To Örebro University

Purpose: This study aims to develop and test a framework to associate learning styles and social influencing vulnerabilities with different personality types in the context of tailoring information security awareness (ISA) methods for people with different personality types.

Design/methodology/approach: The framework was developed following directed content analysis and applied to match distinct personality types with ISA methods identified through a systematic literature search. The directed content analysis was conducted in two parts: a) Describe and identify keywords for the DISC (dominance [D], inducement [I], submission [S] and compliance [C]) personality types, Kolb's learning styles and Cialdini's social influencing principles; b) Identify the relationships between personality types, learning styles and social influencing vulnerabilities and create the PLS (i.e. personality types, learning styles and social influencing vulnerabilities) framework. As a result, four relationships are identified for each distinct personality type in the PLS framework.

Findings: The study has theoretically demonstrated the framework's feasibility of finding best-matched ISA methods for distinct personality types, considering their linked learning style and social influencing vulnerabilities.

Research limitations/implications: The study provides two main theoretical contributions: 1) PLS framework: presenting the relationship of personality types with their linked learning style and their social influencing vulnerabilities; 2) Examples of matching distinct personality types with ISA methods, including suggestions for a theoretically best matched ISA method. Therefore, this study contributes to building a sound theoretical ground for tailoring ISA methods for people with different personality types. In addition, the derived keywords are helpful to capture a good understanding of the different dimensions of the selected theories. Furthermore, following the examples provided in this paper, the developed PLS framework can be used as a base for managers to use ISA methods for people with different personality types in organizations.

Practical implications: Furthermore, following the examples provided in this paper, the developed PLS framework can be used as a base for managers to employ ISA methods for people with different personality types in organizations.

Originality/value: To the best of the authors' knowledge, this study is the first of its kind in developing and testing a framework for matching distinct personality types with information security awareness methods.