ABSTRACT
This chapter reviews the conditions for the theoretical contributions of this book by setting two literatures in place as departure points for Chapters 3–15. First, we premise that the act of whistleblowing is a quintessential example of voice, which presumes that—even though it is often costly—speaking up is the primary mechanism for organizational change. Second, the journey of the whistleblower is obstacle laden, which makes it understandable as a hero’s odyssey. Despite taking place within a bureaucracy, this is a mythological story that includes the sequences of a calling, resistance, obstacles, a helper, a trial, and a resolution. Our review of voice and heroism is followed by describing the sources that served as data for the chapter writers, including Chapter 1, transcripts of 17 hours of in—depth interviews with PJS, annual reports, public external investigations, news articles, and other archival materials. The purpose of this book is to tell a whistleblowing story and demonstrate the value of theory.
