The politics of gossip and denial in interorganizational relations

Article Type: Abstracts From: Human Resource Management International Digest, Volume 17, Issue 2

van Iterson A. and , Clegg S.R. Human Relations (USA), August 2008, Vol. 61 No. 8, Start page: 1117, No. of pages: 21

Purpose – studies the impact that gossip has at the organizational level, focusing on gossip that spreads fact-based rumours. Design/methodology/approach – uses a case study of the Oil for Food scandal that involved the Australian Wheat Board and which was the subject of a Royal Commission of Inquiry. Studies the reports of the Inquiry and its official findings to analyse the role that gossip played in drawing attention to the malpractices, looking at how the gossip was constructed, circulated and interpreted, and the interplay between it and official statements and denials. Findings – reports that process of claims and denials gives the substance of the gossip formal status but can also make it a non-issue unless some other agency, possibly an external agency, notices it and re-energizes the issue. Concludes that this process is one of power relations and that organizational gossip plays a key role in the production of interorganizational power dynamics. Argues that this process is not static and can start outside the organization’s formally established circuits of power. Suggests that politically astute managers will be aware of this and will have communication strategies in place that will stabilize messages across all the potential circuits that might seek to influence their actions. Research limitations/ implications – describes the research methods and the analysis. Originality/value – argues that the organizational gossip has been under-researched. ISSN: 0018-7267 Reference:37AU127

Keywords: Internal communications, Whistleblowing,Organizational politics