Analyzing the impact of Hofstede's dimensions on security culture

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Helsinki University of Technology | Diplomityö
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Date

2005

Major/Subject

Tietokoneverkot

Mcode

T-110

Degree programme

Language

en

Pages

77 s.

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Abstract

Information security and security culture have been identified to be social issues rather than technological issues. People are the weakest link in information security and needs to be dealt with. Hofstede's study on work-related values focus on people and how they interact with their surroundings. By addressing the cross-cultural differences on how people perceive rules, orders and changes, we can identify problems that will arise when we attempt to introduce a security policy in an organization. People will react differently to new rules depending on their cultural background. The identified tasks related to the four dimensions of Hofstede were partially verified through a case study conducted at Tekla Defence, an organization with a high level of security that builds command and control systems for the Finnish Defence Forces. Interviews with the managers and employees verified to some extent the presented model in which cultural differences are seen to influence the success of constructing a security culture. The reason for addressing cultural differences is that organizations tend to grow past national boarders and become international. Cultural diversity makes it more difficult for organizations to control security. The model presented in this thesis gives an initial insight into the problems that may arise from introducing and managing security.

Description

Supervisor

Virtanen, Teemupekka

Thesis advisor

Kuusisto, Rauno

Keywords

security culture, säkerhetskultur, Hofstede, Hofstede, Habermas, Habermas, introducing security, arbetsrelaterade värderingar, work-related values, introducering av säkerhet

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