Dealing with Dissent: Whistleblowing, Egalitarianism and the Republic of the Firm

This article seeks to illuminate the phenomenon of whistle blowing (defined as “the unauthorized revelation of wrongdoing”) from the perspective of grid–group “cultural theory” and the capabilities theory of the firm. Stylized facts include a strong sense of group solidarity combined with a rejection of imposed regulations, and this suggests that whistle blowing is an egalitarian phenomenon. By adding an analytical framework to the many descriptive cases in the management literature, we can see why legislative and internal systems typically fail, and suggest ways to nourish a culture of dissent as a strategic advantage.

Find article at Taylor & Francis.