Security Initiatives Research Articles

The impact of information security initiatives on supply chain robustness and performance: an empirical study

PurposeInformation security is an essential element in all business activities. The damage to businesses from information security breaches has become pervasive. The scope of information security has widened as information has become a critical supply chain asset, making it more important to protect the organization’s data. Today’s global supply chains rely upon the speedy and robust dissemination of information among supply chain partners. Hence, processing of accurate supply chain information is quintessential to ensure the robustness and performance of supply chains. An effective information security management (ISM) is deemed to ensure the robustness of supply chains. The purpose of the paper is to examine the impact of information security initiatives on supply chain robustness and performance.Design/methodology/approachBased on extant literature, a research model was developed and validated using a questionnaire survey instrument administered among information systems/information technology managers. Data collected were analyzed using exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis. Further, to test the hypotheses and to fit the theoretical model, Structural equation modeling techniques were used.FindingsResults of this study indicated that information security initiatives are positively associated with supply chain robustness and performance. These initiatives are likely to enhance the robustness and performance of the supply chains.Originality/valueWith the advancements in internet technologies and capabilities as well as considering the dynamic environment of supply chains, this study is relevant in terms of the capability that an organization needs to acquire with regards to ISM. Benefiting from the resource dependency theory, information security initiatives could be considered as a critical resource having an influence on the internal and external environment of supply chains.

Water fetching burden: A qualitative study to examine how it differs by gender among rural households in the west region of Cameroon

Women act as gatekeepers in securing water for their households. Using this qualitative methodology, 35 participants were interviewed with the objectives to determine roles and responsibilities of different family members in fetching and managing water and examine differences in perceptions related to water access/use between men and women in households from rural areas of the Menoua Division, West Cameroon. We found that the household structure was key component in each family member’s degree of involvement in water fetching and management. A significant gender gap was found among adults with fewer men than women experiencing coping strategies-related to water scarcity. Hence, women participation in designing water and food security initiatives is warranted.

COVID-19 and school food: The impact of the early stages of the coronavirus pandemic on student nutrition programs in Ontario

This paper is an exploration of the impact of the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic on emer­gency food supply to school-aged children in Ontario, Canada. Using surveys in the framework of a bounded qualitative case study, we investigate how Student Nutrition Program (SNP) support staff have responded to the changed circumstances of the pandemic. Results indicate that program support staff were able to shift the SNP’s focus from universal access in-school nutrition programs to targeted food security initiatives for families. This shift was possible due to the complex web of relationships within which SNPs in Ontario oper­ate. Additional data and findings are discussed in the article, relating to the prepandemic operation of SNPs, how programs have been affected, and the concerns of SNP support staff about future issues as the programs restart in the new school year under pandemic conditions.

Invisible and Insecure in Rural America: Cultivating Dignity in Local Food Security Initiatives

The United States’ neoliberal approach to governance promotes structural inequalities that shape individuals’ sense of dignity. We employ qualitative in-depth interviews and ethnographic field study to examine dignity construction via daily experiences with food access and foodways. Situating our study within a rural Oklahoma community with high food insecurity rates, we ask: How does structural inequality impact individuals’ daily experiences with dignity construction? How is a sense of dignity influenced by daily experiences with food access and foodways within the context of community-based food initiatives? We address structural inequality and the resulting social hierarchy of food security, focusing on three overlapping social arenas—relational, individual, and institutional. Relational interactions in food access spaces promote dignity when interactions are characterized by symmetrical social encounters. Dignity in the individual arena centers on foodways, cultural or familial traditions, and role-taking as a food provider. In the institutional arena, dignity is influenced by structures and operational approaches. Our research contributes to literatures informing policies and strategies employed by community-led, rights-based food aid systems in advanced capitalist nations. Efforts prioritize and promote human dignity, despite neoliberal, advanced capitalist governments’ failure to address structural inequalities as a root cause of food insecurity.

