Entropy, life-cycle accounting and the circular economy are terms and concepts indicative of how society now looks at the world differently than previous generations. As the global population pushes toward ten billion people by the end of this century, thoughtful approaches to sustainability will become ever more essential to...
Military action leading to closure of the Strait of Hormuz between Iran and Saudi Arabia could seriously disrupt global trade in chemicals and oil products, with a knock-on effect for the world’s already fragile manufacturing economy.
The U.S. killing of General Qasem Soleimani, head of the Iranian Revolutionary Guards’ overseas...
The oil and gas industry’s talent pipeline is in dire need of repair. Skill shortages are damaging productivity, gaps are widening in every sector of the industry and ad-hoc attempts to source qualified workers are akin to wildcat drilling, rarely yielding the results businesses need to execute their plans....
These days, “digital transformation” is an increasingly popular phrase in the business world, and it is challenging organizations to carefully consider how to retool their strategies. Digital transformation doesn’t simply mean to digitize information or move services from manual/analog into a digital format. Rather, digital transformations are an entirely new...
This fall finds me teaching Honors College freshmen in an introductory course under the rubric of Energy. Other sections address themes such as Sustainability, Media and even Happiness.
The Honors Tutorial I is a required course for all Honors College matriculates. Instructors work with aspiring scholars on how to read,...
Employee engagement is an issue for many industries that rely on frontline workers. But energy and utility companies face unique challenges when it comes to connecting with workers. A widening skills gap and a growing labor shortage are adding up to a disconnected workforce.
In fact, only 52% of utility...
Digital transformation. We hear this term used in many different contexts in our day to day conversations. Regardless of when or how it is used, one thing is clear, digital transformation could be the key to ensuring an organization’s survival over the next several years. During the recent Enaxis...
Independent contractors have long been a mainstay in the oil and gas industry. Given the ebbs and flows of the industry, contractors allow for much-needed flexibility. But, using contractors can sometimes create risk, particularly if the relationship is not handled correctly. Care must be taken to ensure independent contractors...
When and where does leadership start? It begins in childhood and develops throughout a lifetime. One’s values and belief systems form the behaviors they bring to leadership. Their self-esteem and self-image play a huge role in the confidence they project. Business acumen, critical thinking and experience contribute to their...
Managing safety is important every day, but the year 2020 has plagued the oil and gas industry with challenges. The onset of COVID-19, coupled with the record free fall of prices, left oil and gas personnel frantically searching for answers while recovering from this shocking new life. Although historical,...
