International Journal of Management and Decision Making http://www.inderscience.com/browse/index.php?journalID=19&year=2011&vol=11&issue=5/6 Inderscience Publishers Ltd en-uk International Journal of Management and Decision Making 1462-4621 1741-5187 © 2011 Inderscience Publishers Ltd editor@inderscience.com https://www.inderscience.com/images/files/coverImgs/ijmdm_scoverijmdm.jpg http://www.inderscience.com/browse/index.php?journalID=19&year=2011&vol=11&issue=5/6 http://www.inderscience.com/link.php?id=43405 Corporations that encounter what they consider harmful criticism posted on the internet have resorted to lawsuits against the posters, or where the posters are anonymous, have tried to obtain subpoenas to learn the identities of the posters. State legislatures and courts have taken a dim view of the tactic, terming it as designed to strangle public participation and in violation of the First Amendment protection of speech in the United States Constitution. Many states have passed statutes to combat the so-called 'Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation' (SLAPP) and there is a move to introduce federal legislation in this area. This paper examines the development of SLAPPs and their relation to First Amendment jurisprudence, from a non-corporate viewpoint. It also discusses corporate attempts to pierce the anonymity veil on the internet and the corresponding legal responses. Negative comments online: SLAPPing the First Amendment in the USA
John N. Gathegi
International Journal of Management and Decision Making, Vol. 11, No. 5/6 (2011) pp. 301 - 311
Corporations that encounter what they consider harmful criticism posted on the internet have resorted to lawsuits against the posters, or where the posters are anonymous, have tried to obtain subpoenas to learn the identities of the posters. State legislatures and courts have taken a dim view of the tactic, terming it as designed to strangle public participation and in violation of the First Amendment protection of speech in the United States Constitution. Many states have passed statutes to combat the so-called 'Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation' (SLAPP) and there is a move to introduce federal legislation in this area. This paper examines the development of SLAPPs and their relation to First Amendment jurisprudence, from a non-corporate viewpoint. It also discusses corporate attempts to pierce the anonymity veil on the internet and the corresponding legal responses.

]]> 10.1504/IJMDM.2011.043405 International Journal of Management and Decision Making, Vol. 11, No. 5/6 (2011) pp. 301 - 311 John N. Gathegi School of Information, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL 33620, USA First Amendment United States Constitution USA Bill of Rights constitutional freedoms free speech Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation SLAPP freedom of speech Anti-SLAPP cyberSLAPP anonymity internet posts negative comments harmful criticism online postings virtual posters subpoenas poster identities state legislatures legal systems law courts statutes federal legislation jurisprudence non-corporate viewpoints legal responses management decision making cyber harassment corporations internet world wide web. 2011-10-27T23:20:50-05:00 11 5/6 301 311 2011-10-27T23:20:50-05:00 http://www.inderscience.com/link.php?id=43406 This article presents an economic model that explicitly reflects the interdependent risk structure of a cyber network. We find that due to this interdependent risk structure, the level of cyber risk protection in the community is inefficient from the community's overall viewpoint. The analysis further suggests that decision processes should take into account the interdependent risk structure of the underlying internet-based network. Therefore, an organisation that invests in comprehensive cyber risk protection should be rewarded by other organisations for the benefits (in the form of lower exposure risk) that it has brought to the network. Another promising way to improve protection is to subsidise high-exposure organisations. It is also important that states implement laws to prevent cyber attacks and to protect organisations. Formal contractual agreements between different organisations specifying their data and information exchange and other interactions may also prove a promising strategy. A successful agreement may involve using rewards as coordinative mechanisms; for instance, in using non-monetary web certificates. Finally, the development of international standards for tracking and tracing technologies is essential in order to improve cyber safety. Interdependent risk networks: the threat of cyber attack
Annette Hofmann; Hidajet Ramaj
International Journal of Management and Decision Making, Vol. 11, No. 5/6 (2011) pp. 312 - 323
This article presents an economic model that explicitly reflects the interdependent risk structure of a cyber network. We find that due to this interdependent risk structure, the level of cyber risk protection in the community is inefficient from the community's overall viewpoint. The analysis further suggests that decision processes should take into account the interdependent risk structure of the underlying internet-based network. Therefore, an organisation that invests in comprehensive cyber risk protection should be rewarded by other organisations for the benefits (in the form of lower exposure risk) that it has brought to the network. Another promising way to improve protection is to subsidise high-exposure organisations. It is also important that states implement laws to prevent cyber attacks and to protect organisations. Formal contractual agreements between different organisations specifying their data and information exchange and other interactions may also prove a promising strategy. A successful agreement may involve using rewards as coordinative mechanisms; for instance, in using non-monetary web certificates. Finally, the development of international standards for tracking and tracing technologies is essential in order to improve cyber safety.