Water Insecurity in Ontario First Nations: An Exploratory Study on Past Interventions and the Need for Indigenous Water Governance

In 2018, I began an exploratory study involving fourteen Ontario First Nation participants that examined some First Nation water security challenges and opportunities. In acknowledgment that many of the government assessments, reports, and investments to date have failed, this study aims to determine the causes of the water crisis as well as potential solutions by sharing Indigenous perspectives and recommendations on water governance and security. During the study, Indigenous participants were asked interview questions regarding their water and wastewater systems, their historical and current water security conditions, and if they had recommendations for achieving water security in First Nations. The analysis from these interviews demonstrated that there were ten different themes for water security and insecurity in First Nation communities as well as a set of four recommendations shared by the fourteen participants. The participant recommendations are: (1) that Traditional Knowledge (TK) and Indigenous laws be included in water security initiatives and water governance; (2) that provincial and federal governments work with Indigenous communities on their water security challenges and opportunities; (3) that First Nation leadership develops and implements community water protection plans; (4) that Indigenous communities establish an oversight committee or body for monitoring tourist ventures and extractive development projects such as mining on their territories. This paper will also discuss how an Indigenous research paradigm can be applied during the research process to ensure that the information is captured from the Indigenous perspectives of the participants.

Understanding employees' information security identities: an interpretive narrative approach

PurposeThe authors seek to understand the formation of control- and security-related identities among organizational employees through and interpretive narrative analysis. The authors also seek to identify how the identities form over time and across contexts. Several identities are identified as well as the changes that may occur in the identities.Design/methodology/approachFew interpretive or critical studies exist in behavioral information security research to represent employee perspectives of power and control. Using qualitative interviews and narrative analysis of the interview transcripts, this paper analyzes the security- and control-related identities and values that employees adopt in organizational settings.FindingsTwo major categories of behavioral security compliance identities were identified: compliant and noncompliant. Specific identities within the compliant category included: faithful follower vs the reasoned follower, and other-preserving versus the self-preserving identities. The noncompliant category included: anti-authority identity, utilitarian identity, trusting identity and unaware identity. Furthermore, three patterns of identity changes were observed.Research limitations/implicationsThe authors’ narrative stories suggest that employee identities are complex and multi-faceted, and that they may be fluid and adaptive to situational factors. Future research should avoid assumptions that all employees are the same or that employee beliefs remain constant over time or in different contexts. Identities are also strongly rooted in individuals' rearing and other life experiences. Thus, security control is far broader than is studied in behavioral studies. The authors find that history matters and should be examined carefully.Practical implicationsThe authors’ study provides insights that managers can use to enhance security initiatives. It is clear that different employees build different control-related identities. Managers must understand that their employees are unique and will not all respond to policies, punishments, and other forms of control in the same way. The narratives also suggest that many organizations lack appropriate programs to enhance employees' awareness of security issues.Originality/valueThe authors’ narrative analysis suggests that employee security identities are complex and multi-faceted, and that they are fluid and adaptive to situational factors. Research should avoid assumptions that all employees are the same or that their beliefs remain constant over time or in different contexts. Identities are also strongly rooted in individuals' rearing and other life experiences. Their history matters and should be examined carefully.

UNTOLD IMPACTS OF NIGERIA’S LAND BORDERS CLOSURE POLICY ON BORDER COMMUNITIES, ECONOMY, AND SECURITY IN WEST AFRICAN SUB-REGION

In recent time, the Nigerian government shut its land borders with neighbouring states of: Benin Republic, Cameroon, Chad and Niger over what were observed to be; increase in smuggling activities, alleged security breaches, trafficking, incidence of illegal cross-border activities, undocumented migration, among others in the West African sub-region. However, the continual closure of these borders appeared to have affected the activities of border communities, regional and national economies. The study examines the reasons for shutting the borders; finds out the impacts of the closure on border communities, regional/national economies and security; finds out the reactions of border communities and neighbouring states; and interrogates the remedies to the problem. The study adopts a hegemonic stability theory to explain the phenomenon surrounding the closure while it employs quantitative and qualitative research methods. The paper in its findings therefore indicates that the state closed her land borders to forestall all illegal actions at borders involving: smuggling and human trafficking, illicit arms trade, undocumented migration among others. The study also reveals that the closure led to economic hardship for people in border communities, West African sub-region and the Nigerian state at large. The study therefore recommends that; there should be cross-fertilization of ideas on transnational economic, legal and security initiatives between the Nigeria and her neighbouring states to wage war against illicit activities at borders. The study however concludes that the border closure poses a major blow to pan-African moment having cut short all trade relations with other states; hoping that the policy would be very significant in protecting Nigeria’s political, economic and security interests.

