To date, no research has examined the social dimensions of the chief information security officer (CISO) role. This gap is notable because technical occupations increasingly require interpersonal and relationship-building skills, making the CISO position a particularly relevant case for studying the social aspects of technically oriented work. Community sociology scholars have also recognized that workplace relationships constitute a substantial portion of many individuals' social lives. However, these relationships are often relatively superficial, serve primarily instrumental rather than emotional needs, and tend to generate bridging rather than bonding social capital. Social capital theory suggests that the networks individuals access through work may influence their level of connectedness and engagement within communities outside the workplace. This project investigates that proposition by examining whether a role that depends heavily on interpersonal networks, such as the CISO position, may facilitate civic engagement beyond work. More broadly, the findings may provide insights into how social trust and civic participation could be strengthened, potentially through workplace structures and practices, in response to the long-term decline in community involvement.

 

UNT NEXUS and the UNT Department of Sociology, in affiliation with CISO XC, are excited to announce our funded summer research project focused on the social life of a CISO!

If you are a CISO with 30-60 minutes of time for a Zoom interview discussing you, your social habits, camaraderie in the industry, and volunteerism enter your name on this form and we'll contact you. Click here to fill out the Contact Form.

Please know this survey is about you. There are no questions about your specific job, organization, technical, or security questions.