Whistleblowers in Organisations: Prophets at Work?

Avakian, Stephanos; Roberts, Joanne

doi:10.1007/s10551-011-1148-7

Cited by 29 publications

(21 citation statements)

References 49 publications

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“…The major assumptions or views on the motivations of whistleblowers that have been adopted by previous studies (usually scenarios) include morality, cost‐benefit calculations, and emotion. Many previous studies (Avakian & Roberts, ; Bouville, ; Grant, ; Hoffman & Schwartz, ) have explained whistleblowing as stemming from high moral motives. Many other studies (e.g., Miceli et al, ) have identified cost‐benefit analysis as the underlying motive in the whistleblowing decision‐making process.…”

Section: Literature Reviewmentioning

confidence: 98%

“…In their study offering a conceptual model for understanding external auditors’ whistleblowing intentions, Alleyne et al (, p. 11) stated that audit staff are required to have “a moral obligation to protect public’ interest.” Hoffman and Schwartz (, p. 771) reexamined the conditions under which “external whistleblowing by employees can be considered either morally permissible or obligatory” (as cited in De George, ). Avakian and Roberts (, p. 71) further emphasized that morality serves as a trigger that “leads individuals to blow the whistle in organizations.” Miethe () explained whistleblowing as a tough choice that only a few people who have moral fortitude and a strong sense of social justice can make. Whistleblowing laws and professional codes of ethics are based on this view on reporting wrongdoing: people are motivated to report wrongdoing, believing that their behavior is morally right, although they know that they could face profoundly negative consequences, that is, that the costs of blowing the whistle could far exceed the benefits of doing so.…”

Section: Literature Reviewmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The preference could be considered as another key factor to increase the intention to blow the whistle again in that disclosures are mostly made for the purpose of rectifying perceived wrongdoing. Previous studies (e.g., Avakian & Roberts, ; Gobert & Punch, ; Johnson & Kraft, ; Jos et al, ) described whistleblowers as people who prefer reform, actively bringing significant changes to the organization by challenging the established order. Such people are to be distinguished from dissenters who disagree with the inappropriate practices of the organization but do nothing to combat them (Near & Miceli, ).…”

Section: Literature Reviewmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 2 more Smart Citations

The motivations of external whistleblowers and their impact on the intention to blow the whistle again

Park

Lewis

2019

Business Ethics: A Eur Rev

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The purpose of this study was to inquire into the relative importance of morality, cost‐benefit, and emotion as motivations for the decision to blow the whistle externally, and the effects of such factors as motivations, perceived negative consequences, and preferences for reform on the intention to blow the whistle again. Based on a literature review, we formulated some hypotheses and, to test them, we used the data collected from a survey of 127 external whistleblowers in South Korea. The results revealed that morality was the most important motivation, followed by emotion, and then cost‐benefit, which thus, seemed to be the least important for the whistleblowers. Morality as a motivation and the perceived negative consequences of whistleblowing had a significant effect on the intention to blow the whistle again. This study helps advance the understanding of the motivations behind whistleblowing and the factors that influence the intention to blow the whistle again.

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Section: Literature Reviewmentioning

confidence: 98%

Section: Literature Reviewmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Literature Reviewmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

The motivations of external whistleblowers and their impact on the intention to blow the whistle again

Park

Lewis

2019

Business Ethics: A Eur Rev

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

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“…In this context, some authors use adjectives inspired from ethical and religious glossaries when describing the whistle‐blowers. Grant () views them as “Saints of Secular Culture,” and Avakian and Roberts () describe them as “prophets.” According to Burke (), whistle‐blowers are “people of conscience ” who behave to spur human welfare.…”

Section: Research Background and Relevant Literaturementioning

confidence: 99%

Breaking the silence: An empirical analysis of the drivers of internal auditors' moral courage

et al. 2018

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This study investigates the effect of positive states, perceived supervisor support and independence of internal audit function on internal auditors' moral courage. Although extensive research has suggested that risk of feared consequences is the major cause that inhibits internal auditors from reporting managerial fraud, there has been little empirical investigation into the way of fostering internal auditors' moral courage to speak up. This study used a survey of 146 internal auditors in Tunisia. The partial least squares–structural equation model was used to test our hypotheses. The results indicate that self‐efficacy, resilience, perceived supervisor support and the independence of internal audit function have a positive effect on the internal auditors' moral courage; however, state hope does not show a significant link. Additionally, we find that women experience higher levels of moral courage than men do.

