Brokering or sitting between two chairs? A group perspective on workplace gossip

@article{1875277,
   author = {Estévez Navarro, José Luis and Takács, Károly},
   article_number = {08 July 2022},
   doi = {http://dx.doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2022.815383},
   keywords = {Workplace gossip; Organizational networks; Informal groups; Brokerage; Multilevel analysis},
   language = {eng},
   issn = {1664-1078},
   journal = {Frontiers in Psychology},
   title = {Brokering or sitting between two chairs? A group perspective on workplace gossip},
   url = {https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2022.815383/full},
   volume = {13},
   year = {2022}
}

TY  - JOUR
ID  - 1875277
AU  - Estévez Navarro, José Luis - Takács, Károly
PY  - 2022
TI  - Brokering or sitting between two chairs? A group perspective on workplace gossip
JF  - Frontiers in Psychology
VL  - 13
IS  - 08 July 2022
SP  - 1-16
EP  - 1-16
PB  - Frontiers Media
SN  - 16641078
KW  - Workplace gossip
KW  - Organizational networks
KW  - Informal groups
KW  - Brokerage
KW  - Multilevel analysis
UR  - https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2022.815383/full
N2  - Brokerage is a central concept in the organization literature. It has been argued that individuals in broker positions—i.e., connecting otherwise disconnected parts within a firm’s social network—can control the flow of information. It would imply their increased relevance in workplace gossip. This allegation, however, has not been addressed empirically yet. To fill this gap, we apply social network analysis techniques to relational data from six organizations in Hungary. First, we identify informal groups and individuals in broker positions. Then, we use this information to predict the likelihood with which positive or negative gossip is reported. We find more gossip when the sender and receiver are part of the same group and more positive gossip about in-group rather than out-group targets. Individuals in broker positions are more likely the senders and targets of negative gossip. Finally, even if both the brokers and the boss(es) are the targets of their colleagues’ negative gossip, the combination of the two categories (bosses in broker positions) does not predict more negative gossip anymore. Results are discussed in relation to the theoretical accounts on brokerage that emphasize its power for information control but fail to recognize the pitfalls of being in such positions.
ER  - 

ESTÉVEZ NAVARRO, José Luis a Károly TAKÁCS. Brokering or sitting between two chairs? A group perspective on workplace gossip. \textit{Frontiers in Psychology}. Frontiers Media, 2022, roč.~13, 08 July 2022, s.~1-16. ISSN~1664-1078. Dostupné z: https://dx.doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2022.815383.