Toward a Generic Model of Trust for Electronic Commerce

Yao-Hua Tan and Walter Thoen
International Journal of Electronic Commerce,
Volume 5, Number 2, Winter 2000-2001, pp. 61.


Abstract: The authors present a generic model of trust for electronic commerce consisting of two basic components, party trust and control trust, based on the concept that trust in a transaction with another party combines trust in the other party and trust in the control mechanisms that ensure the successful performance of the transaction. This generic trust model can be used in designing trust-related value-added services in e-commerce. To illustrate its design use, two e-commerce activities that require trust are compared: electronic payment and cross-border electronic trade. The model shows that each of these activities requires a different type of trust, created by completely different services.

Key Words and Phrases: Control procedures, electronic payment, international trade, trust, trust creation methods.