The mediating effect of intrinsic motivation on perceived work uncertainty for individual information security policy compliance
- UNCG Author/Contributor (non-UNCG co-authors, if there are any, appear on document)
- Darin Hodges (Creator)
- Institution
- The University of North Carolina at Greensboro (UNCG )
- Web Site: http://library.uncg.edu/
- Advisor
- Kane Smith
Abstract: This dissertation is centered on investigating how employees' intrinsic motivation mediates the relationship between perceived work uncertainty and individual information security policy compliance. As stay-at-home orders, and unemployment increased, surveys indicated that 49% of traditional office employees experienced remote working for the first time. Work systems rapidly shifted to a reliance on home WIFI networks, personal computers, and personal anti-virus software. This move created vulnerabilities to information security policies and procedures where almost 20% of work from home employees were given no tips to improve information security at home (Security 2020). Unemployment increased, and remaining employees had to adapt to changing work tasks, reduced or lacking resources, and minimal technical or managerial support to navigate job uncertainty while maintaining overall information security. With organizational threats to information security increasing, it is becoming clear that little attention has been given to how individuals become intrinsically motivated when the design of work itself becomes uncertain. Taking into account the changing work and job environment and the uncertainty which this environment facilitates, we have identified a research gap in which the need for individuals to rely on their skills and abilities to interpret work needs during uncertain times, and the overall intrinsically driven work motivation required to comply with organizational ISP’s during times of perceived work uncertainty, has not been investigated. Using a theoretical basis of Work Design theory (Wall et al., 2002) and Self-determination theory of work motivation (Gange and Deci, 2005), we performed a cross-sectional survey of 269 participants at the onset and height of the global pandemic. One of the primary implications of this study and our results is the indirect mediation by intrinsic motivation of the relationship between perceived work uncertainty and intentions to comply with information security policies. Another vital aspect of our study’s findings is the view that information security policies (ISP) themselves can become the source of uncertainty in compliance decisions. Most all ISPs are developed to bring clarity to employees on how to address security threats while making compliance decisions. Where ISPs have been investigated about the demands (and impositions) they place on work goal attainment (or inhibiting work requirements), we have found that ISPs may not be able to provide answers to all security threats encountered. Overall, our results should invigorate the debate about which strategies increase intrinsic motivation and what methods should be deployed to maximize positive reactions during uncertainty concerning information security compliance behaviors. This study has provided evidence that organizations should design work practices, especially ISPs, that allow employees latitude to make ISP compliance decisions when ISPs are unclear or uncertain and where managers similarly cannot provide correct courses of remedy or action.
The mediating effect of intrinsic motivation on perceived work uncertainty for individual information security policy compliance
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Created on 5/1/2022
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Additional Information
- Publication
- Dissertation
- Language: English
- Date: 2022
- Keywords
- Information Security Policy Compliance, Information System Security, Intrinsic Motivation, SETA, Work Design, Work Uncertainty
- Subjects
- Business enterprises $x Computer networks $x Security measures
- Information technology $x Security measures
- Employees $x Training of
- Employee motivation