The Journal of the Southern Association for Information Systems
Introduction
Alice Johnson’s article in this issue researches the factors under which subjects decide to participate in information security research.
The widespread deployment of information systems has generated a great need to ensure information security. The continual publicizing of security breaches has raised the level of awareness of security and generated a pressing need to ensure the safety of data within the organization. Organizations have therefore responded to this need by allocating more resources to security in the form of an initiative such as intrusion-detection etc. Several streams or research have emerged investigating how organizations can best respond to this threat. However, finding sites for the research is very difficult, since it often involves access to sensitive data. Johnson interviewed thirteen information security managers about their perceptions about being involved in research studies. In her analysis, she developed a model of how managers decide to participate in such studies in which perceived strategic value of the study is positively associated with the decision to participate
The article is important to academicians as it provides additional confirmation of the link between strategic value and the decision to participate in research. This implies that in seeking research venues that researchers should emphasize the strategic, value-added benefits to potential subjects. Managers in information intensive industries or any industry where information security seems to be a strategic necessity might be more open to solicitations for participation. Finally, researchers should emphasize the value add to the potential participant in their solicitations.
Michael Cuellar, Editor