Whistleblowing in Organizations

This chapter offers a critical overview of the phenomenon of whistleblowing, which represents a rising issue in contemporary organizations. The chapter first defines whistleblowing and its key characteristics, and examines how organizations can manage it through dedicated arrangements that bring benefits to both organizations and society at large. Second, it reviews recent developments in the whistleblowing field, and in particular considers comparative studies focusing on the influence of national cultures on whistleblowing attitudes and practices. Third, it connects whistleblowing to crisis prevention and management, which contributes to the understanding of specific kinds of organizational crises and related corporate strategies. Finally, it discusses how to address whistleblowing through a deliberate managerial strategy for crisis prevention and the creation of a climate of voice. Specifically, it recommends adopting the strategic and the CCO perspectives for the proactive development of corporate voice systems and of corporate cultures open to employee dissenting voice.