]]> 10.1504/IJMDM.2011.043406 International Journal of Management and Decision Making, Vol. 11, No. 5/6 (2011) pp. 312 - 323 Annette Hofmann; Hidajet Ramaj Institute for Risk and Insurance, University of Hamburg, Von-Melle-Park 5, 20146 Hamburg, Germany. ' Institute of Entrepreneurial Studies and Innovation Management, Humboldt-Universitaet zu Berlin, Dorotheenstrasse 1, 10117 Berlin, Germany cyber risks cyber attacks cyber networks risk protection cyber security economic models interdependencies interdependent risks information networks positive externalities public goods interdependent networks risk networks interdependent structures decision processes benefits rewards lower exposure risk subsidies high-exposure organisations laws legislation contractual agreements contracts data exchange information exchange interactions coordinative mechanisms non-monetary web certificates international standards technology tracking technology tracing cyber safety management decision making cyber harassment corporations internet world wide web. 2011-10-27T23:20:50-05:00 11 5/6 312 323 2011-10-27T23:20:50-05:00 http://www.inderscience.com/link.php?id=43407 Organisational members constantly fall prey to social-engineering attacks divulging sensitive information, which could be used as a basis for cyber harassment. Such harassment could include corporate website defacement, negative campaign through social media, or even corporate sabotage. The potential threat of cyber-harassment is real and can be damaging for an organisation impacting its business performance. These information risks confronting organisations can be mitigated by the implementation of information security standards. In this study, we investigated the lacking adoption of the Information Security Management System (ISMS) standard in the USA. We argued that the primary cause for the low adoption level is the failure to financially justify ISMS related investments. Using the event study method, we examined whether organisations that have adopted the ISMS standard have realised any financial gains. Our results indicate that the adoption of the ISMS standard actually does not create financial value for certified organisations. Reducing cyber harassment through de jure standards: a study on the lack of the information security management standard adoption in the USA
Gurvirender P.S. Tejay; Babak Shoraka
International Journal of Management and Decision Making, Vol. 11, No. 5/6 (2011) pp. 324 - 343
Organisational members constantly fall prey to social-engineering attacks divulging sensitive information, which could be used as a basis for cyber harassment. Such harassment could include corporate website defacement, negative campaign through social media, or even corporate sabotage. The potential threat of cyber-harassment is real and can be damaging for an organisation impacting its business performance. These information risks confronting organisations can be mitigated by the implementation of information security standards. In this study, we investigated the lacking adoption of the Information Security Management System (ISMS) standard in the USA. We argued that the primary cause for the low adoption level is the failure to financially justify ISMS related investments. Using the event study method, we examined whether organisations that have adopted the ISMS standard have realised any financial gains. Our results indicate that the adoption of the ISMS standard actually does not create financial value for certified organisations.

