The Business of Trust
Two Wesleyan business majors present their research at the Society for Advancement of Management International Conference in Orlando, Florida
By Leona Baker | April 12, 2011
How important is trust in the workplace? Two Virginia Wesleyan business majors, Scarlett Barham (junior) and Lynne Waters (junior), set out to address this topic in a fall semester research paper for a class called Principles of Management. What they discovered was not exactly what one might anticipate.
“They explored the relationship between management and trust and how important trust is in terms of productivity,” explained Dr. Paul Ewell, their faculty advisor. “They looked at both the positive and the negative, and what they found is that maybe we don’t have as much trust in the workplace as we think. So what sounded like a pretty straightforward topic ended up being very enlightening.”
Dr. Ewell suggested they submit the paper for a chance to present it at the Society for Advancement of Management International Conference in Orlando, Florida. They were delighted to find the paper had been accepted. Dr. Ewell accompanied both students to the conference, April 1-3.
“We had a wonderful time in Florida and are very grateful the school helped support this tremendous opportunity we were given,” said Lynne Waters. “We presented on Friday afternoon and after getting over the nervousness, we enjoyed the experience very much. Many conference attendees expressed an interest in seeing us back next year with further research on the topic including statistical data and suggestions for ways companies can go about building these trusting relationships. Scarlett and I are both very enthusiastic about expanding our research further in-depth of this important topic.”
Conferences like this one offer students unique opportunities not only for expanding their knowledge and research skills but for networking and learning from others.
“Overall, I feel that this experience was much more enriching and inspirational than I anticipated,” said Scarlett Barham. “From listening to the incredibly knowledgeable and inspiring guest speakers to watching others present their research papers on various business and managerial topics, I really enjoyed the entire experience and felt as though the conference gave me a new appreciation for the world of business and confirmed that business is definitely where I want to be career wise and that I undoubtedly picked the right major to pursue.”