Business-Oriented Reserves and Resource Management - Experiences from a Merger

In May 2019, the merger between Wintershall GmbH and DEA Deutsche Erdoel AG was closed, which was the start of Wintershall Dea.This paper provides detailed insight into managing reserves and resource information during this merger. After merger, three resource management activities required attention: (i) combining existing resources reporting, (ii) defining a lean but effective resources management and control system, and (iii) ensuring readiness for Initial Public Offering (IPO) by establishing an external independent evaluation of resources ("external resource audit"). This paper describes objectives, challenges and solutions on reserves and resources reporting of the new company. The merged reserves and resources database of the previous year's reports had to consider audits from two different reporting systems in parallel to four different external auditors.With priorities defined by status of external auditing, operatorship and asset share a common database was derived and could immediately be used for financial transactions such as the issuance of an inaugural bond. The new system for internal reporting of petroleum resources provides a fit-for-purpose approach, such as a consistent interpretation of commerciality criteria or definition of resources sub-classes.Particular attention was paid to synergies with respect to business planning, strategic portfolio analysis, and a link to technology & innovation. By defining specific attributes and sub-processes, the portfolio can be analyzed systematically. This provides additional insights and ensures synergies with business planning, strategic planning as well as internal technology initiatives. A systematic resource control system is defined focusing on internal review, external and internal audits as well as synergetic use of project reviews. Moreover, a feedback loop for continuous improvement of reservoir management allows attending to important audit observations. The external resource audit to ensure IPO readiness was structured to assign tasks for head office, business units and auditing company.The sequence of events from introduction to assets to reconciliation of differences between auditor and company was set-up, executed and monitored.Focus was on the definition of a structured but agile approach for external independent evaluation of all reserves and contingent resources.

Resource Allocation to Information Security in Smart Cities Based on Evolutionary Game

Smart city highly relies on cloud computing, Internet of Things and other new technology means, which bring hidden information risk diffusion to urban information security. How to reasonably allocate current urban resources, avoid these information security risks as much as possible, and obtain the highest benefits, have become a practical problem to the current healthy development of smart cities. Based on the discussion of related concepts and technical theories, the information security resource allocation influencing factors index system is constructed from the following aspects: resources, threat sources, vulnerabilities and security measures. With the further analysis of information security factors and their affecting mechanisms, the basic theoretical framework of information security resource allocation is established based on the evolutionary game. The information security resource allocation problem is divided into the internal resource allocation and external resource allocation. External resource allocation is subdivided into complementary external resource allocation, alternative external resource allocation and weakly related external resource allocation. Under this framework, the subject relationship in various situations is analyzed. This research work can conduct a reasonable allocation of resources related to information security.

Theoretical Exploration of Supply Chain Viability Utilizing Blockchain Technology

As a disruptive and innovative technology, blockchain will significantly revolutionize how organizations produce and operate as global rivalry intensifies. The global COVID-19 outbreak, combined with the growing complexity of supply chain networks, has exposed supply chains’ vulnerability to disruption. Therefore, improving the supply chain viability is the primary way to deal with the risk of supply chain disruption. Using the method of literature research, this conceptual paper systematically reviewed and sorted out relevant literature, extracted corresponding capabilities, and put forward relevant research propositions. From the perspective of the resource-based view and resource-dependent theory, this study investigates specific dimensions of the blockchain-enabled supply chain capability: connectivity, network capability, and supply chain reconfiguration and the impact of external resource-dependent capability on the viability of the supply chain. The propositions show that the blockchain-enabled supply chain capability, and external resource-dependent capability will positively impact supply chain viability. It is expected to assist supply chain firms in implementing blockchain technology to increase supply chain viability and improve their capacity to achieve sustainable supply chain development during the crisis.

German–Norwegian relations in security and defence: What kind of partnership?

