
Whistleblowing Procedures: A CoBS Research Pod on download.
What is whistleblowing and how does it work? Why fear it? And how can a robust speak up system bring benefits for both the company, its workforce, and society?
Whistleblowers, in the main, are not narcissistic attention-seekers, betraying their colleagues. Research shows that they tend to be people who have a regulatory obligation to report, or feel a strong duty to the norms of their profession. They act out of a desire to stop wrongdoing and prevent it from recurring. And they do so often with great concern about whether their actions will harm their colleagues, or the image of the organisation that they want to protect.
Adopting robust whistleblowing procedures can enable organisations to avoid damage to reputation that accompanies a situation where a whistleblower feels ignored by management and compelled to take a matter public. Whistleblowing procedures should also reduce the prospects of the whistleblower suffering damaging repercussions.
Prof. Marianna Fotaki of Warwick Business School highlights the key factors in designing, setting up and implementing a robust whistleblowing procedure.
Whistleblowing Procedure: A CoBS Research – the third in a series of Council on Business & Society condensed learning capsules inspired from internationally published research in the fields of CSR, management and leadership, HR, finance and reporting, social enterprise, entrepreneurship, philanthropy, and sustainable business practices.
For managers, entrepreneurs, leaders, instructors and those with an interest in research with an impact. Ramp up your knowledge, improve your teams, gain in leadership, reshape your business or give your teaching, training or coaching a new dynamic.

Whistleblowing Procedures: Download the Research Pod
- Download a related CoBS Research Pod: Ethics & Compliance management in firms
Learn more about the Council on Business & Society
The Council on Business & Society (The CoBS), visionary in its conception and purpose, was created in 2011, and is dedicated to promoting responsible leadership and tackling issues at the crossroads of business and society including sustainability, diversity, ethical leadership and the place responsible business has to play in contributing to the common good.
Member schools are all “Triple Crown” accredited AACSB, EQUIS and AMBA and leaders in their respective countries.
- ESSEC Business School, France-Singapore-Morocco
- FGV-EAESP, Brazil
- School of Management Fudan University, China
- IE Business School, Spain
- Keio Business School, Japan
- Stellenbosch Business School, South Africa
- Trinity Business School, Trinity College Dublin, Ireland
- Warwick Business School, United Kingdom.
