Title: Elucidation of the concept of organisational silence

Authors: M.M. Sulphey

Addresses: College of Business Administration, Prince Sattam Bin Abdulaziz University, Al-Kharj, Saudi Arabia

Abstract: Organisational silence is defined as the motivation to withhold or express ideas, information and opinions about work-related improvements. This study discusses the conceptual, theoretical and methodological aspects of the elusive concept and its importance in the organisational setup. Fear, embarrassment, narrow conceptions of ethical responsibility, lack of opportunity for voice, lack of organisational political skills, etc. are factors that are identified as leading to silence. It has also been seen that a host of socio-cultural, political and structural characteristics within organisations could hamper the space for exercising voice and result in silence. The paper also, based on theoretical and empirical evidences, analyses the factors that lead to silence in organisations, it effects and outcomes. The paper has succeeded in identifying the gaps in literature and makes certain suggestion that could facilitate further examination of the concept in an objective manner.

Keywords: silence; organisational silence; employee silence; voice.

DOI: 10.1504/MEJM.2020.107106

Middle East Journal of Management, 2020 Vol.7 No.3, pp.282 - 297

Received: 11 Mar 2019
Accepted: 22 Mar 2019

Published online: 04 May 2020 *

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