Cyberspace and organizational structure: An analysis of the critical infrastructure environment

Now, more than ever, organizations are being created to protect the cyberspace environment. The ability of cyber organizations tasked to defend critical infrastructure assets has been called into question by numerous cyber security experts. Organizational theory states that organizations should be constructed to fit their operating environments properly. Little research in this area links 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 analyses to identify opportunities for improvement. This chapter examines the cyber-connected critical infrastructure environment using organizational structure theories. A multiple case study and content analysis involving 2,856 sampling units were employed to ascertain the level of perceived uncertainty in the environment (measured using the dimensions of complexity, dynamism and munificence). The results indicate that the general external environment of cyber organizations tasked to protect the critical infrastructure is highly uncertain and merits the implementation of organic structuring principles.