International Journal of Computer Applications |
Foundation of Computer Science (FCS), NY, USA |
Volume 112 - Number 2 |
Year of Publication: 2015 |
Authors: Saleh Alumaran, Giampaolo Bella, Feng Chen |
10.5120/19639-1217 |
Saleh Alumaran, Giampaolo Bella, Feng Chen . The Role and Impact of Cultural Dimensions on Information Systems Security in Saudi Arabia National Health Service. International Journal of Computer Applications. 112, 2 ( February 2015), 21-28. DOI=10.5120/19639-1217
Organisation culture has become an important part of an organisation's strategy to promote its performance and productivity. The study of organisation culture's role on information security has attracted scholars as well as industry leaders to research the topic and find appropriate tools and approaches to develop positive information about security culture. Information security is one of the main concerns of organisation management and has become one of the information management strategies. Healthcare service providers manage, control and transmit large amounts of information in traditional, hardcopy, and electronic records and health service information security has become one of the main challenges of the health services authorities worldwide. Health services in Saudi Arabia have expanded in the last few decades, and the implementation of information security systems has become an essential part of health services. However, the health services lack any framework for the information security culture that the healthcare authority can use and adopt. This study is the first research in the field measuring the role and impact of culture on information management in Saudi Arabia. The research investigated and analysed the role and impact of cultural dimensions on information security in Saudi Arabia health service. Hypotheses were tested and two surveys were carried out in order to collect data and information from three major hospitals in Saudi Arabia (SA). The first survey identified the main cultural-dimension problems in SA health services and developed an initial information security culture framework model. The second survey evaluated and tested the developed framework model to test its usefulness, reliability and applicability. The framework can be used as part of the authority's strategic planning on information security policies, employees' training and the structure and activities of health services.