Rumour and Gossip in the Workplace - Literature Review
Literature Review
Organization Behaviour
Assignment 3
Hanna Darwish
Rumour and gossip in the workplace
Introduction
People understand gossip and rumour whether experiencing it first hand or being the provider of information to create the gossip or rumour. The large proportion of gossip is devoted to a person who is not present in the discussion (Wielers, 1998 & sitzman, 2006). Rumour’s general definition refers to misinformation of stories being communicated on a public scope. Gossip and rumour is one of the oldest forms of communicating, people use this process to share facts and personal opinions, however Gossip and rumour has a reputation for not being accurate with modifications of initial subject matter.
Gossip and Rumour in the workplace is on the whole characterized as positive or negative communication within organizations. Some view rumour and gossip as a positive effect, giving individuals the ability to form social bonds within the larger organization. However, some researchers would disagree, that gossip and rumour causes negative effect “misbehaviour” (Richards, 2008) on organizations productivity, moral and impacts the bottom line (Smith, 2011 & Tebbut,1997).
In pursuit of accomplishing an understanding of the nature of gossip and rumour in the workplace, I set out to look at existing literature. I will assume rumour as a counterpart of gossip as they are commonly linked, referred to as informal communication or as a “weapon in organizational politics” (Mills, 2010). I will be focusing on literature related to an organization behaviour perspective. We will look at the literature in an attempt to understand the reasons why individuals gossip and spread rumour’s in the workplace, secondly I will to focus on the characteristics and the personality’s of the gossiper and the recipients, to gain an understanding of behaviour within the organizations. Thirdly we will look at how the information is presented by the gossiper. I
Organization Behaviour
Assignment 3
Hanna Darwish
Rumour and gossip in the workplace
Introduction
People understand gossip and rumour whether experiencing it first hand or being the provider of information to create the gossip or rumour. The large proportion of gossip is devoted to a person who is not present in the discussion (Wielers, 1998 & sitzman, 2006). Rumour’s general definition refers to misinformation of stories being communicated on a public scope. Gossip and rumour is one of the oldest forms of communicating, people use this process to share facts and personal opinions, however Gossip and rumour has a reputation for not being accurate with modifications of initial subject matter.
Gossip and Rumour in the workplace is on the whole characterized as positive or negative communication within organizations. Some view rumour and gossip as a positive effect, giving individuals the ability to form social bonds within the larger organization. However, some researchers would disagree, that gossip and rumour causes negative effect “misbehaviour” (Richards, 2008) on organizations productivity, moral and impacts the bottom line (Smith, 2011 & Tebbut,1997).
In pursuit of accomplishing an understanding of the nature of gossip and rumour in the workplace, I set out to look at existing literature. I will assume rumour as a counterpart of gossip as they are commonly linked, referred to as informal communication or as a “weapon in organizational politics” (Mills, 2010). I will be focusing on literature related to an organization behaviour perspective. We will look at the literature in an attempt to understand the reasons why individuals gossip and spread rumour’s in the workplace, secondly I will to focus on the characteristics and the personality’s of the gossiper and the recipients, to gain an understanding of behaviour within the organizations. Thirdly we will look at how the information is presented by the gossiper. I
References: Hart, J. W. 2010. On coffee talk and break-room chatter: perceptions of women who gossip in the workplace. The Journal of social psychology 150(4): 361. Lloyd, J. 2009. Tips for Nipping Productivity-Killing Workplace Gossip in the Bud. The Receivables report 24(2): 5. Martin, R. J. 2005. Development and Validation of the Uncivil Workplace Behavior Questionnaire. Journal of occupational health psychology10(4): 477-490.doi:10.1037/1076-8998.10.4.477 Michelson, G Michelson, G. 2008. Special Issue on Gossip in/around Organizations. Group & organization management 33(4): 485-488. doi:10.1177/1059601108322739 Mills, C,.2010 Mouly, V. S.(2002. 'You didn 't hear it from us but... ': Towards an understanding of rumor and gossip in organizations. Australian journal of management (27): 57. Richards, J. 2008. The many approaches to organisational misbehaviour. Employee relations 30(6): 653-678.doi:10.1108/01425450810910046 Sitzman, K Sloan Wilson, D,. 2010. Evolutionary Perspectives on Workplace Gossip: Why and How Gossip Can Serve Groups. Group & organization management 35(2):150-176.doi:10.1177/1059601109360390 Smith, Sand Spencer, M. 2011. “Etiquette for the workplace”. The Hill. July 4. Academic one file Tebbutt, M Tuckey, M. R. 2010. Psychosocial Safety Climate, Workplace Bullying, and Symptoms of Posttraumatic Stress. Organization development journal 28(1): 37. Wilson, D. S. 2005. Utilities of gossip across organizational levels. Human nature 16(3): 278-292.doi:10.1007/s12110-005-1011-6 “The Data Protection Act 1998--monitoring e-mails in the workplace”.2003