Organizational Thrashing

Disk thrashing is "generally caused by too many processes competing for scarce memory resources. To temporarily stop thrashing, you need to terminate one or more applications. To stop it permanently, you need to install more main memory.[1]" If we take this concept and apply it at an organizational level, we can begin to describe what this author is defining as "Organizational Thrashing"

What is Organizational Thrashing

Much like how a system that lacks adequate memory to execute all the requested processes in an organized fashion, thus producing performance degradation, Organizational Thrashing is a similar phenomenon where due to lack of organization and excessive requests simultaneously, an organization experiences performance degradation. The resolution for Disk Thrashing is either to install more memory or terminate some of the simultaneous processes.

While this is similar to Context Switching this describes the situation from a more strategic level. This phenomenon has been observed by many practitioners that have been interviewed.

How to Avoid Thrashing

• Create a formalized Project initiation process
• Prioritize Projects
• Inoculate against FUD
• Separate "Run the Business" and "Grow the Business" functions in Security Operations
• Create clear separations between
  • Security Engineering & Architecture
  • Security Monitoring & Incident Response
• Create a RACI for Processes, Functions and Projects
• Engage a Project Manager/Scrum Master as the central point for Project Intake

This is not an exhaustive list as it only provides suggestions that must be orientated to the consumer's enterprise.

Signs of Organizational Thrashing

• Changing focus from one project to another repeatedly without actually completing them.
• Being asked to perform the same task, function or process by multiple peers, managers or leaders.
• Having Projects initiated by multiple different teams simultaneously without respect to the resource conflicts
• Having more than 2 projects assigned simultaneously to a single individual

Impact

• Lack of completed projects
• Wasted time and effort
• Context Switching
• Burnout

Citations

Webopedia. Unknown date. What is disk thrashing? Retrieved from https://www.webopedia.com/TERM/D/disk_thrashing.html