Trust is an essential governance mechanism in present-day supply networks, where many independent parties have to coordinate their activities. It is often assumed that trustful behavior at least partly depends on the inner dispositions of actors. Other theories suggest that this behavior is an emergent property of the supply network, generated by the interactions between the actors in the network. Half a century ago, the social figuration theory of Norbert Elias was the first formulation of such a theory. This research tests this emergent property theory in a series of simulation-based thought experiments. A generic agent-based model of buyer-supplier interactions in a build-to-forecast supply chain is used as a dynamic hypothesis to test this theory. The inner dispositions of the actors towards trust and opportunistic behavior can be changed here. Current trust levels are influenced by these inner dispositions, but are also changed by the perceived behavior of the other party. Trust levels of the actors also determine their behavior. In the simulation this creates vicious or virtuous cycles of mutual trust and performance, so called relationship spirals. Model analysis shows that beyond a certain level of external volatility, the development of trust on both sides no longer bears any direct relation to the inner dispositions of the network parties. This confirms the dynamic hypothesis. It also again establishes the strength of Elias’s original social figuration theory.

中文翻译：

---

信任的出现：供应网络中的社会形象

信任是当今供应网络中必不可少的治理机制，许多独立方必须协调其活动。人们通常认为，信任行为至少部分取决于行为者的内在倾向。其他理论表明，这种行为是供应网络的一种新兴属性，由网络中的参与者之间的相互作用产生。半个世纪前，诺伯特·埃利亚斯 (Norbert Elias) 的社会形象理论是这种理论的第一个表述。这项研究在一系列基于模拟的思想实验中测试了这种新兴的财产理论。在构建到预测的供应链中，基于代理的买方-供应商交互的通用模型被用作动态假设来测试该理论。行为者对信任和机会主义行为的内在倾向可以在这里改变。当前的信任水平受这些内在倾向的影响，但也会因对方的感知行为而改变。参与者的信任程度也决定了他们的行为。在模拟中，这会造成相互信任和绩效的恶性或良性循环，即所谓的关系螺旋。模型分析表明，在一定程度的外部波动之后，双方信任的发展与网络各方的内部倾向不再有任何直接关系。这证实了动态假设。它还再次确立了埃利亚斯原始社会形象理论的力量。在模拟中，这会造成相互信任和绩效的恶性或良性循环，即所谓的关系螺旋。模型分析表明，在一定程度的外部波动之后，双方信任的发展与网络各方的内部倾向不再有任何直接关系。这证实了动态假设。它还再次确立了埃利亚斯原始社会形象理论的力量。在模拟中，这会造成相互信任和绩效的恶性或良性循环，即所谓的关系螺旋。模型分析表明，在一定程度的外部波动之后，双方信任的发展与网络各方的内部倾向不再有任何直接关系。这证实了动态假设。它还再次确立了埃利亚斯原始社会形象理论的力量。