A literature review on effects of time pressure on decision making in a cyber security context

Abstract

Shortages of time has become a natural characteristic of the professional environment. Individuals are often pressed to make fast decisions and complete tasks in a timely manner. This element of time pressure is particularly prevalent in the Information Technology (IT) sector due to fast-paced changes in demand, competition, and technology. Reviewing a wide range of journal articles, this paper aims to contribute to a broader discussion on the effects of time pressure on decisions. This paper explores the theoretical and practical considerations of decision-making, considering key decision-making models and the effect of technology on the decision-making process. Subsequently, this paper explores time pressure in a general sense, and then reviews the stress it causes individuals and its presence in technological environments, in particular a cyber-security context. After reviewing both decision-making and time pressure individually, the paper explores the relationship between the two, considering the influence time pressure on decision-making in technological settings. Concluding that time pressure can have an adverse effect on decision-making and hence possibly impacting cyber security services.