Business issue/problem

Business issue/problem

Identify a business issue/problem, or opportunity as below:

In the past, oil and gas (O&G) companies have attempted to address oil-price declines by resorting to traditional cost-cutting measures, including layoffs and capital expense reductions. Many are taking a similar approach this time — a risky proposition in a time of unparalleled uncertainty for the industry. Indeed, the current scenario could pose potentially disastrous consequences for O&G firms that are not prepared to change their current operating models. For example, since October 2014, at least 10 O&G companies have filed for bankruptcy.
Other, forward-looking O&G firms, such as the one you are now working for, however, believe today’s turbulent market landscape provides an opportunity to gain competitive advantage by harnessing new technologies. These companies are already reaping sizable benefits: In the Eagle Ford region in North America, for example, improved drilling techniques and technologies are now enabling oil rigs to produce 18 times more efficiently than in 2008 and 65 percent more efficiently than in 2013. In addition, O&G firms now have the opportunity to achieve further efficiencies through digital technologies powered by the Internet of Everything (IoE) — the networked connection of people, process, data, and things.
With this forward looking strategy in mind your firm is considering a $3.2bn investment in technology across its up, mid & downstream operations.
This investment is focused on the near-term reward of increased shareholder value while maintaining long-term sustainability.
Fraught with challenges today, including declining production rates coupled with increasing production costs; a lack of knowledge & expertise among young workers due to a retiring skilled workforce; and, of course, a host of complications associated with increasingly remote & dangerous mega projects, not to mention the fall in crude oil prices.
The firm sees potential for technology to address some or all of these industry issues? Can this investment in technology improve operational efficiencies; lead to significant cost savings; and/or make the dangerous, messy, and exceedingly complicated jobs in this sector safer & easier? What enhancements can tech deliver in the oilfield?
If the firm goes ahead with this investment it will become a leader in tech led O&G exploration and would want to solidify this leader position via a global campaign showcasing its new capabilities & status.

Assignment Task:

You have just started working for a major oil and/or or gas company, and have joined a project team. You & your team have been tasked with an international short term project, with duration of 3 months. With its new investment your firm will become a leader in tech led O&G exploration/production & would want to solidify this leader position.
Therefore, you & your team are tasked with scoping a multi-national marketing project – across digital channels only – a project that can help the firm communicate its capabilities to appropriate stakeholders & help it to solidify this leader position, showing the financial & non-financial benefits to the firm of this investment & the project.
If they go ahead with the investment it will allow the firm to meet its overall business need, of achieving increased sales operational efficiencies & competitive advantage.
Your task is to write a business report detailing the resources needed to produce this project. Other teams have also been asked to put together a report along the same lines and the best one will be selected by senior management before implementation begins.