Open access repository

Home Open access repository

In 2014, we launched our open-access repository which offers full text access to conference proceedings from many of our events including the INC and HAISA series. These papers are free to access and distribute (subject to citing the source).

» Openaccess proceedings » Ninth International Symposium on Human Aspects of Information Security & Assurance (HAISA 2015)

Ninth International Symposium on Human Aspects of Information Security & Assurance (HAISA 2015)

Ninth International Symposium on Human Aspects of Information Security & Assurance (HAISA 2015)
Lesvos, Greece, July 1-3, 2015
ISBN: 978-1-84102-388-5

Title: New Insights Into Understanding Manager’s Intentions to Overlook ISP Violation in Organizations through Escalation of Commitment Factors
Author(s): Miranda Kajtazi, Ella Kolkowska, Burcu Bulgurcu
Reference: pp131-140
Keywords: Escalation of commitment, ISP violation, IT-industry, completion effect, sunk costs.
Abstract: This paper addresses managers’ intentions to overlook their employees’ Information Security Policy (ISP) violation, in circumstances when on-going projects have to be completed and delivered even if ISP violation must take place to do so. The motivation is based on the concern that ISP violation can be influenced by escalation of commitment factors. Escalation is a phenomenon that explains how employees in organizations often get involved in nonperforming projects, commonly reflecting the tendency of persistence, when investments of resources have been initiated. We develop a theoretical understanding based on Escalation of Commitment theory that centres on two main factors of noncompliance, namely completion effect and sunk costs. We tested our theoretical concepts in a pilot study, based on qualitative and quantitative data received from 16 respondents from the IT – industry, each representing one respondent from the management level. The results show that while some managers are very strict about not accepting any form of ISP violation in their organization, their beliefs start to change when they realize that such form of violation may occur when their employees are closer to completion of a project. Our in-depth interviews with 3 respondents in the follow-up study, confirm the tension created between compliance with the ISP and the completion of the project. The results indicate that the larger the investments of time, efforts and money in a project, the more the managers consider that violation is acceptable.
Download count: 1387

How to get this paper:

Download a free PDF copy of this paperBuy this book at Lulu.com

PDF copy of this paper is free to download. You may distribute this copy providing you cite this page as the source.