To monitor or not to monitor: Effectiveness of a cyberloafing countermeasure

• We analyze the effectiveness of a technical solution to cyberloafing with filtering and monitoring.
• Agency theory, operant conditioning, procedural justice, and social norms form the theoretical basis.
• Besides blocking, the confirmation and quota modules can prevent shirking and promote compliance.
• Implications for practice and topics for future research are identified from the findings.

The goal of this study is to explore and analyze the effectiveness of a possible countermeasure to the so-called “cyberloafing” problem involving a technical solution of Internet filtering and monitoring. Through a multi-theoretical lens, we utilize operant conditioning and individuals’ psychological morals of procedural justice and social norms to study the effectiveness of this countermeasure in addressing the associated agency problem and in promoting compliance with an organization's Internet usage policies. We find that in addition to the blocking module, confirmation and quota modules of an Internet filtering and monitoring system can prevent shirking and promote better compliance through employee empowerment and attention resource replenishment.