How Employees Learn Information Security Policy Compliance Behavior: Toward a Social Learning Perspective

Information security attacks typically exploit the weakest link in the chain, which is in most cases is the IT end user at the workplace. While great strides have been made in understanding and explaining information security behavior, little is known about how such behavior is acquired by individuals in the first place. This research approaches the phenomenon through the lens of social learning theory. We argue that a new employee\u27s behavior is initially learned through differential associations within the social network, rather than through knowledge of formal policies and associated sanctions. We used a scenario-based experimental approach and collected data from new employees with five years or less of work experience. Our results show that employee’s behavior changes over time. Reinforcement through sanctions becomes more important in the maintenance phase, while imitation of others becomes less relevant

Organizational Behavior Modification: A Model for Public Sector Administrators

This paper reviews the historical development of management theory as it relates to organizational behavior modification (OBM) theory. The relevant empirical literature that relates to OBM is reviewed. The literature review is divided into two categories: (a) business and industry and (b) human service/public sector. Finally, a model of OBM is presented that is tailored toward the needs of the public sector administrator. This model details each element that is necessary to design and implement an OBM intervention strategy to change organizational behavior. Emphasis is placed upon positive consequences. Additionally, the undesirable side effects of negative controls are reviewed.Master of Public AdministrationPublic AdministrationUniversity of Michigan-Flinthttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/143493/1/Rembor.pd

Gainsharing: A Critical Review and a Future Research Agenda

This paper provides a critical review of the extensive literature on gainsharing. It examines the reasons for the fast growth in these programs in recent years and the major prototypes used in the past. Different theoretical formulations making predictions about the behavioral consequences and conditions mediating the success of these programs are discussed and the supporting empirical evidence is examined. The large number of a theoretical case studies and practitioner reports or gainsharing are also summarized and integrated. The article concludes with a suggested research agenda for the future

A META-ANALYSIS OF THE EFFECTS OF ORGANIZATIONAL BEHAVIOR MODIFICATION ON TASK PERFORMANCE, 1975-95

Results of a primary meta-analysis indicated a significant main effect of the organizational behavior modification (O.B. Mod.) approach on task performance (d. = .51; a 17 percent increase) and a significant treatment-by-study interaction. To account for within-group heterogeneity of effect sizes, we conducted a two-level theory-driven moderator analysis by partitioning the sample of studies first into manufacturing and service groups and then into seven classes of reinforcement interventions. Results indicated a stronger average effect of O.B. Mod. in manufacturing organizations, moderation by the type of contingent interventions, and pairwise differences among average effect sizes in both organizational types. The practical implications of these findings for solvin

Ensuring Quality Consumer Service Encounters

Counterproductive employee behaviors are inevitable, unpredictable, and widespread in the U.S. retail industry. The purpose of this multiple case study was to explore U.S. midlevel retail leadership strategies used to prevent and correct employee behaviors that sabotage quality service encounters. Gilbert\u27s behavior engineering model, which links employee behaviors to performance, was the framework used in this study. The data-collection process comprised 7 semistructured interviews with midlevel retail leaders, online company documentation, and researcher observations and assisted in achieving methodological triangulation. Member checking ensured the accuracy of participant responses, while Moustakas\u27 modified van Kaam method was used to guide the data analysis process. Making the customer service experience special, employee rudeness and bad attitudes, and leading by example were the primary emergent themes. The participants revealed key behavior intervention and corrective strategies prior to termination consisted of only 2 steps: coaching or 1-on-1 discussions and formal training. The findings of this study may contribute to retail business practices by expanding existing leadership strategies to engineer employee behaviors that produce consistent quality service encounters, empower employees, improve consumer satisfaction, and increase retail profitability and competitiveness. Resultant retailers\u27 profitability and consumer satisfaction may contribute to social change by directly impacting the U.S. gross domestic product, local communal tax base, and reinforce human civility throughout the retail industry

A Qualitative Exploratory Case Study of Middle School Administrators’, Counselors’, and School-Wide Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports Team Leaders’ Perceptions of School-Wide Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports

Students\u27 disruptive behavior has become more customary over the last several years. Many school systems have implemented a Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports (SWPBIS) approach to deal with these behaviors proactively. This particular study is focused on behaviorism and operant conditioning. A qualitative exploratory case study design was chosen as the most effective method to understand perceptions of the implementation of the SWPBIS framework in a middle school setting. The three data sources include structured focus groups with school administration, counselors, and SWPBIS team members. Additionally, school climate surveys from 2016-2021 and school discipline referrals from 2016-2021 were evaluated. During the focus groups, it was established that the staff recognizes positive behaviors from students, it provided a support system for the staff, and the SWPBIS expectations are clearly defined. The shared themes for school safety are that the research site utilizes data, there are protocols and procedures to follow, and SWPBIS is a process that must be monitored for effectiveness. Additionally, the shared themes for school safety are that the research site utilizes data, there are protocols and procedures to follow, and SWPBIS is a process that must be monitored for effectiveness. The research school behavior data demonstrated a decline through the years in which the data were examined for the study. A sustained SWPBIS program is a combined effort of administrators and teacher leaders who encourage achievement (Scaletta & Tejero Hughes, 2021). However, the researcher has confidence that if implemented with fidelity, SWPBIS is a framework that is effective and demonstrates results

It is Time to Change the Way we Change

Seventy percent of organizational change initiatives fail. Among organizations where change and adaptation are necessary for survival, the U.S. military stands at the top. The disparity between desired health and fitness behaviors and actual behaviors is a glaring reminder that change is difficult to implement and that current change systems struggle. Merit-based systems offer a solution by rewarding and reinforcing good behavior to generate lasting change. This paper evaluates Kotter\u27s Change Model and Nudge Theory and found them insufficient because they do not sufficiently address reinforcement learning or the temporal tie between behaviors and rewards for reinforcement. This paper then examines behavior modification through a theoretical framework called Active Inference. Active Inference suggests agents or organisms will engage in behavioral tradeoffs based on their prior knowledge, present sensing, and future beliefs. This paper suggests that the modeling of behaviors using active inference allows supervisors to predict and target behaviors that will need to be reinforced by a merit-based system to produce long-term change. Finally, this paper examines and recommends the adoption of blockchain play-to-earn models to standardize and automate rewards to produce lasting habits that result in long-term change

The Forgotten Model – Validating the Integrated Behavioral Model in Context of Information Security Awareness

The behavior of employees has a strong influence on the information security of a company. Whether humans behave information security compliant depends on a large extent on their information security awareness (ISA). Social psychology provides an understanding about factors that influence awareness and thus gives relevant insights on how to increase an employee‘s ISA. A promising theory from health psychology is the Integrated Behavioral Model (IBM). To validate the significance of the IBM for ISA, a structured literature review about models that explain ISA has been conducted. The analysis of the found ISA models and their constructs showed that the IBM indeed includes all found factors. Based on the findings, the paper presents an extended model of the IBM within the ISA context with a higher level of detail. The model can be used to analyze individualized ISA and help companies to enhance ISA in a systematic way