During the course of our observations we have monitored a variety of company literature, past and present, and have been struck by the number of statements in recent documents which stress the value of trust between customer and supplier, and between members of the same company. It is a fact that organisations where co-workers trust each other are more efficient and happier places than those where the opposite applies, but in reality GLOB and similar companies are spending increasing amounts on strict systems of security checks and counter-checks to ensure that their employees do not rob them blind.* 

 Ironically our research shows that only a couple of generations ago a hand-shake was often enough to seal an agreement between business people, but now professional and personal relationships with people outside the individual’s immediate team seem to be marked by deep suspicion and the assumption that most fellow humans are prepared to stab you in the back* if you do not protect yourself. Bearing this in mind, the lip-service paid to the importance of trust in business relationships strikes us as surprising. 

* rob them blind: not literally. Earthlings do not rob blind people only, they rob almost everyone. Nor does an Earthling turn blind when robbed, though he or she might turn angry.* stab you in the back: not literally. Attacks on competitors or rivals are usually verbal rather than physical (unlike on the planet Thuggg where , for example, promotions are usually decided by mortal combat and one is issued with company-specific body armour when starting a new position.)