Theories Of Whistleblowing

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There are number of study regarding to whistleblowing from different aspect of perspectives. A theory is needed in which the nature and parameters of appropriate whistleblowing have to specify in order to articulate coherent understanding of whistleblowing (Hoffman and McNulty, 2010).
In the classic textbook business Ethics of Richard De George, he discussed about the morality of whistleblowing. According to De George, he specifies three positions regarding whistleblowing which whistleblowing as morally prohibited, as morally permitted, and as morally required. De George’s whistleblowing criteria have been referred to as representing the standard theory on whistleblowing (David, 1996; Hoffman and Schwartz, 2014). He was refuted that whistleblowing …show more content…

This criteria seems support to internal whistleblowing, perhaps because it might cause loss to the company if whistleblowing externally. However, if one’s superiors in the organization were directly or indirectly involved in the offending action or policy, it might make things worse and put the whistleblower at great personal risk (Hoffman and McNulty, 2010).
The appropriateness of whistleblowing depends to a large extent on the circumstances. A good theory of whistleblowing should provide guideline in how to minimize harm to any stakeholders of an organization. The focus should on how to attain the most ethical resolution rather instead of depend on the position of the person to whom one reports the malpractice to determine the validity of whistleblowing.
Hoffman and McNulty (2010) further their study to establish a more robust theory of whistleblowing based on ethical principles because of the inadequate in the criteria of De George’s ethical theory of whistleblowing. The central ethical principle of business ethics is “the recognition of the universal dignity or worth of all human beings and the necessity for all business actins to reflect respect for that dignity” according to Hoffman and McNulty (2010). With this

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