Assessing the Moderating Effect of Security Technologies on Employees Compliance with Cybersecurity Control Procedures

The increase in cybersecurity threats and the challenges for organisations to protect their information technology assets has made adherence to organisational security control processes and procedures a critical issue that needs to be adequately addressed. Drawing insight from organisational theory literature, we develop a multi-theory model, combining the elements of the theory of planned behaviour, competing value framework, and technology—organisational and environmental theory to examine how the organisational mechanisms interact with espoused cultural values and employee cognitive belief to influence cybersecurity control procedures. Using a structured questionnaire, we deployed structural equation modelling (SEM) to analyse the survey data obtained from public sector information technology organisations in Nigeria to test the hypothesis on the relationship of socio-organisational mechanisms and techno-cultural factors with other key determinants of employee security behaviour. The results showed that knowledge of cybersecurity and employee cognitive belief significantly influence the employees’ intentions to comply with organisational cybersecurity control mechanisms. The research further noted that the influence of organisational elements such as leadership on employee security behaviour is mediated by espoused cultural values while the impact of employee cognitive belief is moderated by security technologies. For effective cybersecurity compliance, leaders and policymakers are therefore to promote organisational security initiatives that ensure incorporation of cybersecurity principles and practices into job descriptions, routines, and processes. This study contributes to behavioural security research by highlighting the critical role of leadership and cultural values in fostering organisational adherence to prescribed security control mechanisms.

Feeding the City, Pandemic and Beyond

Feeding the City, Pandemic and Beyond

The Impact of Water-Related Challenges on Rural Communities Food Security Initiatives

Water scarcity has been a critical concern in many countries of the world. The same concern has been discussed, analyzed and researched at different platforms to find better solutions to the challenges of water scarcity, and in most cases water scarcity directly influence food security in terms of food production. South Africa, being one of the water scarce countries that derives its food from the agricultural sector; water scarcity remains at the centre stage of the national socioeconomic debate. Water scarcity is one of the major challenges in many countries such as Zimbabwe and Ethiopia particularly for the farmers. However, there is insufficient information on the impact of water scarcity challenges on rural communities’ food security initiatives. This review is focused on unearthing water scarcity challenges in rural communities, their impact on agriculture and ultimately food security initiatives. This paves way for possible research areas, practical implications and strategies to mitigate water security effects on food security.

Políticas cooperativas de segurança e combate ao crime organizado na Tríplice Fronteira

ABSTRACT This article is an analysis of the cooperative security initiatives developed by Brazil, Argentina and Paraguay in the period beginning in 1996, with the establishment of the “Agreement on Security and Ease of Transit of the Tri-border Area,” until 2016. For this purpose, a brief historical background on the transnationalization of organized crime in the region of the tri-border area was made, and in the following section, an analysis of the main policies, agreements and security actions of these countries, considering mainly those aimed at reducing organized crime activities in border regions. From this analysis, it was possible to understand which factors influenced the decision-making of these countries, such as the strong U.S. presence and antiterrorist discourse, the mutual mistrust generated by cases of corruption in police institutions and border control, and social weaknesses still present on the tri-border area. It was also discussed who were the main parastatal actors involved in the process of elaborating the cooperative actions.

Британия после Брекзита: особенности военно-политической стратегии

Britain’s withdrawal from the European Union raises questions on how UK defence policy will develop. Significant shifts inside the United Kingdom as well as its changing position in the international arena caused by Brexit require new approaches in its military strategy. National Security Strategy 2015 and UK’s International Defence Engagement Strategy 2017 do not fully reflect current geopolitical realities while new strategic documents haven’t been presented so far. UK armed forces modernization is becoming even more relevant, however there are few signs that London has capabilities to increase its defence budget. The latest statistics shows stable decline in UK military expenditure as percentage of GDP. The armed forces have been shrinking in size for several decades and some large modernization projects have come across considerable difficulties. After years of heated debates an ambitious plan to replace all four ballistic missile submarines with the new ones has been approved. However Brexit caused another wave of claims for Scottish independence raising concerns over the future of the Britain’s only Scotland-based naval facility for nuclear forces. Brexit inevitably poses a dilemma of setting UK’s foreign and defence policy priorities. Though leaving the EU doesn’t mean that Britain will fully withdraw from European defence and security initiatives, active cooperation in this sphere between London and Brussels is highly unlikely. Given that, the importance of NATO as well as other multilateral security mechanisms (especially the UK-led Joint Expeditionary Force with Scandinavian and Baltic states) and bilateral defence cooperation (particularly with the US and France) is significantly increasing. Despite numerous challenges for British defence and security policy caused by Brexit these difficulties together with the UK’s traditional strong points such as the special relationship with the US and network of military facilities around the globe may give impetus to a more proactive military strategy aimed at strengthening UK’s global influence.

