Secrecy at Work: The Hidden Architecture of Organizational Life

Synopsis

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.