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“…In their seminal work, Near and Miceli 20 emphasise the importance of power in the construction of their model of the whistleblowing process, and retaliation from organisations towards whistleblowers can be viewed as a response to the threat they pose to organisational power. 48 Avakian and Roberts 49 suggest that 'Our analysis indicates that the imbalance of power results from the way the whistleblower exercises the hidden knowledge in unexpected ways'. This links to recent work from a Foucauldian perspective, which introduces the concept of parrhesia to whistleblowing research.…”

Section: Power and Politicsmentioning

confidence: 95%

Understanding the knowledge gaps in whistleblowing and speaking up in health care: narrative reviews of the research literature and formal inquiries, a legal analysis and stakeholder interviews

Mannion

Blenkinsopp

Powell

et al. 2018

Health Serv Deliv Res

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Background There is compelling evidence to suggest that some (or even many) NHS staff feel unable to speak up, and that even when they do, their organisation may respond inappropriately. Objectives The specific project objectives were (1) to explore the academic and grey literature on whistleblowing and related concepts, identifying the key theoretical frameworks that can inform an understanding of whistleblowing; (2) to synthesise the empirical evidence about the processes that facilitate or impede employees raising concerns; (3) to examine the legal framework(s) underpinning whistleblowing; (4) to distil the lessons for whistleblowing policies from the findings of Inquiries into failings of NHS care; (5) to ascertain the views of stakeholders about the development of whistleblowing policies; and (6) to develop practical guidance for future policy-making in this area. Methods The study comprised four distinct but interlocking strands: (1) a series of narrative literature reviews, (2) an analysis of the legal issues related to whistleblowing, (3) a review of formal Inquiries related to previous failings of NHS care and (4) interviews with key informants. Results Policy prescriptions often conceive the issue of raising concerns as a simple choice between deciding to ‘blow the whistle’ and remaining silent. Yet research suggests that health-care professionals may raise concerns internally within the organisation in more informal ways before utilising whistleblowing processes. Potential areas for development here include the oversight of whistleblowing from an independent agency; early-stage protection for whistleblowers; an examination of the role of incentives in encouraging whistleblowing; and improvements to criminal law to protect whistleblowers. Perhaps surprisingly, there is little discussion of, or recommendations concerning, whistleblowing across the previous NHS Inquiry reports. Limitations Although every effort was made to capture all relevant papers and documents in the various reviews using comprehensive search strategies, some may have been missed as indexing in this area is challenging. We interviewed only a small number of people in the key informant interviews, and our findings may have been different if we had included a larger sample or informants with different roles and responsibilities. Conclusions Current policy prescriptions that seek to develop better whistleblowing policies and nurture open reporting cultures are in need of more evidence. Although we set out a wide range of issues, it is beyond our remit to convert these concerns into specific recommendations: that is a process that needs to be led from elsewhere, and in partnership with the service. There is also still much to learn regarding this important area of health policy, and we have highlighted a number of important gaps in knowledge that are in need of more sustained research. Future work A key area for future research is to explore whistleblowing as an unfolding, situated and interactional process and not just a one-off act by an identifiable whistleblower. In particular, we need more evidence and insights into the tendency for senior managers not to hear, accept or act on concerns about care raised by employees. Funding The National Institute for Health Research Health Services and Delivery Research programme.

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Whistleblowers in Organisations: Prophets at Work?

Cited by 29 publications

References 49 publications

The motivations of external whistleblowers and their impact on the intention to blow the whistle again

The motivations of external whistleblowers and their impact on the intention to blow the whistle again

Breaking the silence: An empirical analysis of the drivers of internal auditors' moral courage

Understanding the knowledge gaps in whistleblowing and speaking up in health care: narrative reviews of the research literature and formal inquiries, a legal analysis and stakeholder interviews

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