The Effect of Perceived Level of Institutionalization on Organizational Trust: A Study on Aviation Sector

Organizational trust is the climate of trust that exists within an organization and can be defined as the positive expectations that organizational members have about the intentions and behaviour of individuals based on relationships and experiences. Institutionalization is defined as the process of transition from the initial structure of a newly established enterprise to the stage where it gains stability. However, institutionalization is defined as a process in which the enterprise gains value and stability through formative practices and increased internal capabilities. Institutionalization is a radical change process that brings change and eliminates routine activities. During this process, people may fear losing their jobs or being unable to succeed in their jobs due to changes and may become silent. Therefore, it is thought that the perceived level of institutionalization influences organizational trust. The population of this study consists of employees working in the civil aviation sector. In the civil aviation sector, there are enterprise such as airlines, ground handling services, catering services and representation services. The employees of these enterprises were tried to be reached via e-mail, WhatsApp groups and social media (linked in, Instagram, Facebook). Data were collected by sending a 5-point Likert-type questionnaire form to the participants. As a result of the analyses, it was determined that there is a significant relationship between perceived level of institutionalization and organizational trust. In addition, perceived level of institutionalization has a significant impact on organizational trust.