Trust in Virtual Teams: Solved or Still a Mystery?

Trust was one of the most prominent topics of early research in virtual teams, highlighted by the emergence of the theory of swift trust. As researchers continue to study this topic, it is important to understand what problems have been solved as well as what aspects of trust in virtual teams remain a mystery. We address this goal by presenting an in-depth analysis of existing research on trust in virtual teams. We review theories, methods, tasks, technologies, and major outcome themes from 42 empirical studies over an eleven-year period from 1997 through 2007. The analysis reveals gaps and areas for future research, including the need for additional theorizing, broader use of methods, deliberate interventions that enhance trust, and continuing evolution of the trust concept.