The Role of Perceptions of Organizational Injustice and Techniques of Neutralization in Forming Computer Abuse Intentions

Insider computer abuse, the problem of intentional computer-related crimes by employees, is a costly problem for firms (Warkentin and Willison, 2009). To counter this threat, IT practitioners and IS researchers assess potential antecedents of and motivations for computer abuse intentions among employees. The theory of organizational justice, the techniques of neutralization, and the role of deterrence are offered as lenses for evaluating the formation of employee disgruntlement leading to computer abuse behaviors. We have evaluated the impacts of these perceived organizational injustice and neutralization on the formation of employee intention to commit computer abuse activities in violation of security policies and procedures, with additional influences of deterrence. Utilizing the factorial survey method, we have empirically evaluated the association between these antecedents.