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The Mitigation of Information Security Role Stress: The Role of Information Security Policy Goal Setting and Regulatory Focus

정보보안 업무 스트레스의 완화: 정보보안 정책 목표 설정 및 조절초점의 역할

  • In-Ho Hwang (College of General Education, Kookmin University)
  • Received : 2023.08.29
  • Accepted : 2023.12.27
  • Published : 2023.12.31

Abstract

Socially, organizations are required to maintain strict management of their information resources and invest in the adoption of information security (IS) technologies and policies. However, the ongoing threat of information exposure by employees persists within the organization. This study aims to identify the role stress that employees may experience due to strict IS policies and propose methods for reducing its negative impact. Specifically, our study suggests a mechanism for mitigating role stress by incorporating factors related to IS policy goal setting and work regulatory focus. We conducted a survey among workers in the financial industry, where IS policies are rigorously enforced, and tested our research hypotheses using a sample of 309 participants. The results indicate that increasing the difficulty and specificity of IS policy goals reduces role stress (conflict and ambiguity) and positively influences employees' intention to comply with IS policies. Furthermore, individual work promotion focus moderated the relationship between role stress and IS compliance intention. These findings have important implications for organizations seeking to strengthen their IS compliance among employees and inform the development of effective IS strategies.

사회적으로, 조직들은 보유한 정보 자원의 엄격한 관리를 요구받고 있으며, 정보보안을 위한 기술과 정책에 투자를 높이고 있다. 반면, 조직원에 의한 정보 노출 위협은 지속해서 발생하고 있다. 연구의 목적은 보안정책에 의해 발생할 수 있는 업무 스트레스의 부정적 영향을 감소하는 방안을 제시하는 것이다. 세부적으로, 연구는 조직 환경(보안정책 목표 설정), 개인의 업무 지향성(조절초점) 요소를 반영하여, 업무 스트레스 완화 메커니즘을 제시하고자 하였다. 연구는 정보보안을 엄격하게 활용하고 있는 금융업 근로자에게 설문하였으며, 확보된 309건의 표본을 적용하여 가설을 검정하였다. 분석 결과, 연구는 보안정책 목표 관련 난이도와 구체성이 업무 스트레스(갈등, 모호성)를 감소시키고, 준수 의도에 영향을 주는 것을 확인하였다. 또한, 개인의 업무 향상 초점이 업무 스트레스와 상호작용 효과를 가져, 준수 의도에 미치는 부정적 영향을 축소할 수 있음을 확인하였다. 연구의 결과는 조직원의 보안 준수 강화를 위한 조직의 보안 전략 수립에 의미를 제공한다.

Keywords

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