The Effect of Codes of Ethics and Personal Denial of Responsibility on Computer Abuse Judgments and Intentions

This research asks whether codes of ethics affect computer abuse judgments and intentions of information systems (IS) employees. Codes of ethics examined include both company codes of ethics and those written specifically to deal with IS issues. In addition, since the intent of codes of ethics is to...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:MIS quarterly 1996-09, Vol.20 (3), p.257-278
Main Author: Harrington, Susan J.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Behavior
Behavior deterrence
Business ethics
Business structures
Computer programming
Corporate responsibility
Crime
Cybercrime
Cybersecurity
Decision making
Departments
Employees
Ethical behavior
Ethical codes
Information systems
Management information systems
Moral judgment
Morality
Psychological aspects
Sanctions
Scandals
Statistical analysis
Studies
Theory and Research
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Summary:This research asks whether codes of ethics affect computer abuse judgments and intentions of information systems (IS) employees. Codes of ethics examined include both company codes of ethics and those written specifically to deal with IS issues. In addition, since the intent of codes of ethics is to clarify responsibility and deter unethical behavior, both the psychological trait of responsibility denial and its moderating effect on codes was studied. While company codes did not affect the computer abuse judgments and intentions of all IS personnel, they did affect those IS personnel who tend to deny responsibility, thus suggesting that company codes may clarify responsibility and reduce rationalizations for some people. Unlike company codes, IS-specific codes of ethics had a direct effect on computer sabotage judgments and intentions, but had no differential effect on those high in responsibility denial. Finally, responsibility denial was directly related to all computer abuse judgments and intentions studied. Overall, codes had little effect on computer abuse judgments and intentions relative to the psychological trait of responsibility denial.
ISSN:0276-7783
2162-9730
DOI:10.2307/249656