Shaping Secure Behavior through Social Support Structures: An Empirical Examination

This study examines how organizational social forces shape employees’ security behaviors through a resource-based perspective grounded in role theory and Conservation of Resources (COR) theory. We propose that supervisor security embodiment (SSE) and IS department support shape the extent to which security role expectations are perceived by employees as well-defined. Clarity in security role expectations is in turn expected to then intrinsically drive expression of security role-related behaviors via identity motivations. After developing the research model guiding this study, an empirical testing strategy is outlined with attention to mitigating specific methodological risks and limitations.