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Dissertation
FORGING TRUSTFUL CONNECTIONS: A CASE STUDY ON THE ROLE OF TRUST IN FORMING INTER-ORGANIZATIONAL RELATIONSHIPS FOR YOUTH APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAMS IN CAREER AND TECHNICAL EDUCATION IN WASHINGTON STATE
Washington State University
Doctor of Education (EdD), Washington State University
05/2025
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.7273/000007438
Abstract
This dissertation examines the role of trust in shaping inter-organizational relationships (IORs) among school districts, employers, and intermediary organizations in developing a Youth Apprenticeship in Washington State. Using the framework developed by Mayer, Davis, and Schoorman (1995), the study explores trust through three dimensions—Benevolence, Competence, and Integrity—to analyze how these factors influence stakeholder collaboration, decision-making authority, and program sustainability.
While research on apprenticeship systems in countries such as Switzerland and Germany highlights structured governance models, the role of trust in emerging apprenticeship ecosystems in the United States remains underexamined. This study addresses that gap by investigating how trust facilitates or constrains the formation of learning benchmarks, power distribution, and governance structures in youth apprenticeship programs. Through a qualitative case study approach, data were collected via stakeholder interviews, project reports, meeting minutes, and CTE frameworks, with analysis conducted using NVivo coding.
Findings reveal that trust is not automatic but must be actively cultivated through transparency, shared decision-making, and structured competency alignment. Competence-based trust was strongest when employer-driven competency frameworks directly informed learning outcomes, ensuring alignment with workforce expectations. Benevolence-based trust emerged when stakeholders demonstrated a mutual investment in student success, prioritizing long-term career pathways over short-term labor needs. Integrity-based trust was reinforced through equitable decision-making structures and accountability mechanisms, preventing power imbalances from undermining collaboration.
This study contributes to the fields of Career and Technical Education (CTE), workforce development, and apprenticeship policy by providing a trust-based framework for designing and sustaining youth apprenticeship programs. The findings offer actionable recommendations for improving employer-educator collaboration, embedding structured governance models, and ensuring that apprenticeship programs serve as effective career and postsecondary education pathways. By strengthening trust-driven partnerships, this research informs best practices for expanding youth apprenticeship initiatives in Washington State and beyond.
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Details
- Title
- FORGING TRUSTFUL CONNECTIONS
- Creators
- Christopher R. Nesmith
- Contributors
- Shannon Calderone (Chair)Katherine Rodela (Committee Member)John Mancinelli (Committee Member)
- Awarding Institution
- Washington State University
- Academic Unit
- Department of Educational Leadership, Sport Studies, and Educational/Counseling Psychology
- Theses and Dissertations
- Doctor of Education (EdD), Washington State University
- Publisher
- Washington State University
- Number of pages
- 167
- Identifiers
- 99901220448601842
- Language
- English
- Resource Type
- Dissertation