Operations Improvement Function and Organisational Adaptability of Petroleum Tank Farms in South-South, Nigeria

The study examined the nexus between operations improvement function (dimensioned by contingency planning, benchmarking and continuous improvement processes) and organisational adaptability of Petroleum tank farms in South-South, Nigeria. The contingency theory and the theory of routine dynamics underpinned the study, and positivism was the underlying philosophy. The study adopted the cross-sectional survey through the use of questionnaire. 820 middle and top-level managers constituted the elements of the population, and the Krejcie & Morgan’s formula was used to determine the sample size of 262 respondents. Structural Equation Modeling was deployed to test the hypotheses at a 0.05 significance level. The results showed that contingency planning;benchmarking and continuous improvement processes all have a significant positive relationship with organisational adaptability of Petroleum tank farms in South-South, Nigeria. The study concludes that Petroleum tank farms’ operations should focus on the adoption of contingency planning, benchmarking and continuous improvement processes to enhance organisational adaptability. Therefore, it is recommended that the management of Petroleum tank farms should put in place mechanisms to advance continuous improvement processes by allocating the necessary amount of resources, such as energy, time and money, in order to promote the continuous development of the continuous improvement systems. Furthermore, managers of Petroleum tank farms should make better the adoption of contingency planning, ensuring that there is as much necessary training and information for employees on how to act during a crises situation, in order to evaluate safety and prepare in advance for recovery from disasters.

A Review of Quantitative Analysis (QA) in Production Planning Decisions Using the Linear Programming Model

The purpose of this paper was to examine the role of quantitative analysis in production planning decisions. This draws from the observed imperatives of quantitative analysis in business decisions and its capacity for predictability and enhanced decision making given the increasingly complex nature of the business environment. The paper therefore addressed the historical evolution of quantitative technique as an efficient and effective decision-making tool. The content of the paper addressed commonly applied quantitative technique in manufacturing firms today which is, linear programming and its subsequent impact on production planning decisions. The results based on a congruence of views revealed that the “best-fit” application of quantitative analysis models and tools can untangle the complexities of production and planning decision making process in order to achieve the organizational goal. This is, as literature also showed that there is obviously no consensus or integrated model that is capable of solving all managerial problem, different models such as the linear programming model have however been developed to cater for different problems as they arise. The workability or suitability of quantitative analysis is actually premised on its appropriate application. The paper recommends the application of quantitative analysis using linear programming in solving various resource allocation related issues in the primary production planning function of manufacturing firms.

PERT and CPM in Project Management with Practical Examples

This paper reviewed the concepts of Project Evaluation Review Technique and Critical Path Method in project management with practical examples. The methods and success of quantitative decision-making approaches in project management through the use of project evaluation review technique and the critical path method as regards project duration and critical activities of a project, were discussed. The review found that while both methods are effective in achieving success in project management, the relationship and connectivity of activities involved in a project life cycle are key aspects. The paper concludes that the project evaluation review technique is more effective when the duration of the project is uncertain, while the critical path method is effective when the project’s end time is certain. The paper, therefore, recommends that to achieve maximum operative efficiency in utilizing resources in project management, prior to commencing the execution of a project, all required resources to cover every activity must be assembled and prioritized to eliminate interruptions that could bring delay and unnecessary cost implications. Again, policies focused on improving project execution should be implemented in developing nations to minimize the many cases of failed and delayed projects. Subsequently, stakeholders in projects must be given the right, under the law, to prosecute the government, its agencies and/or the executors of projects for failure to execute a project on schedule.