I know many organizations that say (especially in meetings and presentations) they want candor and open dialog. But this piece from the The Charleston Gazette shows how organizations can stray far from the spirit of candor. Specifically, how Kaiser Permanente reacted to a scathing email.
Maybe you would say Mr. Deal should tried a different approach. I guess you could say that, but I think this story says a lot about the cultish nature of some organizations. See my post on this from August of 2006. It addresses some of what happened at Kaiser.
I always think giving your opinion is an art. You have to know the players, know the pulse of the room, know what words to use, etc. But in the end, if the company only cares about one opinion (their own), then you might be working for a cult.
This reminds me of the time Arthur Andersen got into some hot water with Enron. I agree it’s an art to give your opinion in a way that people will listen to you, otherwise you may be seen as a disruptive force.