Awaken to the new knowledge management reality

摘要

Companies can develop leaner operations by using available data to improve efficiency without cutting costs. Over the past few years, as energy companies have attempted to plan and execute their projects, the operating environment has been anything but stable. In fact, volatility has been the one constant on which companies can rely. Given the mix of price uncertainty, environmental and regulatory hurdles, and the continuing challenge of overseas operating environments, some organizations have begun to move back into operating areas that provide a higher degree of stability. The irony is that this "rediscovery," particularly in the US, has presented companies with a new set of challenges, especially when their operations are not geared to the realities or limits inherent in these fields. Just as a country's political climate or the realities of a challenging environment, such as deepwater drilling, will often dictate how a project is to be planned and executed, companies seeking more stable operating environments in the US must adapt the management of their projects. This is also true for those companies looking for a way to operate "leaner" - to execute in a more efficient manner. Unfortunately, for many companies, "lean" is often tied to cost cutting rather than improving operations to get the most for the money already allocated.