scholarly journals Effective Strategies to Overcome Challenges in ERP Projects: Perspectives from a Canadian Exploratory Study

2019 ◽  
Vol 12 (7) ◽  
pp. 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sreekumar Menon

This qualitative exploratory case study explores strategies and mitigating actions for successful Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) implementations. The research was conducted in a Canadian case organization in the oil and gas industry, using a semi-structured interview guide with a total of twenty interviews that includes members from four project role groups of senior leaders, project managers, project team members, and business users. For triangulation purposes, the study used interview responses and also ERP project documentation collected for the purpose. The research highlighted several strategies and mitigating actions that can be put in use by organizations. The key themes that emerged as effective strategies include having the right people for support and guidance from experts, change management, clear communications, hands-on training, lots of testing, and risk management. The study also provided evidence that adopting strategies can help overcome critical challenges during ERP implementations.

2019 ◽  
Vol 14 (6) ◽  
pp. 84
Author(s):  
Sreekumar A. Menon ◽  
Marc Muchnick ◽  
Clifford Butler ◽  
Tony Pizur

This research paper explores complexity theory based on insights from an Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) implementation in the Canadian oil and gas industry. The qualitative exploratory case study was conducted in a Canadian case organization using a semi-structured interview guide with a total of twenty interviews from members of four project role groups of senior leaders, project managers, project team members, and business users. Besides interview responses, the study also collected and reviewed ERP project documents for triangulation purposes. The research showed the importance of complexity theory to ERP projects, and the relationship between critical challenges and complex categories of human behavior, system behavior, and ambiguity. The study findings also evoked rich and comprehensive data related to the phenomenon of critical challenges in ERP.


2019 ◽  
Vol 14 (7) ◽  
pp. 54 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sreekumar A. Menon ◽  
Marc Muchnick ◽  
Clifford Butler ◽  
Tony Pizur

This research paper explores critical challenges in Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) implementation based on insights from an exploratory qualitative single case study in the Canadian Oil and Gas Industry. The study was conducted in a Canadian case organization using twenty interviews from members of four project role groups of senior leaders, project managers, project team members, and business users. The study further collected and reviewed project documents from the ERP implementation for triangulation. The research evoked a comprehensive list of sixty critical challenges and out of which, the top twelve challenges discussed in detail were drawn from the responses of participants from all four project role groups. The study findings indicated that critical challenges were significant during ERP implementation. This research is one of first case studies in the Canadian oil and gas industry that focuses on critical challenges in ERP implementation projects.


2020 ◽  
Vol 15 (2) ◽  
pp. 80
Author(s):  
Sreekumar Menon

This research paper discusses key recommendations for improving future Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) implementations based on insights from an exploratory qualitative single case study in the Canadian Oil and Gas Industry. The study was conducted using a semi-structured interview guide from twenty participants belonging to four project role groups of senior leaders, project managers, project team members, and business users. The research evoked a comprehensive list of forty-two critical success factors (CSFs) and out of which, top ten CSFs discussed include: Know your data, longer and more integrated testing, utilization of the right people, longer stabilization period (hyper-care), communication, address legal and fiscal requirements, hyper-care must be longer, early buy-in from business, have a Lean Agile program, less customization and more vanilla out of the box, and project must be business-driven and not IT-driven. This study is one of first ERP case studies in the Canadian oil and gas industry and the research recommendations can prove to be beneficial for organizations when undertaking ERP implementations.


