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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
As organizations shiftfrom a closed-system model to an open-system model, their security challenges and threats are expected to change from an internal focus to one that must consider the impact of both internal and external forces. To address this change organizations are encouraged to adopt a more holistic view of organizational security which incorporates physical- and human-asset security, information security, process security, cyber security and in some instances, national security. The research presented in this paper offers a conceptual framework which advocates incorporating these disparate but interrelated aspects of security into a paradigm of total organizational security.
Keywords: Organizational Security, Open System, Rapid Assessment Methodology, Integrated Framework, Competitiveness
INTRODUCTION
Recent environmental and technological changes and challenges have forced organizations to shifttheir organizational business model from the closed system orientation to the open system orientation. Such a shifthas opened the organization to its customers, its suppliers, and even its competitors. The emerging open system organizational model presented today's organizations with many opportunities and serious concerns. In this context, the open system facilitated reaching new markets, customers and suppliers. However, with this openness different facets of organizational security presented the open system organization with serious threats.
Under the closed system organizational orientation, the focus of organizational security was mainly concerned with internal entities and functions. However, the open system organizational model required the organization to deal with security and risks from a broader perspective. Therefore, organizational security concerns and related investments should evolve to keep up with increasing openness of the organization to its environment, customers and suppliers. Figure 1 depicts the nature of the organizational shiftfrom the closed to the open system orientation in the context of risks, goals and investments related to organizational security.
The objective of this research is to present a conceptual framework, which advocates a total organizational security approach. The implementation of such an organizational approach to security utilizes the Rapid Assessment Methodology (RAM). The organizational benefits and challenges resulting from the implementation of the advocated integrated organizational total approach security are addressed.
BACKGROUND
Organizational security can be defined in a variety of ways depending on the particular context and environment in which the organization operates (Brooks 2010; Hesse & Smith, 2001; Morley & Vogel, 1993). For example, closed-system...