]]> 10.1504/IJMDM.2011.043407 International Journal of Management and Decision Making, Vol. 11, No. 5/6 (2011) pp. 324 - 343 Gurvirender P.S. Tejay; Babak Shoraka Graduate School of Computer and Information Sciences, Nova Southeastern University, 3301 College Avenue, Fort Lauderdale Davie, FL 33314, USA. ' Graduate School of Computer and Information Sciences, Nova Southeastern University, 3301 College Avenue, Fort Lauderdale Davie, FL 33314, USA de jure standards event studies information economics USA United States standards adoption social-engineering attacks sensitive information corporate websites website defacement negative campaigns social media corporate sabotage business performance information risks security standards adoption levels financial justification financial gains ISMS standards information security management systems information management security management financial value certified organisations decision making cyber harassment corporations internet world wide web. 2011-10-27T23:20:50-05:00 11 5/6 324 343 2011-10-27T23:20:50-05:00 http://www.inderscience.com/link.php?id=43408 Cyber-defamation of physicians is increasingly common and the viral capability of the internet entails that cyber-defamation carries great potential for sizable professional harm. Accordingly, an important research question involves how to determine the business losses associated with internet libel of medical specialists. Because of the relative newness of these cases, and the nascent state of the literature, a framework for assessing damages is posited through the dissemination of a related case study; namely, the unravelling of a dental-specialty partnership in which a junior associate departs and the incumbent specialist subsequently experiences an economic contraction. The key insight linking the approaches is that cyber-defamation, like an unraveled partnership, will manifest itself in the erosion of patient referrals and associated procedures. Thus, while the antecedent for the economic contraction differs, the techniques forwarded in this study's loss assessment are utilised in establishing an approach for estimating cyber-defamation damages. Erosion of a dental specialist's referral network: an economic loss template for cyber-defamation
Michael H. Slotkin; Alexander R. Vamosi
International Journal of Management and Decision Making, Vol. 11, No. 5/6 (2011) pp. 344 - 357
Cyber-defamation of physicians is increasingly common and the viral capability of the internet entails that cyber-defamation carries great potential for sizable professional harm. Accordingly, an important research question involves how to determine the business losses associated with internet libel of medical specialists. Because of the relative newness of these cases, and the nascent state of the literature, a framework for assessing damages is posited through the dissemination of a related case study; namely, the unravelling of a dental-specialty partnership in which a junior associate departs and the incumbent specialist subsequently experiences an economic contraction. The key insight linking the approaches is that cyber-defamation, like an unraveled partnership, will manifest itself in the erosion of patient referrals and associated procedures. Thus, while the antecedent for the economic contraction differs, the techniques forwarded in this study's loss assessment are utilised in establishing an approach for estimating cyber-defamation damages.

]]> 10.1504/IJMDM.2011.043408 International Journal of Management and Decision Making, Vol. 11, No. 5/6 (2011) pp. 344 - 357 Michael H. Slotkin; Alexander R. Vamosi College of Business, Florida Institute of Technology, 150 West University Boulevard, Melbourne, FL 32901, USA. ' College of Business, Florida Institute of Technology, 150 West University Boulevard, Melbourne, FL 32901, USA cyber defamation economic loss referral networks intangible assets goodwill oral surgery maxillofacial surgery revenue estimation models dental specialists dentistry dentists physicians doctors capabilities professional harm medical profession business losses internet libel medical specialists damages damage assessment dental partnerships junior associates incumbent specialists economic contraction unravelled partnerships patient referrals loss assessment USA United States legal proceedings law cases management decision making cyber harassment world wide web. 2011-10-27T23:20:50-05:00 11 5/6 344 357 2011-10-27T23:20:50-05:00 http://www.inderscience.com/link.php?id=43409 Cyber harassment is a costly concern for organisations but little is known about the motivations behind individuals who engage in this behaviour. This article proposes a personality process model of cyber harassment in an attempt to add to the theoretical foundation in this area and stimulate additional research on this issue. Drawing from the general aggression model (Anderson and Bushman, 2002), the Dark Triad personality traits (Paulhus and