Encouraging Knowledge Workers’ Security Practices through Psychological Empowerment

Literature and industrial surveys have suggested the critical role of knowledge workers in protecting organizations’ information assets. However, the programs designed to encourage knowledge workers to actively engage in securing behaviors are less effective than expected. In this study, we examine the impact of work environment factors on knowledge workers’ psychological empowerment and how psychological empowerment motivates individuals’ learning-oriented and performance-oriented security practices. The results from a sample of 75 survey participants suggest that perceived sanction and perceived value invoke knowledge workers’ psychological empowerment. Psychological empowerment motivates the individuals’ both types of security practices. The implications and future directions of the study are discussed.