Unlocking the Potential: Understanding the Psychological Factors That Influence Technology Adoption in the Upstream Oil and Gas Industry

SPE Journal ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 25 (01) ◽  
pp. 515-528
Author(s):  
Ruby Roberts ◽  
Rhona Flin

Summary To maximize the opportunities for the adoption of newly developed products, there is a need to better understand how psychological factors have an impact on the acceptance and deployment of innovative technology in industry. While there is extensive general literature on the psychological factors that influence consumer behavior and the use of new technologies, there seemed to be very limited understanding of this topic, specifically relating to the upstream energy sector. A literature review was conducted to (1) identify what, if any, research has been conducted in relation to the psychological factors influencing technology adoption and deployment in the oil and gas (O&G) industry and (2) identify what interventions have been developed to support technology adoption in O&G. A literature search was undertaken, and given the limited research anticipated, minimum selection criteria were applied on the basis of Cochrane quality control (Higgins and Green 2011). In the 17 articles that met the search criteria, there was limited discussion of the psychological factors that have an impact on O&G technology adoption. The articles were subject to Braun and Clarke (2006) thematic analysis, producing a list of psychological factors that influence technology adoption in O&G. Only five psychological factors were identified: personality (e.g., exploration traits and risk aversion), attitude (e.g., trust and not-invented-here syndrome), social (e.g., social norms), cognition (e.g., risk perception), and psychological factors at an organizational level (leadership and organizational culture). In addition, our review identified a small number of interventions that were developed and deployed to support technology adoption in O&G. Given the early stages of this research area, combined with the relevance for technology innovation in upstream O&G, our review adds to the literature by identifying an initial framework of the key psychological factors. This essential set of factors can be used to direct future research, as well as to support effective interventions aimed at supporting the introduction of new technology.

Author(s):  
Ruby Roberts ◽  
Rhona Flin

To ensure that the full potential of innovative technology is maximised, it is crucial to understand the psychological factors that influence technology adoption in all industrial consumers. The oil and gas (O&G) industry exemplifies industrial consumers’ reluctance to adopt new technology. Our critical incident interviews identified the key psychological factors that influence technology adoption in the O&G industry. These were personality (innovativeness and risk aversion), attitudes (trust, motivations, “not invented here” syndrome and “engineering mindset”), social (subjective norms and self-image), cognitive (risk perception, uncertainty and familiarity, expertise, and previous experiences) and organizational level factors (leadership, management, organisational culture, adoption culture, and rewards system). In combination with future case studies, these results can be used to develop interventions that support the successful introduction and acceptance of new technology not only in O&G but in other high-risk sectors.


2020 ◽  
Vol 29 (7) ◽  
pp. 877-897
Author(s):  
Federico Caviggioli ◽  
Lucio Lamberti ◽  
Paolo Landoni ◽  
Paolo Meola

Purpose Evidence from previous literature indicates that adopting a new innovative technology has a positive impact on a company’s business performance. Much less work has been carried out into examining whether a technology adoption has impact on corporate reputation. This paper aims to examine the latter topic in a context where social media is the channel used to share news about the introduction of a new technology. The empirical setting of the study consists of five retail companies located in the USA that decided to include Bitcoin as a payment platform. Design/methodology/approach Twitter data were used to measure how sharing news about the adoption of new technology could affect the reputation of the companies selected, keeping a clear distinction between the volume of data relating to social media responses and the sentiment expressed in the tweets. A panel vector autoregression model was used to incorporate series of data relating to news items, volume and sentiment. Findings The results show that the news about the adoption of a new technology has a positive impact on both the volume of tech-related tweets and the sentiment expressed in the tweets themselves, although the patterns of these two effects are different. The resulting impact decreases after a few days, both in volume and in sentiment. Research limitations/implications The analysis has limitations that future research could address by extending and diversifying the examined companies and the social media used as data sources. The research suggests that managers in medium-sized companies can leverage on the introduction of new technologies that have a direct impact on their customers and gain reputational benefits in terms of immediate visibility. Originality/value The research introduces an additional dimension of analysis to the current stream of corporate reputation. Although the literature has already covered the dynamics of response to events on Twitter, by focusing on the adoption of the new Bitcoin technology, the paper provides novel insights.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ruby Roberts ◽  
Rhona Flin ◽  
Luca Corradi

