacking the role of digital dynamic capabilities in ESG performance: A social exchange perspective on organizational trust and identification. Business Strategy and the Environment. https://doi.org/10.1002/bse.70273
Yang, C., & Wang, M. (2023). Cross-departmental synergetic design in home appliance enterprises: Exploring the role of project management, social capital, and organizational efficiency in the context of sustainability. Systems, 11, 504. https://doi.org/10.3390/systems11100504
Аталавеі, М. (2025). Strategy for managing social capital in the context of sustainable development. Київський економічний науковий журнал. https://doi.org/10.32782/2786-765x/2025-11-1
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2026 Hilmi Wiranawata (Author)
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
