RIS ID
12263
Abstract
In 2002, the Boston Globe newspaper revealed the cover-up by the Catholic Archdiocese of Boston (AOB) of sexual abuse of children by clergy. A grounded theory investigation to answer the question, "how could authorities allow this to happen?", revealed a "nexus of silence" as a central phenomenon associated with decisions to sweep under the carpet and, over decades, cover up pervasive deviance in organizations in contravention of institutional core values. Understanding of this phenomenon may assist managers and governance bodies avoid consequential scandal, loss of reputation and public trust.
Link to publisher version (URL)
Asia-Pacific Researchers in Organisation Studies International Colloquium
Publication Details
Gross, M. (2005). Nexus of silence: the cover-up of deviance in organizations. Asia-Pacific Researchers in Organization Studies (APROS 11) (pp. 1-12). Victoria, Australia: Victoria University.