Whistle Blowing.Internal And External Whistle Blowing - Essay Example

(Miceli and Near). Thus the process of whistle blowing has both the short term as well as long term implications for almost all the stakeholders in the organization therefore if the process is taken positively and corrective measures are taken properly, it may increase the trust of society in modern day organizations. However, despite its potential benefits, whistle blowing is not an easy task as whistle blowers may face tough consequences as well as rebuttal not only from their colleagues but from their organizations also.

Managers often perceive that whistle blowing is good as long as it remains within the internal channels of the organization. The moment it goes public, it becomes something which has a very negative consequence for the managers. As such the factors involved behind the whistle blowing is not only complex but the action of whistle blowing itself require a lot of courage to defy the corporate loyalty. This paper will discuss the issue of whistle blowing by discussing its different complexities as well as discussing some of the ethical considerations.

Whistle blowingWhistle blowing is defined as " the disclosure by organization members (former or current) of illegal, immoral, or illegitimate practices under the control of their employers, to persons, or organizations that may be able to affect action" (Miceli and Near)Whistle blowing is considered as an act of exposing the organizational wrong doings to the general public as well as their superiors. Whistle blowers are often considered as those unsung heroes who serve the "society's last line of defense against organizational misconduct" (Miceli and Near) however, on the other hand, whistle blowers are often considered as organizational traitors who expose the organizations for their own benefits.

Whatever the interpretation may be given to whistle blowing, it is an established fact that it requires lot of courage and defiance on the part of whistle blowers to come forward and expose their own organizations for the wrong doing they are committing. There is a very thin line which distinguishes the corporate loyalty from whistle blowing as whistle blowers often find themselves at cross roads of when to leave behind the corporate loyalty in order to expose the wrong doings. It is sometimes difficult to distinguish between the internal as well as external whistle blowing as employees may find it difficult to decide and interpret the situations which may prompt them to whistle blowing. (Lewis). As long as there are independent internal reporting mechanisms present within the organization, employees may stick to grievances only rather than whistle blowing.

This is basically done in order to avoid the negative impact on their employment relations with their employers. However, when internal mechanisms fail to correct the grievances, employees may undertake to go public to disclose what may be perceived as the organizational wrong doing.It is important to note that employee's own values and self regulated moral ethics may play a critical role in deciding the timing of the whistle blowing. The available research indicates two sets of values which may force employees to go against the corporate loyalty.

One set of values is based on the perception that whistle blowers are heroes who attempt to rectify the organizational wrong doings and as such consider it as their duty, often out of corporate loyalty, to consider taking steps to correct such a situation. The second set of values identifies whistleblowers as idealists who due to their inability to cope with the gap between their expectations and organizational realities. The values and expectations of