Ethics in Security Management: Development of a Theoretical Model

Abstract

This study used qualitative interviews (n = 15) to identify a grounded theory related to ethics in security management. The study explored how educators in graduate level organizational Security Management programs in the United States describe their definitions of ethics in security management and the role that ethics play in security management as a practice and as a profession. The research findings resulted in the creation of a theoretical model for ethics in security management emphasizing a balance between various personal and professional factors. In addition, the findings resulted in a model for the role of ethics in organizational security, which is based on trust, and combines security's heightened authority and access to information with increased exposure to potential ethical decisions, which result in significant personal, organizational, and professional consequences for ethical failure.

KEYWORDS:

• Ethics
• security management
• grounded theory
• profession
• corporate social responsibility