Norwegian “Digital Border Defense” and Competence for the Unforeseen: A Grounded Theory Approach

Abstract

Strategic Competence Leadership (SCL) is a tool meant to ensure that the Norwegian Armed Forces Cyber Defence (NAFCD) has the necessary expertise to cope with current and future unforeseen events. This is necessary in order to develop a better digital border defense against digital threats from different state or non-state actors. Unforeseen cyber incidents include for instance “zero-days” attacks and similar severe threats. The goal of the SCL in the NAFCD is the development of a reliable “Cyber Resilience.” In the present study, we examine how the concept of SCL is understood and carried out on the different leadership and managerial levels in the NAFCD. Our research problem was how well prepared the NAFCD is for SCL and competence development for future competence needs, especially in relation to unforeseen events? Semi-structured interviews and document analyses of governance documents were used in the present study. The Strategic Didactic Model for the Unforeseen was used to construct nine research questions that were then given to the participants. The nine questions were sorted under three categories: organizational structures, competence development and needs, and plans, handling and communication. Fourteen leaders at different levels in the NAFCD participated in the study. Our main finding was that high-level (n = 4) and low-level (n = 10) participants differed in their views on SCL. As for unforeseen events, both levels shared the opinion that the NAFCD can cope with a low level of didactical degrees of the unforeseen (the degree to which the management has the competence to facilitate for adequate exercises for the different hierarchical levels in the organization, i.e., sudden unknown cyber-attacks). However, no common understanding of the term SCL was found among the participants. Interaction was interpreted to be very important to the participants, and they used professional networks to a high degree. In addition, unofficial lines of communication were very frequently used in relation to human resource exchange and development. By creating a common understanding within the NAFCD regarding the concept of SCL, it will be possible to improve the Norwegian digital border defense against unforeseen events.

The Role of Leadership in a Digitalized World: A Review

“…The case study presented by Coutu (2000), highlights the need to establish a profitable exchange relationship between leaders of people-oriented (e.g., sales), and IT functions, in order to create a cross-functional and cross-skill contamination. Systematic knowledge dissemination from the individual to the group is highlighted as the most effective way to spread knowledge and expertise across the organization (Boe and Torgersen, 2018). Coutu (2000) addresses how this cross-skill contamination can be performed, by means of implementing reverse-mentoring programs.…”

“…Studying modern military operational environments, Boe and Torgersen (2018) highlight the need to lead under volatile, uncertain and complex situations, characteristics they find similarly describe the context of modern e-businesses. According to the authors, leadership training needs to combine both technology and change, creating simulations of scenarios in which ambiguous information and improvisation create complex and uncertain conditions.…”

B Corps: A Socioeconomic Approach for the COVID-19 Post-crisis

“…Grounded theory uses induction-related procedures that generate an explanatory theory of the phenomenon analyzed ( Glaser and Strauss, 1967 ). In this study, we emphasize a conceptual and theoretical approach based on grounded theory ( Boe and Torgersen, 2018 ), since concepts and data relationships are continuously produced and reexamined to be considered rigorous as scientific research ( Strauss and Corbin, 1998 ). Linked to symbolic interactionism, grounded theory ensures to know what is happening and why in a social group ( Strauss and Corbin, 1990 ) to formulate grounded theories with empirical analysis ( Martin and Turner, 1986 ; Strauss and Corbin, 1990 ; Andrade-Rhor, 2019 ) on human behavior and the social world ( Kendall, 1999 ).…”

Lost in Transition: The Dissemination of Digitization and the Challenges of Leading in the Military Educational Organization

“…Common to the theses is that they largely point to the distance between the strategic management documents that are advocated by the NAF leadership and what is practiced in the organization. As mentioned before, even the NAF Cyber Defense has been found to struggle with issues such as strategic competence leadership, organizational structures, competence development, needs, plans, handling and communication (Boe and Torgersen, 2018).…”

“…The NAF is an organization that for several years already has introduced digital systems that allow top management to follow operations from a distance and even have the ability to directly influence and intervene in the events while they are ongoing (Forsvarsstaben, 2014). On the other hand, research has shown that even a highly digitized part of the NAF, the NAF Cyber Defense, struggles with strategic competence leadership, organizational structures, competence development, needs, plans, handling and communication (Boe and Torgersen, 2018). The Norwegian military education has not been exposed to the very big upheavals until now.…”