Analysis of investment evaluation practices and decision-making process in the oil and gas industry
Date
2011
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Abstract
The fundamental focus of project management has been to deliver projects on time, on budget and meet specifications. However, many projects still fail to meet these targets and this trend has continued unabated despite concerted efforts from the government, private sectors and the academic communities. A significant amount of literature has focused on potential solutions, but many of the studies looked only at options for improving project execution practices, whereas in many cases the seeds of project failure may have been sown even before the project is officially approved for execution. Particularly, the failure of many investment decisions to return expected results, in the oil and gas industry has led to a growing interest over the past few years in understanding the influences and impacts on current investment evaluation practices and decision-making tools and processes, and their relationships with poor project performances. The objectives of this research therefore, were to examine the factors that influence investment evaluation practices and decision-making process in the oil and gas industry, and their subsequent impacts on intended decision outcomes and project participants as well. To achieve these objectives, the research used both survey questionnaire and case studies to examine the interactions, especially between management executives and project participants to determine those influences as well as their subsequent impacts on desired investment outcomes and project participants. The results of this research which were triangulated and validated, identified the key influences to range from lack of open and honest communication that degenerated to perceived lack of trust, transparency, clarity and focus, to poor implementation of good project management practices in terms of documentation, lessons learned, peer reviews, rewards and adequate risk identification and assessment. These findings were thoroughly analysed to recommend solutions to identified problems. Additionally, the research presented a framework that is entrenched in project management process and principles for improved investment evaluation practices and decision-making process in the oil and gas industry with more emphasis on better communication and good project management practices to ensure better project performances and motivated project participants.
Description
Bibliography: p. 335-366
Includes copy of ethics approval. Original copy with original Partial Copyright Licence.
Includes copy of ethics approval. Original copy with original Partial Copyright Licence.
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Citation
Okeke, T. C. (2011). Analysis of investment evaluation practices and decision-making process in the oil and gas industry (Doctoral thesis, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada). Retrieved from https://prism.ucalgary.ca. doi:10.11575/PRISM/4050