Secrecy at Work: The Hidden Architecture of Organizational Life

by Christopher Grey and Jana Costas

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Secrecy is endemic within organizations, woven into the fabric of our lives at work. Yet, until now, we've had an all-too-limited understanding of this powerful organizational force. Secrecy is a part of work, and keeping secrets is a form of work. But also, secrecy creates a social order—a hidden architecture within our organizations. Drawing on previously overlooked texts, as well as well-known classics, Jana Costas and Christopher Grey identify three forms of secrecy: formal secrecy, as we see in the case of trade and state secrets based on law and regulation; informal secrecy based on networks and trust; and public or open secrecy, where what is known goes undiscussed. Animated with evocative examples from scholarship, current events, and works of fiction, this framework presents a bold reimagining of organizational life.

  • ISBN10 0804789010
  • ISBN13 9780804789011
  • Publish Date 30 March 2016
  • Publish Status Active
  • Publish Country US
  • Imprint Stanford University Press
  • Format Hardcover
  • Pages 216
  • Language English