The Fox Is Guarding The Henhouse: Can Interpersonal Conflict Damage An Organization's Information Security?

Abstract

As computer networks grow ever more interconnected, securing an organization's information is becoming increasingly vital. At the forefront of this threat is that of the insider, an individual who is already behind the firewall. Extant literature related to the causes and motivation behind malicious insider behavior is lacking.This study examines whether workplace interpersonal conflict can motivate an individual to retaliate against an organization's digital information assets. The moderating effects of organizational justice and anger control are also explored to determine whether these constructs can mitigate the risk of retaliatory behavior. The link between Anger and subsequent aggression are also examined. To test the hypotheses, an online survey was carried out on a student sample, resulting in 232 usable responses. Principle Least Squares (PLS) and Bootstrapping was used to analyze the data. The results supported all of our hypotheses, indicating that interpersonal conflict can induce anger, which subsequently can lead an individual to violate an organization's Information Security Policies. Organizational Justice significantly reduces the effect of conflict on anger and anger control significantly reduces the effect of anger on policy violating behavior.