A1 Journal article (refereed)
Examining the Side Effects of Organizational Internet Monitoring on Employees (2020)


Jiang, Hemin; Tsohou, Aggeliki; Siponen, Mikko; Li, Ying (2020). Examining the Side Effects of Organizational Internet Monitoring on Employees. Internet Research, 30 (6), 1613-1630. DOI: 10.1108/intr-08-2019-0360


JYU authors or editors


Publication details

All authors or editors: Jiang, Hemin; Tsohou, Aggeliki; Siponen, Mikko; Li, Ying

Journal or series: Internet Research

ISSN: 1066-2243

eISSN: 2054-5657

Publication year: 2020

Volume: 30

Issue number: 6

Pages range: 1613-1630

Publisher: Emerald

Publication country: United Kingdom

Publication language: English

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1108/intr-08-2019-0360

Open Access: Publication channel is not openly available

Publication is parallel published (JYX): https://jyx.jyu.fi/handle/123456789/71057


Abstract

Purpose – Internet monitoring in organizations can be used to monitor risks associated with Internet usage and information systems in organizations, such as employees’ cyberloafing behavior and information security incidents. Extant research has mainly discussed the effect of Internet monitoring in achieving the targeted goals (e.g., mitigating cyberloafing behavior and information security incidents), but little attention has been paid to the possible side effects of Internet monitoring. Drawing on affective events theory, we attempt to reveal that Internet monitoring may cause side effects on employees’ Internet usage policy satisfaction, intrinsic work motivation, and affective organizational commitment.

Design/methodology/approach – The authors conducted a field experiment in a software development company. Seventy employees participated in the study. Mann-Whitney U test was employed to analyze the data.

Findings – The results suggest that Internet monitoring decreased employees’ satisfaction with the Internet usage policy, intrinsic work motivation, as well as affective organizational commitment.

Originality/value – This study contributes to the literature by examining the side effects of Internet monitoring on employees. It also has implications for organizations to make appropriate decisions regarding whether to implement Internet monitoring.


Keywords: Internet; employees; use; usage study; tracking; follow-up study; data security; risks; work motivation; committing oneself

Free keywords: Internet monitoring; policy satisfaction; intrinsic work motivation; affective organizational commitment; field experiment


Contributing organizations


Ministry reporting: Yes

Preliminary JUFO rating: 2


Last updated on 2020-28-10 at 08:53