Dalene's PhD study aimed to contribute to the understanding of the emerging profession of Security Risk Intelligence Analysis in the private sector by exploring the individual and collective professional identity of practitioners who identify and analyse threats and risks to the security of personnel, key assets and operations of an organisation or business in the private sector.

 

The study employed a mixed-methods approach to empirically research how practitioners across different organisational contexts and national boundaries construct and maintain their professional identity in their quest for meaningful work.  

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Security risk intelligence analysts in the private sector share a common professional identity, forming the blueprint for the collective professional identity. There were some differences, but none of them impacted the overall results that emerged during the study. Their professional identity is centred on their expert knowledge and ability to perform complex intellectual tasks in providing forewarning and insight into threats to the organisation or client's well-being and sustainability.

 

They possess a strong individual professional identity, reflecting high levels of job satisfaction, pride, and autonomy in their profession. They thrive on connecting on a professional, functional level with stakeholders. Their main professional challenge is related to the relative lack of understanding of their role in the private sector by various stakeholders in and outside the organisation.

 

Lastly, proposals are made on how the profession can enhance its professional identity and its consequential impact on the security risk management field and the security sector.

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See some of the main findings below.

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