Adopting an ICT code of conduct : An empirical study of organizational factors

Purpose – Following the example of Anglo‐Saxon companies, French companies are increasingly establishing codes of conduct specific to the use of information and communication technologies (ICT). A review of literature reveals that such codes have multiple goals, such as improving efficiency of use, IS security awareness, and ethics. This paper aims to identify organizational factors influencing the adoption and diffusion of a formal code of conduct. Design/methodology/approach – A survey was administered to 505 companies. In order to highlight the emerging nature of this practice, the study was conducted in similar conditions for two consecutive years (2002 and 2003). Findings – Results indicate that though still marginal, the adoption of ICT codes of conduct concerns an increasing number of companies. This practice is related to the degree of standardization, technological context (the degree of virtualization and the strategic importance placed on ICT by the management) and size of the organization. However, the adoption of ICT codes of conduct is not associated with specific industry sectors and nationalities. Research limitations/implications – The study was conducted in France and a generalization of the results to other countries may be questionable. Originality/value – The paper deals with a topic that has received little attention to date. The contribution of this paper is two‐fold: a previously unperformed review of research involving ICT codes of conduct, and empirical results describing the organizational factors of an ICT code of conduct diffusion. It allows a better understanding of this emerging IS management practice.