The Deaf Effect Response to Bad News Reporting in Information Systems Projects

Cultures of Silence and Cultures of Voice: The Role of Whistleblowing in Healthcare Organisations

“…In the management literature, the concept of the 'deaf effect' has been defined as occurring when 'the decision-maker does not hear, ignores or overrules a report of bad news to continue a failing course of action. ' 12 A number of personal, social, and organisational factors have been identified which conspire to shape and sustain 'organisational deafness' in the face of poor and unsafe care. 13 Central to these are entrenched hierarchical status and power differences between different professional and occupational groups (eg, between nurses and doctors, or between frontline staff and managers) serving to limit or attenuate the development of open reporting cultures.…”

Whistleblowing Need not Occur if Internal Voices Are Heard: From Deaf Effect to Hearer Courage Comment on "Cultures of Silence and Cultures of Voice: The Role of Whistleblowing in Healthcare Organisations"

“…The deaf effect phenomenon has been described as what occurs when a person who can perhaps effect action (decisionmaker) does not hear or ignores reports of bad news, resulting in inaction. 2,3 Understanding the critical features of what is a 'deaf effect' is important when considering the impact that inaction can take in a healthcare environment when health practitioners raise concerns that they perceive as essential for patient safety. It is clear from many well-known whistleblowing cases (some that have resulted in large public…”

The role of a bad news reporter in information technology project escalation

“…In addition, this relationship was found to be partially mediated by the perceived relevance of the bad news reporter's message. While the Cuellar et al (2006) study provided new insights on the role of bad news reporters in IT project escalation; it was not without several limitations. First, it examined only a single personal characteristic of the bad news reporter (i.e., credibility) with respect to its effect on the escalation decision.…”

“…In their study, Cuellar et al (2006) found that the credibility of a bad news reporter can influence a decision of whether or not to continue a troubled IT project; when bad news regarding an IT project is received from a non-credible source, a decision maker is less likely to pay attention to the bad news and consequently more willing to continue the troubled project. In addition, this relationship was found to be partially mediated by the perceived relevance of the bad news reporter's message.…”

“…To date, there has only been a single empirical study that investigates the deaf effect in an IT project context (Cuellar et al, 2006). In their study, Cuellar et al (2006) found that the credibility of a bad news reporter can influence a decision of whether or not to continue a troubled IT project; when bad news regarding an IT project is received from a non-credible source, a decision maker is less likely to pay attention to the bad news and consequently more willing to continue the troubled project.…”