MINTZBERG EMERGENT VIEW ON BRIDGING THE DIGITAL SKILLS GAP

In 2013 the UK’s digital inclusion champion, Martha Lane Fox, believed that over 16 million people in the UK lacked the basic digital skills to fully benefit from the internet.

Moreover, two years since then the UK has started to bridge the divide. But still 12 million people fall short of the statistics. This trend in the digital divide will continue to decrease if government agencies, businesses and educational institutions do not work together to close this skills gap.

This skills gap in the UK is costing the government billions of turnover. It is all doom and gloom though reading from this findings. The public sector are keen on adapting new digital ways however the fear is costing the sector dearly.

Comparing the public sector and the private sector, the private sector are more forward thinking and are ready for the change as it comes. This also concludes why the private sector is way ahead in digital trends compared to the private sector.

As the Mintzberg strategy would suggest, more individuals are applying for computer science courses at university level at a 12 per cent increase. Bridging this gap can be achieved entirely through education and skills training in businesses both in public and private sectors. And at the government level, services for the internet and technologies can be enhanced and subsidized for the minorities of the societies to afford and have access to this boosts the computer literacy.

MINTZBERG EMERGENT VIEW ON CYBER CRIME

According to a survey conducted, over two thirds of the businesses fail to report cyber-attacks to the police. The survey also questioned whether businesses were aware of the fraud reporting organisation Action Fraud Aware (AFA).

The research was conducted by the Institute of Directors as part of their cyber security. The study found that only 57% of the businesses had a strategy to combat cyber-attacks and only a fifth had prepared insurance against such crimes.

Professor Richard Benham said “Cybercrime is one of the biggest business challenges of our generation and companies need to get real about the financial and reputational damage it can inflict. The recent high-profile attacks has spooked employers of all sizes and it is vital to turn this awareness into action.”

Mintzberg’s emergent strategic theory suggests to create an avenue for businesses and individuals responsible for attacks, to work together and provide better enhanced technologies with both perspectives from the user and the developers. Rather than causalities, having people together can create innovative technologies to better the technology used in cyber security and enhance user experience in a safer friendlier virtual environment.

As the government opts to put services online for its citizens the mintzberg strategy can resolve the issue of cybercrime through cyber friendly ways with everyone co-operating. 

SWOT ANALYSIS - IT SECURITY IN UK

In an attempt to achieve efficiency and ultimate customer service, people are handing more and more personal data to local authorities more than ever before. This presents an immediate risk many vulnerable users. This strategic SWOT analysis discusses IT security in the UK and provides recommendations.

STRENGTHS

1.       Businesses have strong network controls

2.       Have vulnerability management

3.       Comprehensive policies

4.       Executive support

WEAKNESSES

1.       Weak application Security

2.       Integration into the System Development Life Cycle (SDLC)

3.       Lack of comprehensive data loss prevention solutions

OPPORTUNITIES

1.       Incident Response

2.       Secure coding training and mentoring

3.       Web application firewall implementation

4.       Investment and development research

THREATS

1.       External threats to the computer environment

2.       Data breach

3.       Data damage

The data protection act states that whenever information is collected it should be done so for legitimate purposes. There are a number of proposes of policy recommendations which would help deter wrongful access of personal information.

Firstly, there should be a custodial sentence for serious data breaches, as current penalties do not deter individuals who are considering breaking the law. 

Secondly, serious data breaches should result in a criminal record. Current penalties show that an individual who carry out a data breach is not subject to a criminal record.

Moreover, data protection should be a mandatory training for technological organisations and businesses operating within the industry and using information technology systems for their businesses.