Exploring ‘Creating Shared Value’ Strategies as it Relates to Operational Challenges & Digital Capabilities of the Oilfield Service Industry in Sub Sahara Africa-A Case Study of Schlumberger

By exploring the rationality of ‘Creating Shared Value’ (CSV) concept in the oilfield service industry in Sub Saharan Africa, the research focused on exploring unique challenges and the underlying factors that affect operations in the oilfield service (OFS) companies in SSA using Schlumberger as a case study. With a theory developed from the inputs of interviewed participants, the research analysed ways ‘CSV’ strategies could be used to address these opportunities using the digital capabilities identified in the case study.

Research findings indicate that issues surrounding logistics are more complicated in SSA and has been exacerbated by the ecosystem limitations that are evident at different interface of the business operations, especially between the OFS, government, third parties and society.

Research shows that there is an intersection between the potentials of digitalisation and the benefits of ‘Creating Shared Value’ concept. It indicates that friction within identified interfaces can be eliminated or reduced by having a seamless digital workflow across the overlapping value chains. An integrated supply chain that integrates the oil and gas operations of governments, third parties and the upstream oil and gas industry was suggested. An additional literature review on this subject shows that this idea is not new and are at the early stage of development by some logistics and consultancy firms in other industries.

As recommended by the literature review, the case study has ‘go to market’ digital solutions required for the integration of an industry supply chain. However, these capabilities, are currently focused on the traditional E & P activities.

The researcher is of the opinion that a DELFI powered integrated supply chain (DISC), will create more transparency and provide an acceptable business framework, that will encourage collaboration within the stakeholders, facilitate regional integration and address the current ecosystem limitations in such a scale and way that would not be possible by a logistic firm. Because of the benefit of such a platform to the industry, the society, and the competitive advantage for the firm, the researcher considers this move as a ‘Creating Shared Value’ Strategy worthy of taking.

TABLE OF CONTENT

Title Page …..............................................................................................................................I  

Declaration & Statement Page ................................................................................................II Acknowledgements.................................................................................................................III 

Abstract ..................................................................................................................................IV 

Table of Contents.....................................................................................................................V  

List of Tables and Figures.......................................................................................................VII 

Chapter 1: Introduction ...........................................................................................................1  

Chapter 2: Literature Review..................................................................................................4 

Chapter 3: Research Methodology.........................................................................................11 

3.1 Introduction:……………………………….....................................................................................11

 3.2 Research Philosophy:…………..............................................................................................11 

 3.3 Research Approach:...........................................................................................................12 

3.4 Research Design and Strategy: .........................................................................................13 

3.5 Data Collection and Analysis :………....................................................................................13

  3.6 Reliability and Validity :.....................................................................................................15 

3.5 Ethics :................................................................................................................................17

 Chapter 4: Research Findings and Data Analysis………….........................................................1

 4.2 Stage One Document Collection and Analysis:..................................................................18

 4.3 Stage Two- Interview Session:…………….............................................................................22 

4.3.1 Demographics of the Interviewees :………………...................................................23  

4.4 Research Findings:………………………………………….. .............................................................25

 4.4.1 Introduction:………………………………………….. ........................................................25 

4.4.2 Research Questions:………………………………….. .....................................................25 

4.4.3 Research Results:………………………………………….. ..................................................25 

 vi 4.4.3.1 Theme 1-Logistics Complexities:……………………………….........................26 

4.4.3.2 Theme 2- Ecosystem Limitations:……...................................................29

 4.4.3.2.1 Infrastructural Deficits:….…………......................................................30

 4.4.3.2.2 Institutional Deficits:………………........................................................33

 4.4.3.2.3 Government Participation Gap:........................................................35 

4.4.3.2.4 Transparency Issues:…………………......................................................37 

4.4.3.3  Theme  3-Overlapping  Opportunities  between  CSV  and  Digitalization Objectives....................................................................................................................41 

4.4.3.3.1 Opportunities for Product and Service Delivery Improvement........42 

4.4.3.3.2 Opportunities for Supply Chain Improvement……………………….........46 

4.5 Research Analysis :………………………………………….. ..............................................................51

 4.5.1 Analysis- Introduction:……………………….………………….. ....................................................51 

4.5.2 Analysis- Research Question 1 and 2:…………………….. ....................................................51

 4.5.3 Analysis- Research Question 3:……….………………….. ……..……………………………………………..52

 Chapter 5: Discussion and Conclusion ………….........................................................................55   

5.1 Discussion and Implications:……….…………………......................................................55

  5.1.1 Integrated Upstream Supply Chain- A CSV concept:….................................55  

5.1.2 Practicability and Benefits-Integrated Supply Chain:…………….....................56 

 5.1.3 Other Features of the Digital capabilities that could facilitate DISC:….........59 

 5.1.4 Additional Literature Review based on findings and discussion:……...........60

 5.2 Limitations:…………………………………………………........................................................61 

5.2 Recommendation for further research:………….. ....................................................62 

5.3 Conclusion:……..……………………………………………… ...................................................63 References...............................................................................................................................67  Bibliography............................................................................................................................73 Appendices..............................................................................................................................76