The relationship between organizational trust and organizational democracy: A study for healthcare employees

Organizational trust is seen as important in matters such as the realization of organizational goals, performance, efficiency and organizational commitment. There are many studies in the literature on organizational trust level and the variables it is associated with. However, another variable that is considered important for employee participation in organizations is perceptions of organizational democracy. In this framework, it is thought that there may be a relationship between variables. In the present thesis, the main purpose is to determine whether there is a meaningful relationship between organizational trust levels and organizational democracy perceptions. Other aims of the study are to reveal the effect of organizational trust levels on organizational democracy perceptions and to determine whether organizational trust levels and organizational democracy perceptions differ according to socio-demographic characteristics. Questionnaire form was used as data collection tool in the study. In order to determine the organizational trust level; the Turkish translation (Tüzün 2006) of "Short Form of the Organizational Trust Inventory", which is developed by Bromiley and Cummings (1996), to determine the perception of organizational democracy; "Organizational Democracy Scale", developed by Geçkil and Tikici (2015), studies were used and a questionnaire form including demographic features was prepared. Descriptive statistical methods, t test for independent samples, one-way analysis of variance, correlation analysis and regression analysis were used in the analysis of the data. According to the findings, the averages are moderate for organizational trust (3.14 ± 0.73) and organizational democracy (2.90 ± 0.69). When the findings obtained from the study were examined, there is no significant difference in the organizational trust and organizational democracy perceptions of the participants according to gender, age, marital status, educational status and title. However, there is a meaningful difference in perceptions of organizational democracy according to the duration of work. On the other hand, there is a high-level positive relationship between organizational trust level and organizational democracy perception. The highest correlation regarding the sub-dimensions of the scales is among the cognitive confidence and participation-criticism sub-dimensions; the lowest level of relationship is between emotional trust and accountability sub-dimensions. As a result, the increase in organizational trust levels also increases the perceptions of organizational democracy. Factors affecting the organizational trust levels of healthcare professionals should be taken into account, it is recommended to design various trainings and programs in order to create an atmosphere of trust in organizations and to support organizational democracy perceptions positively.