2018 ◽  
Vol 58 (2) ◽  
pp. 508
Author(s):  
Russell Byfield

With today’s current technologies, it is possible to answer the question, ‘What is the most profitable mode of operation for the next few hours, for the rest of today, tomorrow and beyond?’ With ‘lower for longer’ oil prices, the need for enterprise wide optimisation in the upstream and midstream oil and gas industry is greater than ever. The terms ‘Digital Oil Field’, ‘Digital Gas Field’, ‘Digital Twin’ are being utilised to extol the virtue and value of big data analytics and model-based asset optimisation and supply chain optimisation by enabling this in efficient ways not previously possible with multiple unintegrated systems, processes and procedures. Multiple different point solutions rolled out across multiple sites become difficult to integrate horizontally for management of safe and optimised operations and vertically up to business enterprise resource planning level to give useful and timely business insights. With careful planning, coupled with deep operational technology and operations knowledge, an integrated enterprise wide supply chain and asset operations and management system can unlock significant hidden value. This is enabled by the correct and efficient integration of many systems and the efficient collection, management and use of huge amounts of data. As the industry needs to ‘do more with less’, getting this integration right is critical to enable desired outcomes and functionality. This paper summarises the current state-of-the-art solutions that enable optimised well to liquefied natural gas plant process, asset and business management to deliver desired functionality and outcomes.


1985 ◽  
Vol 25 (1) ◽  
pp. 134
Author(s):  
R. Bogan

Early in 1982 CSR Limited established an Oil and Gas Division. By 1983 this Division had recruited twenty-six overseas technical personnel mainly from Canada and the United Kingdom. The Company needed to recruit overseas because the skills required were not available in Australia.During 1983 a review of the recruitment and settlement of these personnel and their families was undertaken. The objectives of this review were to:improve the Company performance in the recruitment, induction and settlement of overseas recruits and their families;increase the likely "length of stay" in Australia of overseas recruits and their families;to address specific problems faced by recruits and their families in settlement in Australia.In depth interviews were conducted with twenty-one of the twenty-six recruits and their families using a structured interview format.The analysis of the interviews results revealed that:on average it took longer for those recruited in the United Kingdom to obtain immigration "approvals" and to physically relocate than those recruited in Canada;families with previous experience in relocating adapted and coped better with the physical move and resettlement than families without previous experience.The detailed results showed further that:While there was sufficient information provided about the job and department, there was dissatisfaction with the lack of detailed information about aspects of living in Australia, particularly: taxation; housing; bank mortgage arrangements; cost of living data and medical insurance.There were gaps in the expectations that many- recruits and their families had about living in Australia, such as climate, lifestyle and housing. This was attributed to an "oversell" through glossy brochures and "word pictures".The attention given to staff and their families on arrival was seen as a positive introduction to Australia and CSR's Oil and Gas Division.The provision of initial temporary accommodation in a single apartment complex for all overseas recruits and families in Adelaide assisted greatly in the induction and settlement process. It provided a high level of support especially for wives with young children. The "welcome waggon" group together with the assistance provided by the wives of senior executives were also positive influences in the settlement process.The most positive features seen in the move to Australia were career and lifestyle opportunities. On the other hand loss of disposable income was seen as a significant negative.From the results and analysis a detailed set of recommendations and actions were developed to improve company performance in recruitment and settlement. These recommendations were implementated prior to the 1984 recruiting mission to Canada, the United States and the United Kingdom.The preliminary results from the 1984 recruiting mission have resulted in:a reduction in recruiting lead time;quicker and more informed decision making by candidates and their families in accepting job offers;more professional preparation of both the recruiting teams and the company's agents overseas.


2019 ◽  
Vol 59 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Peter Bennett

In this era of technological disruption, when many industries are fighting to stay relevant, the oil and gas industry seems to be stagnant. It is in this environment where public perception of the modern industry is becoming more critical and as younger consumers grow in both number and political influence, their viewpoints will become especially vital to the continued relevance of the industry. The oil and gas industry gives itself high marks for innovation, safety and environmental sustainability, and yet the public opinion in these areas is often portrayed very negatively. We have an image problem. The belief that oil and gas is good for society seems to decline with each younger generation. The public believes the industry is necessary for society, though they still see it as a problem causer, not a problem solver. But support for the industry falls with each generation and millennials are more likely to believe the industry is bad for society and a problem causer. The oil and gas industry needs to communicate and engage with consumers to identify ways to better understand their motivations and concerns. Clearly there is a gap in how the public and executives view the industry and the time to address these perceptions is now. To view the video, click the link on the right.


