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An investigation into factors relating to speaking up in the workplace.  

 

A thesis (90 credits) presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of 

 

 

Master’s in Business Studies 

in 

Management 

 

 

at Massey University, Extramural, 

New Zealand 

Vardeep K Randhawa 

2017 

 



ii 
 

Abstract 

 

This study investigates the factors that enable or prevent employees to speak up. Effective 

employee communication is vital in early detection of problems. Employee silence is defined 

as the deliberate withholding of information useful to the progress of an organization. 

Empowered employees will take personal accountability and ownership of issues. In an 

increasingly competitive market employee communication and reaction to change is vital for 

the success or failure of an organization. Previous research has found that failure of 

employees to speak up can have significant consequences, including decreased innovation 

and productivity; unreported health and safety incidents; stress; depression; and lower 

commitment and job satisfaction. This study (N = 240) has confirmed that employees may 

not speak up out of fear of being labelled in a negative manner. Employees are more likely 

to speak up when they feel it is safe and worthwhile. This study provides recommendations 

for managers for enabling and encouraging employees. The present study has found trust in 

supervisor, supervisor support and self-monitoring were found to be significant predictors of 

speaking up.  

 

Key words: Employee voice, employee silence, communication, management, speaking up.  



iii 
 

Acknowledgements 

 

I would like to express my appreciation to everyone who supported this research project. I 

am very grateful to my research supervisors Dr David Brougham (PhD), Senior Lecturer and 

Mrs Beth Tootell, Lecturer. Thank you both for your guidance and support; your knowledge 

and work ethics are exemplary. I am grateful to the Massey University Department of 

Management for providing administrative support. A special thank you to family and friends 

who took time to take part in my research. To my husband, Harry, thank you for your support. 

Finally, my baby son, Shawn, the greatest inspiration and joy I’ve known.  

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



iv 
 

 

Table of contents 

Abstract .................................................................................................................. ii 

Acknowledgements ............................................................................................... iii 

List of tables ...................................................................................................... vi 

Chapter 1. Introduction. .......................................................................................... 1 

Chapter 2. Literature Review  ................................................................................. 3 

2.1 Organisational Change ...................................................................................... 3 

2.2 Loyalty and Neglect ......................................................................................... 4 

2.3 Employee Voice ................................................................................................ 4 

2.4 Silence .............................................................................................................. 5 

2.5 Organisational Citizenship Behaviour ............................................................... 6 

2.6 Mum effect ....................................................................................................... 7 

2.7 Spiral of silence ................................................................................................ 8 

2.8 Organisational justice ....................................................................................... 9 

2.9 Whistle blowing ............................................................................................. 10 

2.10 Summary ....................................................................................................... 11 

Chapter 3. Significant Prior Research ................................................................... 13 

3.1 Silence ............................................................................................................ 13 

3.2 Voice .............................................................................................................. 14 



v 
 

3.3 Negative feedback .......................................................................................... 14 

3.4 Self-monitoring .............................................................................................. 15 

3.5 Employee communication .............................................................................. 17 

3. 6 Job satisfaction .............................................................................................. 17 

3.7 Workplace commitment .................................................................................. 18 

3.8 Perceived Organizational Support (POS) ........................................................ 19 

3.9 Trust ............................................................................................................... 20 

3.10 Management practices .................................................................................. 20 

3.11 Demographic factors ..................................................................................... 22 

3. 12 Work flows .................................................................................................. 23 

4. 1 Research design ............................................................................................. 24 

4.2 Procedures ...................................................................................................... 25 

4.3 Ethics ............................................................................................................. 26 

4.5 Data Analysis ................................................................................................. 31 

Chapter 5. Results or Findings .............................................................................. 33 

Chapter 6. Discussion ............................................................................................. 1 

6.1 Recommendations .......................................................................................... 10 

6.1 Limitations ..................................................................................................... 10 

6.2 Future directions for research ......................................................................... 12 

Chapter 7. Conclusion  ......................................................................................... 14 



vi 
 

Appendix 1: Questionnaire ................................................................................... 27 

Appendix 2: Online view of questionnaire ............................................................ 45 

Appendix 3: Results of open ended question .......................................................... 1 

 

 

List of tables  

1.1 Demographic statistics  

1.2  Reliability analysis  

1.3 Regression data  

1.4 Summary of comments from open ended question