دانلود رایگان مقاله چگونگی درز اسرار شرکت به عمد

Abstract

Although the protection of secrets is often vital to the survival of organizations, at other times organizations can benefit by deliberately leaking secrets to outsiders. We explore how and why this is the case. We identify two dimensions of leaks: (1) whether the information in the leak is factual or concocted and (2) whether leaks are conducted overtly or covertly. Using these two dimensions, we identify four types of leaks: informing, dissembling, misdirecting, and provoking. We also provide a framework to help managers decide whether or not they should leak secrets.

6. Conclusion

At the beginning of this article, we noted that organizations often share information with the outside world. Our goal was to illuminate one aspect of this–—the decision to deliberately leak secrets–—and the challenges and opportunities that accompany it.We have identified four types of leaks, introduced a decision-making framework that companies can use to guide their decision making when considering whether or not to leak their secrets to outsiders, and illustrated our ideas with real-life examples of leaked secrets and leaking firms. Ultimately, a firm’s choice regarding whether or not to leak secrets involves weighing the risks of a leak against the potential returns. In this article, we have worked to clarify the risks and returns of each type of leak. In doing so, we have provided managers a way to arrive at more informed decisions about whether or not to leak secrets. We encourage academics to devote more time and attention to this important aspect of organizational functioning. After all, the evidence suggests that firms that leak secrets may be doing very well; it appears that some of the most prolific and careful leakers are also among the most profitable companies in the world.