A Phenomenological Study of the Lived Experiences of it and Cybersecurity Professionals in Botswana: Investigating the Perceived Leadership Effect on Supply Chain Cybersecurity

This qualitative study aimed to investigate the experiences of cybersecurity professionals in the context of supply chain cybersecurity in a developing nation. Sixteen professionals from various industries in Botswana were interviewed. The study found that despite the critical role of cybersecurity as an organizational resource, it was still undervalued and underdeveloped, and leadership lacked comprehension of its importance. The participants expressed concerns about the increasing cybersecurity threats, lack of reporting, and technological inadequacies. The study recommends that organizations should develop a comprehensive cybersecurity strategy that includes policies, procedures, technical controls, vendor management, employee awareness and education, regular risk assessments, and incident response plans. The authors also proposed further research steps on supply chain cybersecurity for developing nations. The study contributes to the literature on supply chain cybersecurity in the context of developing nations and provides practical recommendations for organizations to enhance their cybersecurity measures.