Design and Fitting of an Organizational Whistleblowing Model (Systemic Disclosure) in the Administrative System Using Interpretive Structural Modeling and Structural Equation Modeling (Case Study: Municipality)
Keywords:
Structural equations, Interpretive structure, Whistleblowing, Administrative system, Systemic whistleblowingAbstract
This study aims to design and empirically fit a comprehensive organizational whistleblowing model based on a systemic disclosure approach in the municipal administrative system. A mixed-methods design was employed, using Interpretive Structural Modeling (ISM) with 22 experts in the qualitative phase and Structural Equation Modeling based on questionnaire data from 193 municipal employees and experts in the quantitative phase. ISM results indicated that cultural–social and legal–institutional components occupy higher hierarchical levels and exert the strongest driving power on whistleblowing behavior, whereas individual and technological components function mainly as facilitating factors; structural equation results confirmed good model fit, significant direct effects of organizational and legal components, and mediating roles of individual and cultural components. The findings suggest that institutionalizing whistleblowing in administrative systems requires an integrated strategy combining cultural reinforcement, legal and organizational protection mechanisms, and effective use of modern technologies to enhance transparency and accountability.
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