Williams, 2002), and the cognitive-affective personality system theory (Mischel and Shoda, 1995), this model proposes that both situational triggering events and individual characteristics come together to produce cyber harassment. Specifically, the model proposes that Dark Triad characteristics (particularly narcissism and psychopathy) combined with particular triggering events (specifically ego threats and physical threats) lead to patterns of cognitive and affective processing that ultimately result in corporate cyber harassment behaviours. After detailing these proposed pathways associated with harassment, theoretical contributions as well as research and practical implications of the model are discussed. A personality process model of cyber harassment
Amy R. Gammon; Patrick D. Converse; Lindsey M. Lee; Richard L. Griffith
International Journal of Management and Decision Making, Vol. 11, No. 5/6 (2011) pp. 358 - 378
Cyber harassment is a costly concern for organisations but little is known about the motivations behind individuals who engage in this behaviour. This article proposes a personality process model of cyber harassment in an attempt to add to the theoretical foundation in this area and stimulate additional research on this issue. Drawing from the general aggression model (Anderson and Bushman, 2002), the Dark Triad personality traits (Paulhus and Williams, 2002), and the cognitive-affective personality system theory (Mischel and Shoda, 1995), this model proposes that both situational triggering events and individual characteristics come together to produce cyber harassment. Specifically, the model proposes that Dark Triad characteristics (particularly narcissism and psychopathy) combined with particular triggering events (specifically ego threats and physical threats) lead to patterns of cognitive and affective processing that ultimately result in corporate cyber harassment behaviours. After detailing these proposed pathways associated with harassment, theoretical contributions as well as research and practical implications of the model are discussed.

]]> 10.1504/IJMDM.2011.043409 International Journal of Management and Decision Making, Vol. 11, No. 5/6 (2011) pp. 358 - 378 Amy R. Gammon; Patrick D. Converse; Lindsey M. Lee; Richard L. Griffith School of Psychology, Florida Institute of Technology, 150 W. University Blvd., Melbourne, FL 32901, USA. ' School of Psychology, Florida Institute of Technology, 150 W. University Blvd., Melbourne, FL 32901, USA. ' School of Psychology, Florida Institute of Technology, 150 W. University Blvd., Melbourne, FL 32901, USA. ' School of Psychology, Florida Institute of Technology, 150 W. University Blvd., Melbourne, FL 32901, USA general aggression models Dark Triad personality traits narcissism Machiavellianism psychopathy Machiavelli cognitive-affective personality system motives motivation individual behaviour situational triggering events individual characteristics ego threats physical threats behavioural patterns cognitive processing affective processing cyber harassment corporations internet world wide web. 2011-10-27T23:20:50-05:00 11 5/6 358 378 2011-10-27T23:20:50-05:00 http://www.inderscience.com/link.php?id=43410 It has been well established that most people become defensive when they perceive to be on the receiving end of an offence. A common demonstration with a physical analogy to this psychological phenomenon is by pushing on a person's outstretched hand and observing that the person pushes back in response. Taken in more real-world situations, businesses take actions in response to perceived attacks but rather than pushing back, there are other options with potentially better outcomes. Decision technologies are helpful in management decision-making about attack vectors. A significant amount of work has gone into technical approaches to dealing with cyber attacks, but few have been studied relative to predicting cyber harassment. We propose how game theory might be used for such purposes. Corporate cyber smearing and the use of game theory in management decision-making
James Ram
International Journal of Management and Decision Making, Vol. 11, No. 5/6 (2011) pp. 379 - 386
It has been well established that most people become defensive when they perceive to be on the receiving end of an offence. A common demonstration with a physical analogy to this psychological phenomenon is by pushing on a person's outstretched hand and observing that the person pushes back in response. Taken in more real-world situations, businesses take actions in response to perceived attacks but rather than pushing back, there are other options with potentially better outcomes. Decision technologies are helpful in management decision-making about attack vectors. A significant amount of work has gone into technical approaches to dealing with cyber attacks, but few have been studied relative to predicting cyber harassment. We propose how game theory might be used for such purposes.

