TY - JOUR
T1 - Unlocking the potential
T2 - a study on the role of operational excellence in Oman’s energy sector
AU - Al Zaabi, Yousuf
AU - Antony, Jiju
AU - Garza-Reyes, Jose Arturo
AU - Tortorella, Guilherme da Luz
AU - Sony, Michael
AU - Jayaraman, Raja
PY - 2024/4/25
Y1 - 2024/4/25
N2 - Purpose: Operational excellence (OpEx) is a proven philosophy focusing on continuous improvement in processes and systems for superior performance and efficiency. It plays a crucial role in the energy sector, acting as a catalyst for safety, customer satisfaction, sustainability and competitiveness. This research aims to assess OpEx methodologies in Oman’s energy sector, examining methods, approaches, motivations and sustainability. Design/methodology/approach: This study applies qualitative analysis methodology, involving interviews with 18 industry experts, from the energy sector in a sizeable energy country. Findings: The analysis revealed a growing demand, particularly, in the oil and gas industry, driven by emerging business needs. Qualitative data analysis has identified 10 themes such as implemented methodologies, motivation drivers, deployment approaches, sustainability factors, benefits and challenges. Additionally, new themes emerged, including influencers to start OpEx, resource requirements, enablers for successful OpEx and systems. Research limitations/implications: This research was limited to Oman and the findings drawn from Omani energy companies may have limited applicability to energy companies in other regions. Therefore, if these findings were to be used, the validation of the findings in relation to other countries should be conducted, to ensure the validity of the context and outcome. Practical implications: These findings contribute to understanding OpEx dynamics in the Omani energy sector, offering valuable insights for effective utilisation and organisational goal achievement. Furthermore, the study offers valuable insights on how to effectively employ OpEx initiatives in the energy sector to achieve their goals and create value. It addresses the lack of knowledge, offers a framework for successful OpEx implementation, bridges the theory-practice gap and provides insights for optimal utilisation. Originality/value: To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first empirical study on assessing OpEx methodologies in the energy sector, and therefore it serves as a foundation for many future studies. The study provides a theoretical foundation for the OpEx methodologies in terms of organisational readiness for successful OpEx implementation.
AB - Purpose: Operational excellence (OpEx) is a proven philosophy focusing on continuous improvement in processes and systems for superior performance and efficiency. It plays a crucial role in the energy sector, acting as a catalyst for safety, customer satisfaction, sustainability and competitiveness. This research aims to assess OpEx methodologies in Oman’s energy sector, examining methods, approaches, motivations and sustainability. Design/methodology/approach: This study applies qualitative analysis methodology, involving interviews with 18 industry experts, from the energy sector in a sizeable energy country. Findings: The analysis revealed a growing demand, particularly, in the oil and gas industry, driven by emerging business needs. Qualitative data analysis has identified 10 themes such as implemented methodologies, motivation drivers, deployment approaches, sustainability factors, benefits and challenges. Additionally, new themes emerged, including influencers to start OpEx, resource requirements, enablers for successful OpEx and systems. Research limitations/implications: This research was limited to Oman and the findings drawn from Omani energy companies may have limited applicability to energy companies in other regions. Therefore, if these findings were to be used, the validation of the findings in relation to other countries should be conducted, to ensure the validity of the context and outcome. Practical implications: These findings contribute to understanding OpEx dynamics in the Omani energy sector, offering valuable insights for effective utilisation and organisational goal achievement. Furthermore, the study offers valuable insights on how to effectively employ OpEx initiatives in the energy sector to achieve their goals and create value. It addresses the lack of knowledge, offers a framework for successful OpEx implementation, bridges the theory-practice gap and provides insights for optimal utilisation. Originality/value: To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first empirical study on assessing OpEx methodologies in the energy sector, and therefore it serves as a foundation for many future studies. The study provides a theoretical foundation for the OpEx methodologies in terms of organisational readiness for successful OpEx implementation.
KW - Agile
KW - Energy sector
KW - Lean
KW - Operational excellence
KW - Process improvement
KW - Qualitative data analysis
KW - Six-sigma
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85191312996&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1108/IJQRM-02-2024-0067
DO - 10.1108/IJQRM-02-2024-0067
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85191312996
SN - 0265-671X
JO - International Journal of Quality and Reliability Management
JF - International Journal of Quality and Reliability Management
ER -