Cyberspace and Organizational Structure: An Analysis of the Critical Infrastructure Environment
Abstract
Now more than ever, organizations are being created to protect the cyberspace environment. The capability of cyber organizations tasked to defend critical infrastructure has been called into question by numerous cybersecurity experts. Organizational theory states that organizations should be constructed to fit their operating environment properly. Little research in this area links existing organizational theory to cyber organizational structure. Because of the cyberspace connection to critical infrastructure assets, the factors that influence the structure of cyber organizations designed to protect these assets warrant analysis to identify opportunities for improvement. This thesis analyzes the cyber connected critical infrastructure environment using the dominant organizational structure theories. By using multiple case study and content analysis, 2,856 sampling units relating to environmental uncertainty (complexity, dynamism, and munificence) are analyzed to show the general external environment of cyber organizations tasked to protect critical infrastructure is highly uncertain thereby meriting implementation of organic structuring principles.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Mar 24, 2016
- Accession Number
- AD1054115
Entities
People
- Michael Ii D. Quigg
Organizations
- Air Force Institute of Technology