]]> 10.1504/IJMDM.2011.043410 International Journal of Management and Decision Making, Vol. 11, No. 5/6 (2011) pp. 379 - 386 James Ram Indusa Global Inc., 795 Hammond Drive, Atlanta, GA 30328, USA game theory organisational security security policies corporate cyber smearing defensive reactions business responses perceived attacks pushing back decision technologies attack vectors cyber attacks management decision making cyber harassment corporations internet world wide web. 2011-10-27T23:20:50-05:00 11 5/6 379 386 2011-10-27T23:20:50-05:00 http://www.inderscience.com/link.php?id=43411 It has long been recognised that there are national and cultural differences in propensities to write negative information about others and institutions using the internet. With the Arab Spring, some changes are unfolding with regard to long-held traditions about expressions of dissent. While Western cultures have enjoyed fairly unrestricted online dissent, this phenomenon is quite new in some Asian, Arab and Mid-East countries. An important question that follows is how will an emerging tolerance for online expression reflect in online self-governance? Guided by the GLOBE socio-cultural model, we studied two groups of Eastern and Mid-Eastern college students by having an 'actor' invite them to post on a fictitious blog comments about a fictitious organisation that was 'purportedly' lobbying to gain prohibitions against 'foreign students' from attending universities in the USA, UK, and Northern Europe. We compared these Eastern and Mid-Eastern groups to Western and European groups of students using the reverse scenario. We analysed the data and blog postings and found a significant difference between groups and their propensities to make negative postings on the fictitious blog as well as the intensity of those blog postings. As a result, we propose several suggestions for researchers and professionals to facilitate decision-action. An exploratory study of culture and cyber harassment
Morgan Lake
International Journal of Management and Decision Making, Vol. 11, No. 5/6 (2011) pp. 387 - 396
It has long been recognised that there are national and cultural differences in propensities to write negative information about others and institutions using the internet. With the Arab Spring, some changes are unfolding with regard to long-held traditions about expressions of dissent. While Western cultures have enjoyed fairly unrestricted online dissent, this phenomenon is quite new in some Asian, Arab and Mid-East countries. An important question that follows is how will an emerging tolerance for online expression reflect in online self-governance? Guided by the GLOBE socio-cultural model, we studied two groups of Eastern and Mid-Eastern college students by having an 'actor' invite them to post on a fictitious blog comments about a fictitious organisation that was 'purportedly' lobbying to gain prohibitions against 'foreign students' from attending universities in the USA, UK, and Northern Europe. We compared these Eastern and Mid-Eastern groups to Western and European groups of students using the reverse scenario. We analysed the data and blog postings and found a significant difference between groups and their propensities to make negative postings on the fictitious blog as well as the intensity of those blog postings. As a result, we propose several suggestions for researchers and professionals to facilitate decision-action.

]]> 10.1504/IJMDM.2011.043411 International Journal of Management and Decision Making, Vol. 11, No. 5/6 (2011) pp. 387 - 396 Morgan Lake Business Incubation and Business Policy Center, Prince of Songkla University, Phuket Campus, Kathu, Phuket 83120, Thailand cultures online behaviour virtual behaviour national differences cultural differences negative information Arab Spring revolutions demonstrations protests civil resistance social media civil wars popular uprisings traditions dissent Asia Middle East tolerance online expression online self-governance socio-cultural models GLOBE model global leadership organisational behaviour organisational effectiveness college students universities higher education fictitious comments fictitious organisations blog comments blogs blogging bloggers foreign students USA United States United Kingdom UK Northern Europe reverse scenarios blog postings negative postings fictitious blogs post intensity management decision making cyber harassment internet posts world wide web. 2011-10-27T23:20:50-05:00 11 5/6 387 396 2011-10-27T23:20:50-05:00 http://www.inderscience.com/link.php?id=43412 As the focus of the Chinese economy changes from manufacturing to services, Chinese business education and research need to be refocused. This paper addresses several issues related to services management (SM) education in Chinese business schools. A questionnaire survey with 246 faculty members from 50 top Chinese business schools was conducted to explore how SM education is being carried out in China. The issues in question are: the importance of SM, the degree of attention to SM, the current situation and trend of collaboration in SM between business schools and industry, the status quo and the potential of SM course development. The survey shows a mixed result: on the positive side, SM has been developing into a legitimised course and spread across 24 sample business schools of Chinese key national universities since 1990s; on the negative side, there are still quite a few constraints in SM research and education in Chinese business schools. Based on the data results, some suggestions are made on SM education. The implications of this report, its limitation and future research directions are also discussed. Is Chinese business education ready for the era of services economy? A survey into Chinese services management education
Hui Tian; Daniel Berg
International Journal of Management and Decision Making, Vol. 11, No. 5/6 (2011) pp. 397 - 416
As the focus of the Chinese economy changes from manufacturing to services, Chinese business education and research need to be refocused. This paper addresses several issues related to services management (SM) education in Chinese business schools. A questionnaire survey with 246 faculty members from 50 top Chinese business schools was conducted to explore how SM education is being carried out in China. The issues in question are: the importance of SM, the degree of attention to SM, the current situation and trend of collaboration in SM between business schools and industry, the status quo and the potential of SM course development. The survey shows a mixed result: on the positive side, SM has been developing into a legitimised course and spread across 24 sample business schools of Chinese key national universities since 1990s; on the negative side, there are still quite a few constraints in SM research and education in Chinese business schools. Based on the data results, some suggestions are made on SM education. The implications of this report, its limitation and future research directions are also discussed.

