Course Overview

The Oil, Gas and Petrochemicals Industry plays a critical role in economic growth by providing support and diversification to the global economy. In every area of the business, from discovery to processing to consumption, significant changes are taking place. The petrochemical industry’s share of overall growth is expected to climb following the general trend of rising oil and gas consumption. In an increasingly linked environment, firms will require creative thinking and competent leadership at all levels.

What is strategic thinking?

Strategic thinking involves recognizing the broad picture, planning for the future, and taking action to acquire a corporate edge. In the oil and gas industry, strategic thinking is essential. If the project is expected to take weeks, months, or even years to complete, you may apply critical thinking to tackle complicated issues and prepare for the future. The ability to think strategically opens up new avenues for creativity, innovation, and strategic planning.

What can you do to become a better leader and strategic thinker in the oil and gas industry?

Zoe’s Leadership and Strategic Thinking in the Oil, Gas, and Petrochemicals Industry training course will provide an overview of the global oil and gas industry, leading to an understanding of recent developments and future expectations. The course will cover key issues related to sustaining the growth in demand for oil and gas, and how this will be balanced with ongoing changes in technology, organization, and management styles. We conclude that the biggest challenge for leaders in the oil and gas industry is to create a learning organization. This will require strategic thinking different from the traditional “stick-to-your-guns” approach that has been widely applied so far. A new agility mindset is needed to foster innovative behaviour and action plans with a wider perspective than just short-term results.

Course Objectives

The Leadership and Strategic Thinking in the Oil, Gas, and Petrochemicals Industry course have been designed with the following objectives:

• To discover the ways of becoming a strategic thinker in the context to Oil and Gas business and get to know the benefits associated with it
• To instil skills for strategic planning and strategic thinking necessary for a fruitful decision-making approach
• To understand ways of complex problem solving
• To gain knowledge of the latest concepts and trends emerging in the Oil and Gas business
• To understand the importance of identifying and analysing strategic risks prevalent in the industry
• To learn and observe closely how consolidation and collaboration have transformed the industry

Training Methodology

This training course will comprise the following training methods:

• Interactive sessions and lectures
• Presentations
• Management games
• Roleplaying/modelling
• Case studies
• Group discussions
• Problem-solving sessions

Like all our acclaimed courses, this Zoe program also follows the ‘Do-Review-Learn-Apply’ model.

Organisational Benefits

Successful completion of the training course will benefit an organization in the following ways:

• A trained leader who can see the big picture will prove to be an important asset for the uncertain ridden Oil and Gas business
• Strategic thinking will allow the organization to timely identify opportunities and take first mover advantage
• Maximizing operational efficiency through strategic thinking and leadership will help in optimizing production, cutting costs, reducing carbon footprint, etc.
• An industry-aware leader will timely identify the shifts happening in the sector especially related to sustainability practices and will lead the organization through the transformation

Personal Benefits

Successful completion of the training course will benefit a participant in the following ways:

• Gain an understanding of the Oil and Gas Industry and the transformation being witnessed by the industry
• Develop a leadership mindset and learn to communicate the vision to concerned stakeholders
• Find out your most effective leadership style and achieve better project leadership
• Enhance your managerial abilities and learn techniques to effectively manage change
• Gain an industry-relevant certificate to kickstart your career in the Oil, Gas, and Petrochemicals Industry

Who Should Attend?

• General managers
• Departmental heads, project heads
• Team leaders, global managers
• Strategic managers
• Senior officers, Executives
• Professional mentors and coaches
• Policymakers
• Start-up founders, entrepreneurs

Course Outline

Module 1: Leadership in the Oil, Gas, and Petrochemicals Industry

• Prime responsibilities of Oil and Gas leaders
• Situational leadership
• Leading to sustainable change
• Workplace safety
• Leadership amongst increasing consolidation

Module 2: Threats and Opportunities in the Oil, Gas, and Petrochemicals Industry

• High oil prices
• OPEC and Non-OPEC players
• Increasing mergers and acquisitions
• Oilfield service sector
• Shifting of business model
• Fuel retailing
• Green petroleum
• Environmental risks
• Safety risks

Module 3: Role of Strategic Thinking

• Strategic thinking for complex problem solving
• Divergent and convergent thinking
• Developing issue maps
• Group strategic thinking
• Developing strategic foresight for Oil and Gas opportunities
• Strategic thinking vs. strategic planning

Module 4: Strategic Thinking for Leaders

• Developing systems perspective
• Intent focussed
• Analysis of the strategic gap
• Scenario planning
• Hypothesis-driven thinking
• Intelligent opportunism
• Long-range planning in the Oil and Gas business

Module 5: Strategic Leadership

• Objectives of strategic leadership
• Leading transformations
• Creating a vision
• Balancing analytical perspective
• Effective communication
• Willingness to delegate
• Anticipating change

Module 6: Analysing Strategic Risk in the Oil, Gas, and Petrochemicals Industry

• Strategic risk management
• Strategic risk vs operational risk
• Business risks and non-business risks
• Introduction of new products
• Change in senior management
• Failure to adapt to green changes
• Modelling and scenario analysis
• Identifying value killers in oil and gas projects
• Risks in oil and gas projects: geological, environmental, political risks

Module 7: Collaboration across Oil and Gas Functions

• Collaboration as a strategy in the Oil and Gas business
• Collaborative initiatives at national and global levels
• Effect of collaboration
• Synergetic benefits
• Collaboration as a result of oil price volatility
• Oil and Gas industry value chain
• Building networks for lowering operational costs

Module 8: Leadership Strategies in Oil and Gas Business

• Reimagining business models
• Transformational leadership style
• Sustainable change management

Module 9: Managing Cultural Differences

• Increase in multinational employees
• Language barriers
• Hofstede’s cultural dimension
• Overcoming time zones difference
• Cross-cultural training

Module 10: Thought Leadership in the Oil and Gas Industry

• Why does the energy sector demand think leaders?
• Thought leadership marketing
• ESG focuses on the oil and gas industry
• Expert insights
• Personal branding
• Ethos and Pathos