The Corporate Security Stratum of Work: Occupational Ceilings, Progression, and Career Success
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Edith Cowan University Research Online Theses: Doctorates and Masters Theses 2019 The corporate security stratum of work: Occupational ceilings, progression, and career success Codee Roy Ludbey Edith Cowan University Follow this and additional works at: https://ro.ecu.edu.au/theses Part of the Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons Recommended Citation Ludbey, C. R. (2019). The corporate security stratum of work: Occupational ceilings, progression, and career success. https://ro.ecu.edu.au/theses/2238 This Thesis is posted at Research Online. https://ro.ecu.edu.au/theses/2238 Edith Cowan University Copyright Warning You may print or download ONE copy of this document for the purpose of your own research or study. The University does not authorize you to copy, communicate or otherwise make available electronically to any other person any copyright material contained on this site. 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The corporate security stratum of work: Occupational ceilings, progression, and career success A thesis submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the award of: Master of Science (Interdisciplinary) Codee Roy Ludbey Edith Cowan University School of Science 2019 i ABSTRACT To meet the challenges of modern society organisations are becoming more complex, and so too are the occupations that support them, including the Corporate Security occupation. Within this complexity progression is a changing security environment that impacts business opportunity and societal expectations due to a shift away from risk acceptance (Beck, 1992). Subsequently, the study investigated the Corporate Security stratum of work within large organisations in order to understand career opportunity, complexity, and influence within the context of the socio-organisational literature. By grounding the study in the underlying theory of Jaques’ (1996) work into General Managerial Hierarchies, the study took a broad view on the Corporate Security stratum. The study consisted of two phases, with the first consisting of online surveys distributed to four Australian organisations (N=53), and the second consisting of semi-structured interviews and focus groups with individuals from three Australian organisations from various hierarchical seatings (N=15). Key findings included an identified Corporate Security stratum that stretches from Stratum One through Stratum Four (out of Seven strata), with a postulated occupational progression ceiling at Stratum Four. Further, this progression ceiling is the likely outcome of the role of Corporate Security within organisations; namely as a technostructure function that supports business decision making but does not directly influence profit-making activities. Corporate Security appears to be bounded in specialised problem solving. Further, the study supports the literatures articulation of Corporate Security roles, however, it contests the articulation of the Corporate Security strata within organisations—finding limited support for executive security roles. ii COPYRIGHT AND ACCESS DECLARATION I certify that this thesis does not, to the best of my knowledge and belief: (i) Incorporate without acknowledgment any material previously submitted for a degree or diploma in any institution of higher degree or diploma in any institution of higher education; (ii) Contain any material previously published or written by another person except where due reference is made in the text of this thesis; or (iii) Contain any defamatory material. (iv) Contain any data that has not been collected in a manner consistent with ethics approval. The Ethics Committee may refer any incidents involving requests for ethics approval after data collection to the relevant Faculty for action. Name Codee Roy Ludbey Signed Date 1 May 2019 iii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS To my supervisors, Dr. Dave Brooks and Dr. Michael Coole; thank you for all the support through the years. To my partner in life, Letesha, thank you for putting up with the entire process from start to end. To my work colleagues and particularly my employer and professional mentor, Shane Norton, for supporting me throughout this endeavour. Thank you. To those key individuals who facilitated access to their organisations and let me ask questions of them and their teams. Thank you. Finally, an acknowledgement to the Australian Government, for their support through the Australian Government Research Training Program Scholarship. It definitely made life much easier! iv TABLE OF CONTENTS ABSTRACT ........................................................................................................................................................ II FIGURES .......................................................................................................................................................... IX CHAPTER ONE INTRODUCTION ........................................................................................................................ 1 1.0 INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................................................... 1 1.1 BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY .................................................................................................................. 2 1.2 AN OVERVIEW OF CORPORATE SECURITY ................................................................................................... 2 1.3 THE RESEARCH .................................................................................................................................... 5 1.4 SIGNIFICANCE OF THE RESEARCH .............................................................................................................. 6 1.5 OVERVIEW OF THE STUDY ....................................................................................................................... 6 1.5.1 Chapter Two: Society, Organisation, and Work ............................................................................ 6 1.5.2 Chapter Three: Security as Specialised Work ................................................................................ 7 1.5.3 Chapter Four: Methodology ......................................................................................................... 7 1.5.4 Chapter Five: Phase One .............................................................................................................. 8 1.5.5 Chapter Six: Phase Two ................................................................................................................ 9 1.5.6 Chapter Seven: Interpretation and Discussion .............................................................................. 9 1.5.7 Chapter Eight: Conclusion and Findings ........................................................................................ 9 1.6 CONCLUSION..................................................................................................................................... 10 CHAPTER TWO SOCIETY, ORGANISATION, AND WORK ................................................................................. 11 2.0 INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................................................. 11 2.1 ORGANISATION AND SOCIETY ................................................................................................................ 11 2.2 SOCIETAL WORK AND GOALS ................................................................................................................ 12 2.3 SPECIALISATION AND INCENTIVES ........................................................................................................... 13 2.4 CLASS AND STRUCTURE ........................................................................................................................ 14 2.5 STRATIFICATION AND SUCCESS ............................................................................................................... 14 2.6 TYPICAL STRATIFIED WORK SPECIALISATIONS AND ORGANISATIONAL STRUCTURES ................................................ 16 2.7 ORGANISATIONAL PROGRESSION ............................................................................................................ 18 2.8 MEASUREMENT OF STRATIFICATION IN WORK ........................................................................................... 18 2.8.1 Uncertainty, Capacity, and Risk.................................................................................................. 20 2.8.2 The Work Stratum ..................................................................................................................... 20 2.9 STRATEGIC DECISION MAKING / WORK HIERARCHY DECISION MAKING ..........................................................