Requirements for implementing integrated security systems

The following question was intended to find out the requirements for implementing integrated security system:

Research question 8: What is required to implement integrated security systems?

This question also sought to answer the research objective: Evaluate the factors necessary for the successful implementation of integrated security systems.

In addressing this research question, the site visits (100%) discovered that the factors necessary for the successful implementation of integrated security systems included top management support, availability of resources and skills. Both conceptual and technical skills were identified as necessary.

On the other hand, the interviews revealed that more than 80 % were of the view that the following were important:

• The perceived security risks for which the system should be implemented; • The desire by management to commit itself to the implementation of ISS; • The availability of resources to undertake the project;

• The supposed purpose of the system;

• The feasibility of successfully implementing the system; and

• The availability of the necessary skills to acquire, install and operate the system.

Another aspect mentioned by a few participants (10%) which the research thought is important was buy-in from staff members for them to embrace integrated security systems.

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The following Table 4.14 depicts correlation of the critical success factors as obtained from the statistically transformed interview responses.

Table 4.14: Pearson’s correlation coefficient matrix derived from interviews Management Commitment Resources System Purpose Feasibility Skills to Implement Security Risk .028 .274 .154 .755 .078 Management commitment .849 .379 .721 .679 Resources .154 .755 .414 System Purpose .812 .679 Feasibility .038 Skills to Implement 1

The above matrix indicates that all the factors are correlated. The above factors were viewed as the main determinants of implementing integrated security systems and that they should be considered holistically because they are interrelated. The majority of interviewees (55.56) indicated security risk, top management support and resource availability as the most critical.

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The survey questionnaires gave the following results derived from Question 17 of the survey which covered the aspect of critical success factors in the implementation of ISS. The statistics for scores of 60% and above are shown in the Table 4.15 below:-

It can be seen from the above table that resources have the highest percentage followed by system purpose, feasibility, skills and top management support. The common view on factors critical for the successful implementation of ISS from both interviews and questionnaire data is that system purpose, availability of resources, top management commitment and skills to implement are the most important.

Findings from the three sources corroborated each other. There are similarities in almost all the factors that came out. From the study’s perspective, the research question was successfully answered because the critical factors were brought out from all the three different sources.

Table 4.15: Q 17 Critical success factors in the implementation of ISS

Q No Factor Frequency % in Agreement to

some extent and above

Q17a System purpose 101 99

Q17b Feasibility 98 96.1

Q17c Resources 100 100

Q17d Skills 98 96.1

Q17e Top mgt. support 97 95.1

101 4.3.9 Effectiveness of integrated security systems

The following question was intended to uncover the effectiveness of the integrated security systems:

Research question 9: How effective are integrated security systems in the prevention and detection of security incidents?

This question also sought to answer the research objective: Understand the effectiveness of integrated security systems in terms of the benefits of implementation.

To further enhance the analysis, the study sought to establish the effectiveness of existing security systems which relates to the ability of security systems to prevent and respond to threat sources (Vellani, 2007: 184). However, the research did not have a component on the actual impact of integrated security systems but the perceived benefits were assumed to translate to effectiveness.

In addressing this research question, the site visits (63.63%) revealed that there are several benefits to be derived from the implementation of integrated security systems. Some of them observed included improved security outlook, reduced security personnel deployments, detection of security incidents and rapid response.

In relation to interviews participants who viewed the existing security measures as possibly effective were at 63.3% and 23.3% were of the view that they were ineffective while the remaining 13.3% were unsure. Some participants noted that effectiveness of security measures may be difficult to measure. One Chief Executive Officer cautioned that the non-occurrence of security incidents did not necessarily mean that the security function was effective because some incidents may be undetected. All the interviewees (100%) were of the conviction that integrated security systems are more effective in the prevention and detection of security related incidents in the Harare industrial sector. About 27% were of the opinion that integrated security systems are less costly than stand-alone security measures while 73% believed they were costly due to implementation costs. Only 30 % indicated that they could be easy to monitor while 70 % said that they could be difficult to monitor.

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The survey questionnaires gave the results on perceived benefits from responses under Question 18. There was no actual measurement of existing integrated security systems but the respondents were asked to provide their views on such perceived impact factors translating to benefits. According to the statistics obtained for the perceived benefits, the calculated composite frequency is 99%. The statistics are displayed in Table 4.16 below.

Table 4.16: Q 18 Perceived benefits for the implantation of ISS

Q No Benefit Frequency % in Agreement to

some extent and above

Q18a Effectiveness 101 99

Q18b Ease of monitoring 99 97.1

Q18c Reduced personnel 95 93.1

Q18d Improved outlook 99 97.1

Q18e Improved records 100 98

Composite percentage frequency of 60% and above 99

The above table shows that all aspects had more than 80% frequencies from respondents who agreed to some extent and above. Improved effectiveness was the most highly rated benefit which equalled the composite frequency of 99% indicating a very strong reason for implementing integrated security systems. Reduced security personnel have the lowest percentage frequency. In support of this, Hernandez and Mazzon (2006: 72-88) outline the five attributes of the innovation transmission aspects as system advantage in comparison to others, compatibility, ease of operation, benefits, and improved outlook among others.

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On the other hand, Heally and Walsh (1971: 10) corroborate that the advantages of security systems integration are improved protection and reduced costs which support the views of the respondents.

The results from the three methods agreed that there were benefits to be obtained from the implementation of integrated security systems. In summary, integrated security systems were viewed as cost-effective. Therefore, the research question was to some extent successfully answered since the benefits were sufficiently advanced. However, the research question could have been further explored by linking the effectiveness with the security risks.