]]> 10.1504/IJMDM.2011.043412 International Journal of Management and Decision Making, Vol. 11, No. 5/6 (2011) pp. 397 - 416 Hui Tian; Daniel Berg International Economics and Trade Department of Business School, Central South University, Changsha, 410083, China. ' Industrial Engineering Department of College of Engineering, University of Miami, Florida, 33146, USA Chinese economy business education services management course development questionnaire surveys China manufacturing industry service industries business schools collaboration universities higher education legitimised courses R&D research and development. 2011-10-27T23:20:50-05:00 11 5/6 397 416 2011-10-27T23:20:50-05:00 http://www.inderscience.com/link.php?id=43398 This article presents a methodology to compare call centres performances efficiently and systematically. Three units attending the calls of clients of a telephonic services company are comparatively evaluated. The approach proposed contemplates, besides information on costs, the analysis of criteria associated to the clients' satisfaction and seasonal factors affecting the demand for the service. An analysis based on a probabilistic composition of preference criteria is developed, which results in ranking, according to different points of view, the performances of the different service centres along the year. Different forms of composition treat quality and cost criteria together and separately. The results of the application of these different forms of composition are employed in a group decision process. Probabilistic comparison of call centres in a group decision process
Annibal Parracho Sant'Anna; Felipe Quintas Conde
International Journal of Management and Decision Making, Vol. 11, No. 5/6 (2011) pp. 417 - 437
This article presents a methodology to compare call centres performances efficiently and systematically. Three units attending the calls of clients of a telephonic services company are comparatively evaluated. The approach proposed contemplates, besides information on costs, the analysis of criteria associated to the clients' satisfaction and seasonal factors affecting the demand for the service. An analysis based on a probabilistic composition of preference criteria is developed, which results in ranking, according to different points of view, the performances of the different service centres along the year. Different forms of composition treat quality and cost criteria together and separately. The results of the application of these different forms of composition are employed in a group decision process.

]]> 10.1504/IJMDM.2011.043398 International Journal of Management and Decision Making, Vol. 11, No. 5/6 (2011) pp. 417 - 437 Annibal Parracho Sant'Anna; Felipe Quintas Conde Department of Production Engineering, Universidade Federal Fluminense, Rua Passo da Pátria, 156, São Domingos, 24210-240, Niterói, RJ, Brazil. ' Department of Production Engineering, Universidade Federal Fluminense, Rua Passo da Pátria, 156, São Domingos, 24210-240, Niterói, RJ, Brazil group decisions probabilistic composition information systems operational research call centres telephonic communications mobile phones cell phones telephone companies telecommunications client support services probabilistic comparisons performance comparison clients client satisfaction seasonal factors service demand preference criteria service centres quality criteria cost criteria Brazil management decision making. 2011-10-27T23:20:50-05:00 11 5/6 417 437 2011-10-27T23:20:50-05:00