Theorising Corruption with a ‘Click’: Adopting Gioia Methodology

Abstract

Understanding corruption in the cyber space warranted greater attention. What more, there are relatively limited studies in the literature that provide understanding of the phenomenon. The objective of the study is to provide understanding of corruption in the cyber space and how corruption risk management could assist in mitigating corruption in the cyber space. This study employed a Gioia methodology. Using Gioia methodology process of data collection, i.e. interviews as primary data collection, fourteen experts were interviewed to gain in-depth understanding of the phenomenon. Gioia data analysis process was used to provide understanding on the concept. This study found several important findings. First, cyber corruption is escalating in Malaysia. Second, Corruption Risk Management (CRM) is significant in curbing corruption activities in the cyber space. Third, there are three stages of CRM: 1) recognising corruption by a ‘click,’ 2) analysing the system, and 3) evaluation. The findings advance the knowledge on cybercrime, where it extended previous work on mitigating measures. As this is the first study that developed a CRM model using Gioia methodology, the findings contribute to giving novelty to fraud study, indicating a pathway to mitigate corruption in the digital environment.