Abstract Working towards a net zero future requires change and adaptation from us all. Innovation offers many potential solutions on how to successfully make that change within the oil and gas industry. Consequently, maximising the value that technological innovation presents is vital for delivering a sustainable net zero. Yet, the oil and gas industry has developed a reputation for being conservative and reluctant to adopt new technology, with companies sometimes referred to as "fast followers". In recent years, the industry has begun to change with an incremental increase in innovation activities. Despite these efforts, and a need to accelerate innovation, there appears to be a resistance to adopt new technology. Evidence from O&G industry bodies indicate that psychological factors play a key role in technology adoption; not surprisingly, as workers, managers, investors, and regulators can all have a powerful influence on an organisation's receptivity to new technology. Recent research has provided insight into the psychological factors that influence technology uptake decisions in the oil and gas industry. Through a series of studies, the psychological technology adoption framework (P-TAF) was developed which outlined the 15 key psychological factors that influence technology adoption decisions. These are organised into 6 categories: personality, attitudes, motivations, cognitive factors, social factors, and organisational level factors. The work emphasised the influence that overarching organisational culture can have on how people respond to and introduce technology within their company. Whilst technology readiness levels are commonly applied to start-ups and their innovations, less is known about the readiness culture which facilitates innovation uptake. To bridge this gap, a preliminary measure of organisational innovation adoption culture was developed as based upon the previous psychological research, empirical innovation measures, and organisational culture models. This was piloted as an online survey with 36 people working in the technology space in O&G in June 2020. These results were used to later refine the culture measure to develop a 33-item scale consisting of eight categories. This new measure was deployed as part of an industry benchmarking study of innovation adoption culture within O&G consisting of 82 managers from 12 companies and in December 2020. Participating organisations were given the opportunity to receive a snapshot of their technology adoption culture. An overview of the measure and a summary of survey results will be given during the presentation as well as recommendations on how to support an innovation adoption culture. A considerable volume of new technology needs to be developed and adopted to be able to reach net zero and understanding the psychological and cultural barriers is imperative to delivering that.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bryan Wade Atchison

Abstract Objectives April 2010 in the Gulf of Mexico and January 2017 in Oklahoma brought into sharp focus what can happen if the oil and gas industry gets well control wrong: 16 fatalities, significant environmental damage, loss of assets and reputation. Each year we have multiple blowouts and several fatality events due to a loss of well control. The oil and gas industry can improve from a personnel safety, environmental and reputation perspective. The Automation of Well Control will bring a significant step change in the area of Process Safety forwells. It prevents blowouts, reduces all influx volumes, minimising kicktolerance volumes and reducingcasing and well costs. Method A system has been developedwhich enables Automated Well Control whilst in drilling mode. Pre-determined influx rates, agreed by the operator and drilling contractor, and input by the driller are established. Once the system detects the influx, it performs a series of operations by taking control of the drilling rig equipment. The drill string is spaced out, top drive and mud pumps are stopped, and the BOP is closed. All of this occurs without the driller doing anything; however, he can intervene at any moment. Thissystem is designed as an aid to the driller and does not remove his responsibility. Results The Automated Well Control system has been tested on drilling simulators with real drillers. Comparisons tests have shown that the technology enables shut-in times faster than conventional human interface methods, with influx volumes typically 10-20% of those experienced during manual shut-in. Additionally, a full Field Trial using a traditional rigdemonstrated the effectiveness of the system, proving up the functionality under different operational requirements. The system can now be applied to any type of rig worldwide. Over 50 potential modules have been identified. Planned developments forthe system include circulatingout the kick automatically, shut-in for tripping, circulating, cementing and in-flow testing. It provides assurance for afast, safe and effective shut-in.A full Technology Qualification process has been used for this technology. Innovative Technology Over the past 20 years, technology advancements associated with simulators and cyber-rigs have enabled new technologies to be developed. One of these technologies is Automated Well Control. It is believed that this innovative system will enable a step change in the performance ofprocess safety forwell control, dramaticallyreducing major accident hazards, thereby saving millions of dollars per well, reducing environmental impact and preventing loss of life.


