摘要：Purcell (1984) argues that the level of trust between management and union and the formalisation of the industrial relations structure, are two dimensions that will result in more effective industrial relations. The aim of this study is to establish empirically to what extent the model of Purcell (1984) is applicable to the South-African industrial relations system. A questionnaire that has bearing on the theoretical discussion and research hypotheses, has been developed. The overall results confirm that there are significant relationships between the two dimensions and an index of industrial relations effectiveness. Opsomming Vertroue en formalisering van arbeidsverhoudingestruktuur met verwysing na Purcell se model van arbeids-verhoudingepatrone. Purcell (1984) stel dit dat die vertroue tussen bestuur en vakbond asook die formalisering van die arbeidsverhoudingestruktuur twee kritiese dimensies is in die daarstelling van effektiewe arbeidsverhoudinge. Die doel van hierdie studie is om empirics vas te stel of Purcell (1984) se model in die Suid-Afrikaanse arbeidsverhoudingestelsel van toepassing is. 'n Vraelys wat op die teoretiese bespreking en gestelde navorsingshipoteses gebaseer is, is ontwikkel. Die resultate van hierdie studie bevestig die bestaan van beduidende verbande tussen die twee dimensies en 'n indeks van arbeidsverhoudinge-effektiwiteit.
