Information security challenges in multicultural organizations and structural solutions

¶ … security is becoming one of the most important issues in many walks of life and in differing environments around the world. Data and information has become the new religion and its importance and security should be a top concern for organizations wishing to maintain a competitive advantage in their industry and markets. Understanding the issues associated with today's unique and collective world can help leadership units within companies to apply their information technology resources in the most effective, economic and efficient manner that fuses strategy and operations into a seamless flow of power and intent.

The purpose of this paper is to examine the aforementioned topic by first describing the multicultural and multinational issues that are most pertinent in information security today. This essay will next address the issues and complexities that accompany organizations that has multiple directors and the problems that can arise in this situation. Finally this essay will address these issues and apply them to Stratified Custom Manufacturing (SCM) by developing an alternative structure to support the demands of new security initiatives that address these new and unfolding problems.

Cultural Issues in Information Security

Mellado & Rosado (2012) explained how it is inevitable that successful companies integrate technological change into their organizations by realizing its advantages and identifying the time and place for its application. They wrote " The permanent and global nature of security threats and the increasing complexity of IT infrastructures are currently leading organizations throughout the world to revise their approaches towards information security. Hiring the ICT's (Information and Communication Technologies) equivalent of military men, i.e. security technologists and white-hat hackers, and entrusting security to them is no longer sufficient, (p.1598).

Organizational Structure For SCM

Whitman & Mattord (2011) suggested that the "CIA" model that addresses confidentiality, integrity and availability should dictate the IT policies and strategies within a an organization wishing to create a competitive advantage within its industry. The organizational structure of SCM should therefore reflect these principles as they most effectively address the issues with IT systems discussed previously.

A military-style hierarchy consisting of sub-units with staffs allows SCM to maximize its resources and place a high emphasis on securing its precious data and information that is the key to its profits. The company should create organizational charts that explicitly lays out the chain of command power structure where orders and power flow downward and with purpose.

Discipline and rigor should be expected in management styles to get this type of change to really work and eventually to become effective. This may require leadership sects within the SCM to change their approach towards leading and may require a more hands on method of dealing with problems and people. Although this type of organizational model will most likely decrease the quality of work for most of the employees of the company, profits are sure to soar and people can eventually be replaced for more willing and supple workers.