Cross-border Cooperation

This paper examines the history of cross-border cooperation in Ireland. It discusses the historic tensions following 1921. During the conflict the UK and Irish governments, despite challenges, did cooperate in the context of security and peace initiatives, and also developed relationships within the EEC. The EEC (later EU) provided supports for cross-border cooperation while the Belfast Good Friday Agreement created institutions to foster North-South and East-West cooperation. Brexit and the politics around the Protocol have upset this. The Protocol addresses the unique situation on the island of Ireland, Article 11 requiring the Protocol to be implemented and applied to secure the conditions for cooperation. However, the DUP has expressed its opposition to the Protocol by boycotting the North South Ministerial Council. Amidst this tension there are causes for optimism with support for the PEACE PLUS programme, new initiatives on a Shared Island and an all-island Women’s Forum.

Cyber Autonomy Toolbox – Project Management Digital Transformation

There was a time when military technology reinforced and provided added value and expertise to business and government organisations. There are a number of technologies, specific military applications and solutions such as the Internet, GPS or sunglasses, and methodologies like strategic planning and negotiation systems that were developed in the past within military domains and later evaluated and implemented, which brought increases in speed and added business value. There are now many diverse digital transformation projects being implemented in several business domains – ranging from small and medium businesses like an Italian family restaurant to the global oil and gas companies such as Shell or British Petroleum or even executive branches of the European Union/European Commission. All these organisations use different technologies to optimise processes, innovate faster, collaborate efficiently and deliver more value with less effort. Economic defence – like never before – means national security. For that reason, Cyber Security initiatives associated with digital transformations include a “testing mode” period, along with Cyber Autonomy functions that aim to support business critical infrastructures. Different methodologies are in place to optimise for the new data-driven economy and support digital transformation. It is the responsibility of the business to adopt best practices and techniques to reinforce national security and offer effective tool support for effective Cyber Autonomy with digital transformation projects.

Defragmenting Markets: Evidence from Agency MBS

Agency mortgage-backed securities (MBS) issued by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac have historically traded in separate forward markets. We study the consequences of this fragmentation, showing that market liquidity endogenously concentrated in Fannie Mae MBS, leading to higher issuance and trading volume, lower transaction costs, higher security prices, and a lower primary market cost of capital for Fannie Mae. We then analyze a change in market design—the Single Security Initiative—which consolidated Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac MBS trading into a single market in June 2019. We find that consolidation increased the liquidity and prices of Freddie Mac MBS without measurably reducing liquidity for Fannie Mae; this was in part achieved by aligning characteristics of the underlying MBS pools issued by the two agencies. Prices partially converged prior to the consolidation event, in anticipation of future liquidity. Consolidation increased Freddie Mac’s fee income by enabling it to remove discounts that previously compensated loan sellers for lower liquidity.

Geopolitički kontekst Jugoistočne Evrope i bezbednosni koncept Evropske Unije

The authors discuss the complex issues of the geopolitical position of Southeast Europe and the application of the security concept of the European Union. Permanent anomalies are present in all spheres. The subject of the research is the geographical, political and security features of the countries of the observed area with the possibilities of implementing the concept of the Foreign and Security Policy of the European Union. The hypotheses are: The geopolitical context of Southeast Europe is the scene of constant interests of great powers and conflicts in the countries of the region, where the adopted concept of security of the European Union is applied. The area of Southeast Europe as a link between the West and the East is of great international importance. The countries of the region are burdened with numerous contradictions and centuries-old confrontations. The European Union is promoting an indigenous security policy project in the process of integrating countries and strengthening its own position in the region. The aim of the research is a comprehensive overview of the complex topic of the geopolitical position of the countries of Southeast Europe and the security strategy of the European Union in the context of resolving the manifested anomalies. Methods of analysis, synthesis and others will be applied. The achieved results have cognitive features, they refer to the explained important aspects of the geopolitics of the given space and the security initiatives of the EU, and they also mark the real segments of the social development of the countries. We conclude that Southeast Europe is a territory of essential geopolitical significance and interest of world hegemons. The European Union is also promoting the security strategy contained in official documents in that area.

