Understanding compliance behaviour in an organisational culture context.

Abstract

Organizational culture and compliance are inextricably linked. Through review of literature relating to organisational culture, procedure compliance, management and safety performance the author explores the relationship between a supportive organisational culture, end-user involvement, and procedure compliant leadership towards procedurally compliant intentions and development of a procedurally compliant culture. The relationship is tested by development of six hypothesis relating to the research problem. Each hypothesis is tested individually, and the combined effect from the variables towards compliance culture is tested. The quantitative method selected is by use of self-reporting from 149 employees of a northern Europe temporary power and temperature operations organisation. The questionnaire and research model are adapted from Amankwa, Loock, and Kritzinger (2018) studying compliance toward IT policies. The findings from this thesis strengthens the idea that noncompliant behaviour is not entirely based on personal traits or characters, but are influenced by the work environment. More specifically the findings supports that there is a correlation between the three variables; supportive organisational culture, end-user involvement, and compliance leadership in the direction of attitude toward compliance and compliance behavioural intentions. Furthermore, the study supports that there is a strong relationship between the two variables; behavioural intentions and attitude towards compliance in the direction of development of a compliance culture. 39% of change in the compliance culture variable can be explained by the model used in this thesis. The author also finds that safety-related research regarding safety compliance, safety performance, and safety culture can be used to understand and clarify general procedurally compliant culture and compliance practises. The thesis also includes suggestions for further research.