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OilVoice Magazine | APRIL 2014
Conclusions The capability challenge is a complex and difficult issue that will require a range of actions to address it. Making a range of blended people and knowledge management interventions, and developing a culture of knowledge sharing and collaboration are important parts of a solution. More process is needed around developing and transferring internal capability and experience to embed high level skills within operating procedures, transferring individual capital into organisational capital and reducing the risk of relying on individuals who are difficult to retain. Long-term and genuine cultural change is required to create environments where knowledge sharing is expected and normalised. A strategy will be most effective when these interventions are blended together and combined with a shift to longer term planning and strongly linked with the wider strategies of the business. The problem needs to move from being purely an HR 'people' issue and the solution needs to be seen as a mix of people, process, cultural and technological solutions working together. The solution needs to be driven from the top, with senior leaders making a visible commitment to this amid a wider industry acceptance of and commitment to address these challenges. Addressing the Capability Challenge
No single solution is apparent. Successful approaches will include a range of activities: Engage future talent; grow ties with learning institutions and sell the Oil & Gas sector Extend and better integrate training and mentoring programmes Pursue M&A and joint ventures Improve mobilisation programmes and embrace new ways of working Invest in and commit to knowledge management tools Create sharing and collaborative cultures Improve longer term capability planning Provide top down leadership and acknowledgement of capability challenges Recruit and upskill career converters with relevant skills from allied industries
Final thought 'The industry is at a tipping point. The peak of retirees is approaching. Has the business done enough? Has the industry done enough?' - HR Leader (IOC) It is clear that the majority of businesses have now acknowledged these issues to a degree and are at varying stages of addressing them. Most feel that the industry has awoken to the capability challenges it is facing and is starting to move in the right direction. However, there is also a strong current of feeling that not enough is being done and further solutions are needed. From the discussions we have had with industry leaders over the past few months the view within HR is broadly more