Thesis (Ph. D.)--Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, 2004. / Includes bibliographical references. Also available in electronic version. Access restricted to campus users.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of California, Berkeley, 2004. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 313-337).

M.Sc. / Please refer to full text to view abstract

Magister Commercii - MCom / Oilseed is the third most important export item in Ethiopian foreign trade. It has registered a high export growth rate over recent years both in terms of volume and value. Besides its growing share in export, it is widely used for the extraction of edible oil and oilcake that is supplied to the domestic market. Although farmers are the primary producers of oilseeds, they are not able to benefit from the growing market share of the product due to the fact that they find themselves at the end of an extended market chain. As a result they only receive a very small proportion of what the final buyers are paying for the oilseed products. In addition, there is not much experience on the part of the farmers to process oilseeds, change it to edible oil and oilcake and retain the value addition in the local economy. This thesis used the value chain approach to investigate the possibilities for the primary producers to increase their income share from the selling of their products either by directly selling to exporters or by processing oilseeds, producing edible oil and oilcake, and retaining the value addition in the local economy. / South Africa

No description available.

Thesis (MBA)--Stellenbosch University, 2003. / The relationship between foreign direct investment (FDI) and competitiveness in South Africa and Nigeria was investigated. Existing data available in literature was used to analyse trends with regards to FDI and competitiveness in South Africa and Nigeria over the last 10 years. According to the UNCTAD report (2002) in 1997, FDI in Africa was concentrated on five countries namely, Angola, Egypt, Morocco, Nigeria and South Africa. Nigeria in the last ten years has consistently outperformed South Africa with regards to the amount of FDI received; yet South Africa outperforms Nigeria on all the competitiveness indices. This has been primarily due to the fact that Nigeria's main source of FDI is the petroleum sector. In Africa 75% of FDI goes into countries endowed with petroleum and mineral resources with very few of these strangling to meet the above list of WAIPA reasons favourable for FDI. The ultimate goal of a nations competitiveness is to increase efficiencies under free and fair market conditions through foreign trade, production and investment. Main results of this study have been the following; • Oil is a major FDI attractor of FDI in Africa, and explains why Nigeria receives more FDI than South Africa. • Although Nigeria does not have a good competitive record relative to South Africa it does however offer competitive fiscal terms to IOC's to explore and exploit the countries abundant petroleum resources. • Oil wealth struggles to filter down to the people of the country, as Nigeria's per capita income remains about fifteen times lower than South Africa's, with its more efficient economy. • This study confirms the fact that many MNC's especially in Africa tend to be driven by resource-seeking opportunities and rather than efficiency seeking opportunities. Unfortunately many of the petroleum exporting countries are unable to use the wealth generated by the petroleum industry to enhance their global competitiveness. The problem is that many countries are not diversified enough and rely extensively on commodities to generate much needed revenue.

University of Macau / Faculty of Business Administration. / Department of Accounting and Information Management