Author(s):  
Raisa Azieva

New breakthrough technologies can have a positive or negative impact on the development of the fuel and energy sector. Therefore, the main thing is to evaluate technologies, analyze their suitability for the industry and determine priorities for future opportunities, i.e., identify technologies that provide new advantages for the energy world, and determine how, when and how their impact will become tangible. In this regard, researchers have determined that the innovative technology of the XXI century, recognized to transform the national and global economy is the blockchain technology. The article provides an overview of blockchain technology, defines the principles of its operation and possible applications, i.e., identifies the mechanism of action of the revolutionary system, as well as presents the players of the oil and gas industry to launch blockchain technology and identifies the advantages of innovative technology used in the oil and gas sector. It is determined that on the basis of the new technology, it is possible to create a single network for digitizing all interaction processes and automating them. The study also shows that the scope of application of blockchain in the oil and gas business is much broader, which determines the possibility of further consideration of a wide range of the need for the use of blockchain technology for the oil and gas industry, as well as its impact on the development of oil and gas companies.


2021 ◽  
Vol 73 (3) ◽  
pp. 545-589 ◽  
Author(s):  
Helen V. Milner ◽  
Sondre Ulvund Solstad

ABSTRACTDo world politics affect the adoption of new technology? States overwhelmingly rely on technology invented abroad, and their differential intensity of technology use accounts for many of their differences in economic development. Much of the literature on technology adoption focuses on domestic conditions. The authors argue instead that the structure of the international system is critical because it affects the level of competition among states, which in turn affects leaders’ willingness to enact policies that speed technology adoption. Countries adopt new technology as they seek to avoid being vulnerable to attack or coercion by other countries. By systematically examining states’ adoption of technology over the past two hundred years, the authors find that countries adopt new technologies faster when the international system is less concentrated, that changes in systemic concentration have a temporally causal effect on technology adoption, and that government policies to promote technology adoption are related to concerns about rising international competition. A competitive international system is an important incentive for technological change and may underlie global technology waves.


2003 ◽  
Vol 2 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Fumiko Hayashi ◽  
Elizabeth Klee

Consumers pay for hundreds of goods and services each year, but across households and across goods, consumers do not choose to pay the same way. This paper posits that payment choices depend in part on consumers' propensity to adopt new technologies and in part on the nature of the transaction. To test this hypothesis, this paper analyzes consumer's payment instrument use at the point of sale and for bill payment. The sample includes consumers surveyed in 2001, who are primarily users of the Internet. The results indicate that consumers who use new technology or computers are more likely to use electronic forms of payment, such as debit cards and electronic bill payments. Particularly, the use of direct deposit is a significant predictor of electronic payment use. Furthermore, the results indicate that payment choice depends on the characteristics of the transaction, such as the transaction value, the physical characteristics of the point of sale, and a bill's frequency and value variability.


2021 ◽  
pp. 251484862110614
Author(s):  
Holly Jean Buck

Can fossil-based fuels become carbon neutral or carbon negative? The oil and gas industry is facing pressure to decarbonize, and new technologies are allowing companies and experts to imagine lower-carbon fossil fuels as part of a circular carbon economy. This paper draws on interviews with experts, ethnographic observations at carbontech and carbon management events, and interviews with members of the public along a suggested CO2 pipeline route from Iowa to Texas, to explore: What is driving the sociotechnical imaginary of circular fossil carbon among experts, and what are its prospects? How do people living in the landscapes that are expected to provide carbon utilization and removal services understand their desirability and workability? First, the paper examines a contradiction in views of carbon professionals: while experts understand the scale of infrastructure, energy, and capital required to build a circular carbon economy, they face constraints in advocating for policies commensurate with this scale, though they have developed strategies for managing this disconnect. Second, the paper describes views from the land in the central US, surfacing questions about the sustainability of new technologies, the prospect of carbon dioxide pipelines, and the way circular carbon industries could intersect trends of decline in small rural towns. Experts often fail to consider local priorities and expertise, and people in working landscapes may not see the priorities and plans of experts, constituting a “double unseeing.” Robust energy democracy involves not just resistance to dominant imaginaries of circular carbon, but articulation of alternatives. New forms of expert and community collaboration will be key to transcending this double unseeing and furthering energy democracy.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document