A Big Threat or The Bigger Picture: Face, Commitment, Trust, and Behavior in Not-for-Profit Collaboratives

• In Event: Organizational Communication Research Escalator - Extended Session

Abstract

In the context of inter-organizational not-for-profit collaboratives, this paper explores the complex interplay between a representative’s face threat sensitivity, their commitment to the cause, and the independent and joint effects of these traits and emotions on their trust and subsequent behavior within the collaborative. In doing so this project incorporates concepts from Face (Goffman, 1967) and Politeness Theories (Brown & Levinson, 1987) and negotiation literature, with research on cause commitment in not-for-profits, and trust in work relationships. Individual representatives participating in multi-organization not-for-profit collaboratives are assessed on a Face Threat Sensitivity scale, and interviewed in depth about their commitment to the cause, and their interactions and interpersonal relationships with other representatives. Comprehensive results on the relationship between face threat, cause commitment, trust and outcome behavior are reported. The relevance of the results to research and practice of collaborative not-for-profit management is discussed.

Author

• Mrittika Sen, Northwestern University