An exploration of the necessary competencies of professional police investigators for industrial espionage cases in South Korea

Abstract

Most of the research on the role of police in the protection of industrial technology has recommended the expansion of police departments and the provision of education to strengthen the expertise of investigators. However, no research has sought to identify which specific expertise should be strengthened. This study analyzed which competencies are required by professional police investigators in industrial espionage cases to gain expertise. The study used the Developing A Curriculum (DACUM) technique, normally used to develop curriculum through job analysis. The study produced a series of competency items in three stages: (1) created a job model, (2) filtered out unnecessary competency items via expert reviews, and (3) verified the selected items via surveys and focus group interviews. Unnecessary items were filtered out throughout the study. The study found that “knowledge about laws related to industrial espionage,” “case types and modus operandi,” and “knowledge related to digital forensics and utilization of useful tools” are necessary competencies for the police investigating industrial espionage cases. Several non-essential but beneficial competencies were also found, such as “understanding of the latest technology trends,” “knowledge of internal computer systems and relevant organizations,” and “ability to use programs to design drawings or program source codes.”