2016 ◽  
Vol 56 (2) ◽  
pp. 559
Author(s):  
Brent Steedman

The Australian oil and gas industry is in a period of substantial challenges, including a significant decline in oil prices, fluctuating spot gas prices, a relentless drive for operating efficiency, and tight capital allocation, together with increased regulatory scrutiny and a reputation for below-standards productivity. On the upside, these market challenges provide significant opportunities for companies to bring in new investors, implement new operating models, apply innovation to update processes and practices, and restructure activities. Making material step-changes, requires companies to review, amend, and update joint venture operating agreements (JVOAs). KPMG has worked with many of Australia’s leading oil and gas companies on a range of joint venture engagements. This extended abstract outlines why JVOAs need to be reviewed with respect to the following key opportunities and challenges: Fast-changing global business operating models. Available cost savings by eliminating inconsistent management and operating models between joint ventures. Planning for potential restructuring, including separation of infrastructure (e.g. plants, pipelines, support) from reserve ownership. Sharing of services (e.g. maintenance and logistics) between unrelated joint ventures. Transparency of costs and asset performance. Improved joint venture governance (not more or over-governance) between participants to attract investment. Effective resourcing, noting the right transition of capabilities between deal-makers and joint venture operators. With this extended abstract the authors aim to provide ideas for consideration. Each of these ideas will impact JVOAs. The authors’ proposition is that now is the right time to complete a comprehensive review of JVOAs to enable organisations to move fast as new and innovative opportunities arise.


2019 ◽  
Vol 59 (2) ◽  
pp. 639
Author(s):  
Michael Lynn ◽  
David Wirrpanda

As oil and gas operators and service providers look to embrace automation and analytics, many of the traditional partnerships with Aboriginal communities relating to employment and career pathways are likely to be challenged. The paper explores how digital trends are affecting, and are likely to affect, Indigenous communities in their partnerships with oil and gas organisations. Workplace roles and activities are evolving in our increasingly digitised world, causing a perceived threat to employment for minority groups such as Indigenous communities. In order to ensure the ongoing presence of opportunities for Indigenous workers in the ‘future of work’, oil and gas organisations will need to augment digital technologies to cater for and enhance existing and future roles. This paper presents a framework for Indigenous communities, governments, oil and gas operators and service providers to embrace digitisation and create sustainable relationships. An approach is considered to engage with Indigenous communities with objectives of executing on their Reconciliation Action Plans and addressing culture and employment challenges that arise through digitisation. The framework positions oil and gas operators and service providers to pivot themselves not only to sustain, but also to enhance Indigenous employment opportunities in a digital workplace. Digitisation is here, but with the right approach it can positively affect and shape partnerships between oil and gas organisations and Indigenous communities.


2018 ◽  
Vol 4 (5-6) ◽  
pp. 223-264
Author(s):  
Carolina Barreira Lins

This work examines the subject of jurisdiction and arbitrability of issues related to energy and natural resources in the world, in order to enhance the arbitration institute in Brazil. The study is based on a recent case pending in Brazilian courts, named “Lula case”, which refer to a dispute between the State and concessionaires that grant the right to explore and produce oil and gas in a determined area. The presence of arbitration clauses in the concession contracts for exploration and production of oil and gas in Brazil raises questions related to the disposability of the rights concerned. It is paramount to set benchmarks on arbitral tribunals’ power to decide on these matters and to define to what extent arbitral awards may defy public policy, national sovereignty over natural resources and national courts’ jurisdiction to render decisions in this regard. Otherwise, the randomness of judicial decisions makes the arbitration clause ineffective. Moreover, the Lula case arises substantive issues related to the necessity to protect investors in the oil and gas industry, since acts arguably connect to the State policy power may cause damages to the private parties. The work critically examines the decision given by national courts so far and proposes an international approach to face situations involving the State and the necessity to protect investors in the oil and gas industry.


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