Understanding Digital Organizational Trust: A Socio-Technical Approach to Human-Technology Collaboration

Abstract Objective The aim of this article is to conceptualize organizational digital trust in the context of emerging technological paradigms such as Industry 5.0, Society 5.0, and Actor–Network Theory (ANT). The study seeks to identify the key dimensions, mechanisms, and implications of digital trust in contemporary organizations, highlighting its socio -technical character and strategic relevance. Methodology The article adopts a conceptual and theoretical approach based on an extensive literature review, including foundational models of trust (e.g., Mayer et al., 1995) and recent contributions in digital transformation research. Actor–Network Theory (Latour, 1996; Cressman, 2009) is employed as a lens for analyzing trust as a relational outcome among heterogeneous actants – technologies, users, and organizational environments. Findings The study reveals that digital trust is a multi -dimensional construct shaped by both human and technological factors. It encompasses ethical organizational values, compliance with digital standards, and the interplay between user and technology trustworthiness. Three proposed models illustrate different levels of digital trust formation, including trust between actants and human--technology collaboration. Digital trust is shown to function as both a precondition and a product of organizational cooperation, with direct implications for performance and innovation. Value Added This article contributes to the growing discourse on digital trust by offering an integrative framework rooted in both classical trust theory and ANT. It underscores the need to consider digital trust as a dynamic organizational asset, shaped by interactions between people, technologies, and institutional environments. The study also highlights areas for future empirical validation, addressing the current gap between theoretical elaboration and practical assessment.