Thesis (MA)--Stellenbosch University, 2015. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: International oil and gas companies are experiencing an increase in terrorist attacks. After the oil and gas industry became a legitimate target for terrorist groups in the 1990s the number of attacks have increased yearly, with a spike after the 9/11 attacks. In today’s interconnected world political risk is not only about the relationship between the host government and the company. Oil and gas companies may experience risks on a transnational, national and human security level. Because of this, the success of new investments often depends on the successful utilization of risk management strategies. This research study focuses on the importance of political-security risk in the oil and gas industry. This is a risk-management tool to be used before and during international operations; it enables companies to be better prepared to deal with risks that may arise. In January 2013 the oil and gas industry experienced one of its deadliest attacks. The In Amenas gas facility in Algeria was attack by terrorists and in a four-day siege 40 people lost their lives. This forced the oil and gas industry to reconsider its focus on security management. As one of the contractors at the facility, Statoil undertook a thorough analysis of security at the site as well as of the company´s corporate security risk management. The report revealed a lack of focus on political-security risk. Accordingly, the main research question in this study concerns the effect of terrorism on politicalsecurity risk in the oil and gas industry; it specifically analyzes the In Amenas attack. The aim of this study is to answer this question along with two sub-questions, which complement and support the main research question. The first sub-question concerns the factors that contributed to the attack in In Amenas: why was risk mitigation not successful? The second sub-question looks at the possibilities for international oil and gas companies to mitigate the risk of terrorism; or is this a risk that can only be managed? This study argues that political-security risk has not been used to its full potential in the oil and gas industry. The oil and gas industry has always focused on site security, but a broader more holistic approach to risk management has been lacking. However, as a result of the In Amenas incident, the industry has become more willing to have a new discussion on security and this has resulted in small changes in the way companies operate. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Internasionale olie- en gasmaatskappye ondervind ‘n toename in terreur aanvalle. Nadat die olie en gasindustrie ‘n wettige teiken vir tereurgroepe in die 1990s geword het, het die aantal aanvalle per jaar toegeneem, met ‘n skerp styging na die 9/11 aanvalle. In vandag se onderling verbonde wêreld hou die politiese risiko nie net verband met die verhouding tussen die gasregering en die maatskappy nie. Olie- en gasmaatskappye mag risiko’s op trans-nasionale, nasionale en menslike sekuriteitsvlak ervaar. As gevolg hiervan maak die sukses van nuwe beleggings dikwels staat op die suksesvolle gebruik van risiko-bestuur strategieë. Hierdie navorsingstudie fokus op die belang van ‘n politiese veiligheidsrisiko in die olie en gasindustrie. Hierdie is ‘n risiko-bestuur gereedskap wat gebruik sal word voor en tydens internasionale operasies; dit stel die maatskappye in staat om beter voorbereid te wees om die risiko’s wat mag voorkom te hanteer. In Januarie 2013 het die olie en gasindustrie een van die dodelikste aanvalle beleef. Die In Amenas olie-aanleg in Algerië is deur terroriste aangeval en tydens ‘n 4 dae lange inval het 40 mense hul lewens verloor. Dit het die olie en gasindustrie gedwing om hul fokus op veiligheidsbestuur te heroorweeg. As een van die kontrakteur by die aanleg het Statoil ‘n deeglike ontleding van die sekuriteit by die plek sowel as die maatskappy se korporatiewe veiligheid risikobestuur onderneem. Die verslag het ‘n gebrek aan fokus op die politiese veiligheidsrisiko getoon. Die hoof navorsingsvraag in hierdie studie het betrekking op die effek van terreur op politiese veiligheidsrisiko in die olie- en gasindustrie; dit ontleed spesifiek die In Amenas aanval. Die doel van hierdie studie is om hierdie vraag tesame met twee sub-vrae wat die hoof navorsingsvraag komplimenteer en ondersteun. Die eerste sub-vraag het betrekking op die faktore wat bygedra het tot die aanval in In Amenas: hoekom was risiko mitigasie onsuksesvol? Die tweede sub-vraag kyk na die moontlikhede vir internasionale olie- en gasmaatskappye om die risiko van terreur te versag; of is hierdie ‘n risiko wat slegs bestuur kan word? Hierdie studie argumeneer dat politiese veiligheidsrisiko nie tot sy volle potensiaal in die olie en gasindustrie gebruik is nie. Die olie en gasindustrie het altyd gefokus op die veiligheid van die plek, maar ‘n breër holistiese benadering tot risiko-bestuur het ontbreek. As gevolg van die In Amenas insident, het die industrie meer gewillig geword om ‘n nuwe bespreking oor veiligheid te hê en dit het klein veranderinge in die manier waarop maatskappye opereer tot gevolg gehad.