Biden’s China policy

Donald Trump upended America’s long-standing, post-Cold war bipartisan China consensus. Initially focused on trade issues, particularly trade imbalances, Administration policy moved toward a more confrontational approach encompassing major security initiatives in the neighborhood. Focusing on the first year of Joe Biden’s China policy, this article seeks to demonstrate the broad continuity between the Biden and Trump Administrations approach to Beijing.

Book Review of "Hacking the Bomb: Cyber Threats and Nuclear Weapons" by Andrew Futter

A Professor of International Politics at the University of Leicester, UK, Professor Andrew Futter is indeed a significant name when it comes to the study of contemporary nuclear weapons, nuclear strategy, and arms control. He has had such seminal publications to his credit, like The Politics of Nuclear Weapons (London, SAGE: 2015) and Ballistic Missile Defence and US National Security: Normalisation and Acceptance after the Cold War (New York & Basingstoke, Routledge: 2013), as well as important edited books, such as Threats to Euro-Atlantic Security (London, Palgrave: 2019), The United Kingdom and the Future of Nuclear Weapons (New York, Rowman & Littlefield: 2016), and Reassessing the Revolution in Military Affairs: Transformation, Evolution and Lessons Learnt with Jeffrey Collins (London, Palgrave: 2015) – not to mention innumerable articles on nuclear weapons, nuclear deterrence, nuclear disarmament, cyber security, and cyber semantics. It is relevant to mention here that Professor Futter is a member of the cyber-nuclear security threats task force run by the Nuclear Threat Initiative, an Honorary Research Fellow in Nuclear Strategy at the Institute for Conflict, Cooperation and Security at the University of Birmingham, and a member of the Euro-Atlantic Security Initiative Next Generation working group. His academic stints at the Center for Arms Control and Non-Proliferation in Washington, D.C.; the James Martin Center for Nonproliferation Studies in Monterey, California; and the Norwegian Nobel Peace Institute in Oslo are also worth mentioning at the commencement of this book review.

EXPLORING THE STRATEGIES FOR BUILDING RESILIENCE TO POVERTY IN BAUCHI STATE, NIGERIA

The challenges of poverty and insurgency had caused problems of different dimensions in north-eastern Nigeria. Specifically Bauchi state recorded 89.5 percent of Multidimensional Poverty Indicators above other states in the country. The main objective of this study is to explore the strategies to build resilience to poverty in the study area. In achieving this, a qualitative research design via semi-structured interview and purposive sampling were applied. Accordingly, twenty-two informants from the ministries, agencies, and commissions in addition to some selected underprivileged people were consulted during the data collection. Consequently, findings from the study indicated that national, state, community and individual strategies were suggested to overcome poverty and other socioeconomic challenges bedeviling the people in Northeastern Nigeria in general and Bauchi state in particular. These views of the informants are expected to address the socioeconomic challenges identified in the state. Perhaps, the community strategies include security initiatives, collaborations with NGOs to cushion the effects of poverty in the towns and villages with the contributions of the religious and traditional institutions. Furthermore, personal empowerment, enhancing peoples' confidence, and skills exhibit the individual strategies. Subsequently, by strengthening the federal, states as well as security arrangements to avert the problems discovered. The expansion of poverty reduction programs, accessible educational policies, youth empowerment schemes, rehabilitation, reconstruction, and the overall development of northeastern Nigeria were suggested.

Understanding Russia's security priorities in the Arctic: why Canada-Russia cooperation is still possible

ABSTRACT Heightened tensions in Russia-West relations have signaled that the Arctic is no longer exempt from the tumult of geopolitics; however, an unrestrained militarization of the Arctic in response to the perception of a hostile Russia may be a hasty move. For the Arctic to remain a zone of cooperation, this will require a proper understanding of Russia's general foreign policy interests, how the Arctic fits into these goals, and the recognition that Russia is a major Arctic power and can therefore be expected to pursue its interests there. This paper presents a brief empirical overview of Russia's power interests as they relate to the Arctic, and tackles some of the assumptions about Russia that obstruct its consideration as a cooperative Arctic partner, notably the current narrative of Russia as willful disruptor of the global order. This paper attempts to clarify just what Russia's interests are and how these might relate to its defence and security initiatives in the Arctic. Cooperation between Canada and Russia in the Arctic will require a better appreciation of just what Russia's interests in the Arctic actually are, rather than presuming motives that imperil cooperation and risk raising the stakes of doing business in the region.