Organization Grapevines

I have been fascinated with organizational grapevines [or informal communication networks]. I remember reading an article several years ago which highlighted the results of a study in the US Government. What fascinated me were some of the results: not only did people trust them more that the formal links, but many elements of the messages turned out to be true.

Since then, I have been interested in writing my thesis on this topic [replicating the study in a private company. However, in doing my lit review, there are few articles on that topic which go beyond "here's how you solve the problem."

Can anyone point out some references, studies or books which talk about the efficacy and or accuracy of grapevines?

Thanks!

• Organizational grapevines by Rolf Marvin Bøe Lindgren, 10/2/97
• Organizational Grapevines: A Different Take by Tom Zrubek, 10/10/97
• Grapevines, Gender, Race, and Sexual Orientation by Charlie Seashore, 10/11/97
• Thanks and Still Plowing Away by Steve Romanelli, 10/13/97