Information System Security Commitment: A Pilot Study of External Influences on Senior Management

This study investigated how external influences motivate senior management to commit to information system security (ISS) by examining the mediating role of senior management between external influences and organizational change. Neo-institutional theory was used to examine normative, mimetic, and coercive mechanisms that affect ISS assimilation in organizations. Findings show senior management beliefs about ISS and participation in ISS mediate effects of external influences on ISS assimilation. The findings from this pilot study give merit to a more comprehensive study, and provide a better understanding of how to motivate senior management to lead ISS in their organizations.