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An Investigation of the Challenges Bedevilling the Implementation of Project Management Industry Best Practices in the Oil and Gas Industry

Onyinye Chukwuebuka Okonkwo, Gregory Chimere Enyinna, Benedict Amade, and, Roso Dandeson Ayasuk

Abstract

This study is aimed at investigating the challenges hindering the implementation of project management best practices in the in oil and gas industry in Rivers state. A survey research design method of investigation was adopted, while a purposive sampling technique with the aid of the Cochran’s method was used to select the sample size from a population of 700 practitioners operating in some oil and gas firms/projects in Rivers state. The data collection and survey instrument included a well-structured questionnaire, personal observations and visits to oil and gas project sites to elicit information. The collected data was presented using frequency distribution in the form of tables and charts via IBM SPSS Statistics version 26.0. Severity index (SI) was used to analyze the study's main objectives. A study of 304 respondents who were involved in oil and gas project related activities revealed that the main challenges hindering the implementation of project management best practices in the in oil and gas industry in Rivers state Nigeria includes inconsistent regulatory environment (SI=6.00) ranked first, political interference and corruption (SI=3.56) ranked second, resistance to change (SI=3.53) ranked third, inadequate stakeholder engagement (SI=3.51) ranked fourth, lack of skilled project personnel (SI=3.23) ranked fifth, poor data collection and performance monitoring systems and insufficient contract management (SI=3.04) both sixth respectively. This study recommends that, there’s need for adequate inclusion of proper quality control measures and front-end planning is regularly conducted which is the hall mark of project management best practices. The consistency in regulation with regards to the oil and gas industry projects would in the long run ensure that the extant rules governing the operations of the industry players are obeyed to the letter. Furthermore, issues of political interference and corruption has to be kept at bay for the progress of the industry. IJEMT

Keywords

Best practicesOil and gasProject managementRiver stateSeverity index.

References

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