Thesis (MComm)--Stellenbosch University, 2014. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Oil dependency has increased in the past few decades and the search for new reserves is a constant quest within the oil and gas industry. The oil and gas industry is characterised by the separation of fuel production facilities and the intended markets for its derivatives. This separation creates challenges for proper supply chain management and network configuration. A well-balanced network design becomes of utmost importance. The use of third party logistics service providers has further complicated this separation challenges with this increase in distance between the resources and the intended markets. By using various best practices within the field of network configuration, the consolidation of multiple segments of various supply chains can improve efficiency and lead to more streamlined supply chains. The primary objective of the study is to develop an alternative to the normative methods used in placing of facilities. The secondary objective is to establish whether consolidation of multiple segments of various supply chains within the oil and gas industry is feasible. By using advanced descriptive decision support techniques and technologies, the study showed how the application of these techniques can assist management with improved decision making at a strategic level. The study is based on a prominent service provider within the oil and gas industry. Both quantitative and qualitative data were used by the researcher to illustrate the complexities involved in serving the direct and indirect supply chains of the oil and gas industry. The analysis shows that by using advanced descriptive decision support techniques and technologies, management can use the process proposed in the study to great effect in visualizing the current supply chains. Consolidation opportunities were also found across multiple supply chains within the service provider. By looking at the historical data, IT-based descriptive decision support techniques and technologies demonstrated the value of visually representing the supply chain and the decisions that could be made based on the results. A strategic hub, as a network configuration option, can be a feasible option if it serves a defined geographical area and is focused on a specific industry (in this case oil and gas). Crucial to a successful study of this nature, is the quality of data. During the study, the issue of effective data cleaning, aggregation, categorization and preparation became evident. Strategic studies will only be effective if proper data cleaning and preparations are done on a regular basis and updated regularly. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die afhanklikheid van olie het die afgelope paar dekades toegeneem. Daar is ook ʼn konstante soektog na nuwe reserwes in die olie- en gasindustrie. Die olie- en gasindustrie word gekenmerk deur die skeiding van brandstofproduksiefasiliteite en die beoogde markte vir sy afgeleides. Hierdie skeiding skep uitdagings vir behoorlike voorsieningskettingbestuur en netwerkkonfigurasie. ʼn Goeie, gebalanseerde netwerkontwerp is van uiterste belang. Die gebruik van derde-party logistieke diensverskaffers het hierdie skeidings-uitdagings verder gestrem as gevolg van langer afstande tussen hulpbronne en die beoogde markte. Verskeie beste praktyke in die studieveld van netwerkkonfigurasie en ontwerp aangewend word. Dit kan die konsolidasie van verskeie segmente van verskillende voorsieningskettings se doeltreffendheid aansienlik verbeter en lei tot meer vaartbelynde voorsieningskettings. Die primêre doel van die studie is om ʼn alternatief tot die normatiewe metodes, wat tans gebruik word vir die plasing van fasiliteite te bepaal. Die sekondêre doel is om vas te stel of konsolidering van verskeie segmente van verskillende voorsieningskettings in die olie- en gasindustrie haalbaar is. ʼn Alternatiewe tot die normatiewe metodes is gevorderde, beskrywende besluitnemingsondersteuningtegnieke en tegnologie. In die studie is getoon hoe die gebruik van hierdie alternatiewe metodes kan help met verbeterde besluitneming op strategiese vlak. Die studie is gebaseer op 'n prominente diensverskaffer in die olie- en gasindustrie. Beide kwantitatiewe en kwalitatiewe data is deur die navorser gebruik om die kompleksiteit in die bediening van die direkte en indirekte voorsieningskettings in die olie- en gasindustrie te illustreer. Hierdie studie het uitgewys hoe die voorgestelde proses ontwikkel en die visualisering van voorsieningskettings tot ʼn groot mate kan verbeter met die gebruik van gevorderde, beskrywende besluitnemingsondersteuningtegnieke en tegnologie. Daar is ook konsolidasie geleenthede gevind vir elemente oor verskeie voorsieningskettings van die diensverskaffer. Deur toepaslike historiese data te ondersoek, met behulp van IT-gebaseerde beskrywende besluitnemingsondersteuningtegnieke en tegnologie, kan die waarde van die visuele voorstelling van voorsieningskettings insiggewend gedemonstreer word. Meer ingeligte en effektiewe besluite kan gevolglik geneem word. Daar is gevind dat ʼn strategiese konsolidasiepunt (“hub”), as ʼn netwerk konfigurasie opsie, moontlik lewensvatbaar kan wees binne ʼn bepaalde geografiese area vir ʼn spesifieke bedryf (in die geval olie en gas). Die kwaliteit van die data is egter van uiterste belang om ʼn suksesvolle studie te verseker. Tydens hierdie studie is die belangrikheid van datasuiwering, samevoeging, kategorisering en voorbereiding duidelik uitgewys. Strategiese studies sal slegs effektief wees indien behoorlike datasuiwering en voorbereiding op 'n gereelde basis gedoen en opgedateer word.

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