The article contributes to the debate on European defence cooperation and integration by analysing the German–Norwegian security and defence partnership. I define this partnership as being based upon mutual interests and values, and one in which the minor partner has important resources to contribute which accord with the larger partner’s interests and values. The article analyses this partnership within the framework of European integration and Atlantic cooperation, and in terms of how the discourse on strategic autonomy shapes the partnership. The article discusses two specific areas of cooperation, the High North and German–Norwegian collaboration on defence procurement. When analysing this relationship, I argue that Norway applies strategies such as acting as an external resource, adaptation and shielding to influence German policies vital to Norwegian security.

The dynamics between balanced and combined ambidextrous strategies: a paradoxical affair about the effect of entrepreneurial orientation on SMEs’ performance

PurposeThis study aims to provide empirical findings of the extent to which the ambidexterity found in innovation and social networks will mediate the relationship between entrepreneurial orientation (EO) and firm performance (FP). This study also compares the ambidextrous strategy between the balanced dimension (BD) and combined dimension (CD) and examines their contribution to the small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs’) performance.Design/methodology/approachThe current study used an explanatory research design by surveying a total of 205 fashion firms’ owners/managers in Yogyakarta, Indonesia, using a semi-structured questionnaire. Path analysis with mediating tests and independentt-tests were used.FindingsThe results revealed that innovation and social network ambidexterity mediate the relationship between EO and the SMEs’ performance. One ambidextrous strategy, the BD strategy, is superior to the CD one. The study makes an interesting discovery: the CD strategy apparently dominates FP when EO does not exist.Practical implicationsThe study suggests that no ambidextrous strategy (i.e. BD and CD) used by the SMEs can fit all situations. In detail, the study provides four different strategies for SMEs to build organizational ambidexterity, namely, innovate and sustain; elevate; expand; and collaborate and survive. It is also suggested that the SMEs consider two main principles when dealing with an ambidextrous strategy, “anything that is too much is not always good” and “one size does not fit all.” By doing so, the SMEs are expected to be able to use internal and external resources and choose the most appropriate ambidextrous strategy to respond to the relevant situation (e.g. the changes of consumer behavior due to the COVID-19 pandemic).Originality/valueUsing a dynamic capability approach by integrating two perspectives, i.e. the internal (resource-based theory) and external (resource-dependency theory) perspectives, makes the study relevant and valuable to better understand the role and type of ambidexterity among SMEs as a mediating factor between EO and FP. This paper breaks new ground by confirming a paradoxical phenomenon concerning organizational ambidextrous practices within SMEs. Additionally, four strategies for ambidextrous were developed to respond to the anomaly.

Bootstrapped Motion of an Agent on an Adaptive Resource Landscape

We theoretically show that isolated agents that locally and symmetrically consume resources and sense positive resource gradients can generate constant motion via bootstrapped resource gradients in the absence of any externally imposed gradients, and we show a realization of this motion using robots. This self-generated agent motion can be coupled with neighboring agents to act as a spontaneously broken symmetry seed for emergent collective dynamics. We also show that in a sufficiently weak externally imposed gradient, it is possible for an agent to move against an external resource gradient due to the local resource depression on the landscape created by an agent. This counter-intuitive boot-strapped motion against an external gradient is demonstrated with a simple robot system on an light-emitting diode (LED) light-board.

The effects of internal and external resource management on logistics performance

This empirical study aims to elucidate the effects of logistics information technology (LIT), top management beliefs (TMBs), and suppliers' resources selection (SRS) on logistics performance. The extended resources-based view (ERBV) supports the development of the proposed relationships in the study model, based on previous studies measures. Structural equation modeling (SPSS and AMOS v 25) was utilized to test the validity of the model and proposed hypotheses. Based on responses from 229 surveyed companies in Sudan’s food and beverages sector, this study’ findings showed that the LIT, TMBs, and SRS influence logistic cost performance (LCP) and logistic delivery performance directly. Additionally, it showed that company size could moderate the relationship between LCP and LIT, TMBs, and SRS. This study provides several theoretical and practical implications by evaluating the ability of LIT, SRS, and TMBs to improve delivery and cost performance.