GOSSIP IN THE ORGANIZATIONAL ENVIRONMENT: A Bibliometric Analysis of Global Scientific Production (2020-2025)

Uma Análise Bibliométrica da Produção Científica Global (2020-2025)

Abstract

Gossip is a social phenomenon present in all social relationships, including organizations, influencing interpersonal relations, informal communication, and perceptions in the workplace. Given the importance of the topic, this study aimed to analyze the global scientific production on gossip, with an emphasis on the organizational context, from 2020 to 2025, through a bibliometric approach. The research was based on 305 articles indexed in the Scopus database, analyzed with the aid of the VOSviewer software. The results indicate a growth in publications over the period and show that the literature is structured mainly around relational and communicational axes, and the distinction between positive and negative gossip, mediated by evaluation and perception processes. Based on these findings, the study highlights practical implications for organizations, emphasizing the importance of human resources management strategies aimed at improving internal communication, strengthening interpersonal relationships, and taking preventive action regarding conflicts arising from informal communication. It is concluded that, although gossip is often associated with negative effects, understanding it as a complex social phenomenon can support more conscious management practices aligned with the informal dynamics of the work environment.