Date of Conferral
11-25-2025
Date of Award
November 2025
Degree
Doctor of Public Administration (D.P.A)
School
Management
Advisor
Franz Gottleib
Abstract
Organizational leaders increasingly face challenges associated with employee noncompliance with cybersecurity controls, which expose business leaders to reputational and financial risks. Addressing this business problem is critical for cybersecurity leaders and business executives who aim to strengthen digital resilience and sustain profitability. The purpose of this qualitative pragmatic inquiry was to explore effective strategies organizational leaders use to enhance employee cybersecurity compliance through training. The project was grounded in the protection motivation theory and total quality management frameworks, which provide insight into the behavioral and continuous improvement dimensions of cybersecurity management. Six cybersecurity leaders from Nigeria participated in semistructured interviews. Data were analyzed using Braun and Clarke’s six-step thematic analysis. Eight key themes emerged: leadership involvement, training effectiveness, customized training strategies, human factors, key cybersecurity threats, awareness programs, compliance challenges, and return on investment. A key recommendation is that business leaders integrate regular updates through tailored and role-specific cybersecurity training to support employees’ protection against cyber-threats. The implications for positive social change include the potential to foster a culture of cybersecurity awareness and ethical leadership that protects business and community data, reduces economic losses, and enhances trust in digital environments.
Recommended Citation
Fadare, Oluwaseye Adekunle, "Organizational Leaders’ Effective Strategies for Using Employee Training to Mitigate Threats to Cybersecurity Compliance" (2025). Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies. 18821.
https://scholarworks.waldenu.edu/dissertations/18821
