|
| ||
| Invitation to Participate | The Collaboration | |
| Press Release | Background | |
| The research process | ||
| Response Form | Timetable—May to December 1998 | |
| Participation | ||
Below is a brief proposal inviting you to participate in a collaboration to explore how best to use Knowledge Management in oil exploration and production.
The idea of a collaboration developed from discussions in which we observed that, although many companies feel that Knowledge Management is important, there are problems defining what to do about it. Therefore Paras, the Theseus Institute and POSC have formed a team to address this issue.
A collaboration of this nature provides a very cost effective means to gain access to some of the world leading research and thinking on the topic. This research combined with practical E&P knowledge will give your company an excellent platform on which to plan a program to derive benefits from the application of Knowledge Management. This collaboration, supported by sponsorship from GeoQuest, brings a unique combination of skills and expertise that will enable you to make informed decisions about the role of Knowledge Management in your organization.
If you would like to participate, please complete and return the Response Form. Please do not hesitate to contact either Struby Overton (overton@posc.org) or me if you have any questions regarding the project.
I look forward to working with you on this exciting project.
Sincerely,
David Archer
(archer@posc.org)
Start of an industry-wide project to evaluate the role of knowledge management in oil exploration and production
By December 1998, Paras, together with the Petrotechnical Open Software Corporation (POSC) and the Theseus Institute, will have completed an ambitious schedule of individual company workshops, group discussions and in-depth research on the role and application of knowledge management in the oil exploration and production industry. The resulting report will be a major resource for participating companies wishing to incorporate knowledge management into their business strategy.
In announcing the launch of the multi-company project — the Knowledge Management Collaboration — David Archer of POSC, Houston emphasized its importance and urgency. "We all think that we know what knowledge management means" he said "but defining it can be difficult and translating that definition into practice even harder."
The Knowledge Management Collaboration team, sponsored by Schlumberger GeoQuest, brings a unique combination of E&P industry expertise and leading academic thinking to this definitive study. According to project manager, Hamish Wilson of Paras UK, "an industry-wide dialogue is the only effective way of funding and managing the resources needed to undertake such an ambitious and important program."
The Collaboration will:
The Knowledge Management Collaboration will start up in May 1998.
For further information please contact:
Launching the Collaboration
Paras, together with the Petrotechnical Open Software Corporation (POSC) and the Theseus Institute, announce the knowledge management collaboration - a multi-company project to evaluate the role and application of knowledge management in the oil exploration and production industry.
Why a collaboration?
An industry dialogue is the most effective and time-efficient way of finding and managing the resources needed to undertake such an ambitious and important programme.
The objectives
The Collaboration aims to:
Paras, POSC and Theseus bring a unique combination of oil industry business expertise and leading academic thinking to the in-depth study of knowledge management.
At Theseus, the international management institute in Sophia Antipolis, France, a core group of faculty and a network of leading thinkers specialize in developing new approaches to management information knowledge and technology. A knowledge management competence center has recently developed. Here the domain of knowledge management is being mapped so that managers will understand the variety of approaches, their essential differences and similarities, and which are the most appropriate to a given purpose. Charles Despres and Danièlle Chauvel of Theseus will focus this expertise on issues affecting the Collaboration.
Hamish Wilson of Paras is project manager of the Collaboration. Paras is a United Kingdom consultancy company that specializes in improving performance in the E&P industry. The company brings a deep understanding of the business and processes of E&P.
The Petrotechnical Open Software Corporation, Houston is an international not-for-profit membership organization focused on the E&P sector of the oil and gas industry. POSC’s mission is to deliver value to the industry through the development and support of standards for information sharing. David Archer represents POSC on the Collaboration.
Stage 1—business requirements
An understanding and description of the key business processes will provide a structured framework in which the research on knowledge management can be applied.
The team will run a workshop with senior managers or nominees from each participating company to define:
Dedicated workshops will be run in each company to maintain confidentiality, and only approved material will be released to other participating members. The results of these workshops will be analyzed and compiled as a report on business drivers, key processes and knowledge. Generic models for key business processes will be developed.
Stage 2—knowledge management research
The most important element of the Collaboration will be to combine our understanding of the area of knowledge management with the business processes of E&P
After extensive research of knowledge management theory and of good practice in industries that are complementary to E&P, the team will prepare and publish a critical assessment of when and where each approach and technique can be applied to key E&P processes. This evidence-based assessment will provide a unique insight into the best way of integrating knowledge management techniques into business strategy.
Stage 3—conclusions: reports and workshops
The conclusions of the Collaboration will be published as a formal report.
The team will also run two, two-day workshops to discuss the results and insights from the study—one at Theseus in Sophia Antipolis and the other in Houston. This will be an opportunity for participants to meet their counterparts in other companies and to spend some time consolidating their understanding of current thinking on knowledge management.
The team will be following an ambitious schedule in order to push ahead with this important project.
| May | Project start up |
| June | Workshops for participating companies |
| July | Report 1: Business drivers, generic business process, and structured framework for knowledge management |
| October | Report 2: State of practice of knowledge management |
| November | Results workshops - Sophia Antipolis, France
Results workshops - Houston, Texas |
| December | Report 3: Final report on knowledge management in the exploration and production industry |
E&P companies who are interested in participating in the Collaboration, please see the Participation - Quotation and Response Form. If you need further information, please contact Tamzin Howard of Paras on +44 (0) 1983 528700 or e-mail tamzin.howard@paras.co.uk
Copyright © 1994-1998 Petrotechnical Open Software
Corporation. All rights reserved.
Other brand and product names are trademarks or registered trademarks
of their respective holders.
POSC ®, the POSC logo ® and Epicentre® are registered
trademarks of Petrotechnical Open Software Corporation.
