Organizational culture and intentions towards types of whistleblowing: the case of Turkey and Ethiopia

Abstract

Purpose- Whistleblowing, is one of the rarely studied topics in non-western cultures, and none in Ethiopia. Hence, this study explores whistleblowing and the contribution of organizational culture (OC) types on different modes of whistleblowing intentions in Ethiopia along with cross-cultural comparison of the theoretical model in Turkey. Methodology- Totally 528 employees (Ethiopia, N=274 and Turkey, N=254) were selected as participants. Four organizational culture types and six dimensions of whistleblowing are measured using a multidimensional questionnaire with five-point interval scale. Findings- Analyses revealed that hierarchical culture significantly and positively contributed to external, anonymous, and formal whistleblowing. Alternatively, clan culture had significant positive contribution to internal and informal whistleblowing, and negative contribution to external whistleblowing. However, there were significant variations in terms of nationality. Conclusion- The dominant values and beliefs embedded within the culture of an organization tend to predict the most likely preferred and accepted methods of whistleblowing in that particular organization.