Perception Variances between Administrative and Academic Staff on Ethical Practices and Information Security: The Question of Students Examination Records in Public Universities in Uganda

Abstract

Investigations on the ethical practices and information security variance perceptions between academic and administrative staff were confirmed in Public Universities in Uganda. Four data collection phases included: testing the impact of ethical practices on information security among administrative staff; their ranking of factors likely to improve loyalty; academic staffs’ perception on the highly ranked factors that impact loyalty and, key informant interviews to substantiate key findings. Results confirmed loyalty as a stronger predictor of information security among administrative staff, which finding was considered inconsequential in matters of examination security by the academic staff. Whereas job satisfaction, high salaries, training and development were reported to increase loyalty among administrative staff, academic staff ranked personal integrity and commitment to excellence as most important. The varying perceptions could be attributed to divergent personal values, different technical and or professional backgrounds and corporate cultures. Findings provide new information security policy interventions, highlight the departure from conventional approaches of fighting examination security vices and call for innovations that address diverse stakeholders’ work dynamics. Key recommendations include stringent recruitment practices, rapid re-skilling and regular sensitisation, improved remuneration, and high scores on examination security attributes in performance agreements for all staff handling examinations. Undertaking a single study to investigate the different perceptions of both administrative and academic staff using a four step procedural interrelated approach is a major methodological contribution to research quality. The conceptualised ethical practices’ dimensions could stimulate current debate in Universities.