Timur+Khamitov+Competitive+Intelligence+Assignment



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**Company- __TGT Oil__** [|www.tgtoil.com] Communication held with **Michael Wilson**, reservoir engineer based at their Muscat, Oman branch.

Introduction Contact Inside (**Michael Wilson**) · Introductory e-mail · Response to core questions Summary of Company Technologies & Operations · Brief note on nature of company operations · Geographical Spread of Company operations · E-Business Technologies Brief SWOT Analysis · Strengths · Weaknesses · Opportunities · Threats Conclusion
 * __Contents__**

My motivation behind the search that led me to find this company was to picture an outfit whose operations spanned across the globe; corporations, oil companies etc. The site [|www.tgtoil.com] on the google search intrigued me through its TGT Global Tree icon. After clicking it, I was taken to:
 * Introduction**

An e-mail to info-oman@tgtoil.com was returned with a reply to proceed with further communication to Michael.wilson@tgtoil.com, a reservoir engineer at the company. Below are transcripts of the most relevant e-mails between us: 1st E-mail · Hello Timur,
 * Contact**

Yeah it's no problem. Send me an email with your questions and I will get back to you as soon as possible,

Best Regards,

Michael Wilson

Reservoir Engineer TGT Oil & Gas Services email: [|michael.wilson@tgtoil.com] email2: [|mic.wilsenna@yahoo.co.uk]

Mob: +968 962 89593 Mob2: +971 50 496 0022 Office: +968 244 82622 Web: www.tgtoil.com

-Original Message- From: [|timur.khamitov@utoronto.ca] [mailto:[|timur.khamitov@utoronto.ca]] Sent: 19 October 2009 19:11 To: [|michael.wilson@tgtoil.com] Subject: Case Study request

2 Hi Michael,

I received your e-mail through the tgtoil.com website following a reply from M.Hussain. I would like to ask for your permission and help in using your company as a case study topic for a university project. The project would examine the way in which e-business technologies has affected the way in which your company operates and the specific ways in which e-business technologies are implemented.

If you agree, my next e-mail will be comprised of approximately 10 questions that you can answer in any way you find appropriate.

Hope for your co-operation. All the best

Timur Khamitov

__**2nd E-mail**__
· Timur, H 1) **What is your position in TGT oil and gas? Briefly describe what you do.**

client and discuss them in detail, through report and presentation.
 * __M.W:__** I have been a reservoir engineer for TGT Oil and Gas services for the last 18 months. My position involves analysing different oil fields and selecting candidates - wells of both oil and gas producers, and injectors – for various surveys we perform. Such surveys include Static Temperature, Transient Temperature and Production Logging, etc. I deliver results to the

2**) Briefly outline how TGT oil and gas operate; in a nutshell what the company does how it fits in the context of its market i.e what role it plays within the gas/oil sector?**


 * __M.W:__** TGT operates as a subcontractor to larger company; for example, in Oman we are contracted with Shell where I am based. TGT provides various services such as well and reservoir surveillance, reservoir study and simulations and field development planning. TGT conducts in-house research in various fields and owns a number of unique technologies to achieve maximum possible oil and gas recovery at minimum cost. **TGT uses its own tools, software and processes.**


 * 3) How is the business organized? Anything you can add to the structure of operations...branches, possible back-offices, in the field teams etc?**


 * __M.W__**: Our operations currently span to **Russia, UAE and Oman** with current expansion plans to **Malaysia, Iran and Nigeria**. Our head office is located in **Kazan, Russia** and is called our TGT research centre. This is where most of our in-depth analysis takes place and facilitates a large team. We have on-going contracts in Oman and UAE where our main middle-east offices are located. We perform surveys in on-shore and off-shore fields and have a range of positions in our company; from Logging Engineers, who mainly work in workshop and field, to Operations Coordinator to Reservoir Engineers who deal directly with the client.


 * 4) What forms of communication, besides e-mails and phone calls are used for operations within the business?**


 * __M.W:__** At TGT we use **Skype/Google Talk** for most of our internal communication. We use Skype for voice chat (comp-comp, comp-phone) for when we need to make distant calls to our other offices. For report and data transfer we use a system called **TGT Global Tree**. __This is an e-mode server designed to store and access archive through a remote connection.__ __All TGT Final reports and data are stored on this server. It is very user-friendly and can be accessed from any computer with an internet connection.__ Every user has their own username and password, and a history is available (accessed by the administrator) showing time logs of when users have logged in and logged out.

partner companies?**
 * 5) What forms of communication happens between TGT and their clients or


 * __M.W:__** We set up __inter-communication video-conferencing__ when we need to discuss changes to reports, or we need to collaborate our efforts on important assignments, or for any major business changes within the company. We also frequently set up __online meetings__ (usually arranged over the phone or by email) and discuss reports/presentations with clients by video or voice conferencing using software called __Team Viewer__ as it is an excellent provider for __interactive business presentations__ and is a reliable real time method of communication.


 * 6) What kind of software is used for Business Operations? Is it 'off-the-shelf' or 'in-house'? How is it accessed/used by employees?**


 * __M.W:__** We have a lot of software we use for logviewing, log building, interpretation analysing and so forth. For instance, we use a program called LogViewer which allows us to visualise the data in a method which is easy to understand. This software has an __encryption key called a HASP, which holds the license to using the software.__ The license lasts for __2 months__ and then has to be re-commissioned. The key comes in the form of a __USB flash__, custom built with custom encryption. The key can be re-activated through our network, by a person of authority.


 * 7) Any particular notes or features that can be added in regards to the software?**


 * __M.W:__** The software is extremely secure and the method of using a __HASP__ allows us to feel secure, for instance, if a circumstance happens when the key is lost or the software has been downloaded/copied, but without the __HASP it would deem almost impossible to access__.


 * 8) Would you say your company truly has a global reach? Explain why or why not?**


 * __M.W:__** Our Company is a relatively new company, and is expanding the right direction. With the help of these new communication software's and the development of our own software, we are systematically taking advantage and putting these methods of communication to great use, and in terms of moving forward.


 * 9) What key technological tool facilitates business operations most effectively?**


 * __M.W:__** The main power of communications within our company are __Global Tree__, which allows us very quick access to new and old data and __Skype__ which allows us to communicate with our clients and colleagues at the click of a button. Both are huge weapons for meeting deadlines, arranging meetings and for quick response tasks.


 * 10) What main business challenges does TGT face?**


 * __M.W:__** The main business challenges TGT face are ones related to __budget constraints__ of our clients. Our workflow is dependent on the __price of Oil and the consensus of the economy__. So in turn budgets are set dependent on clients objectives and clients economic targets, for the year preceding.
 * 11) Does TGT have direct competition? Your biggest indirect competition?**


 * __M.W:__** We have direct competition in the logging sense, where there are companies with similar tools and equipment, but w__e are unique in the way we use this data to understand the way the reservoir works__. In this field, in which we are a strongest, we are unrivalled in the world of __reservoir diagnosis__.

I hope I have answered most of your questions all right,

Let me know if you want to know anything more,

Best Regards,


 * Michael A. Wilson**
 * Summary of Company Technologies/Structure**

· **Brief Note on Company Operations** The company’s biggest strength lies in interpretation of logs taken at oil reservoirs. They generally operate as a subcontractor for a bigger company such as Shell and essentially focus on this area of expertise, although they offer comprehensive services as well, such as well and reservoir surveillance, reservoir study and simulations and field development planning. It is important to add that TGT uses its own tools, processes and software. · **Geographical Spread of Operations** · **E-Business Technologies** Based on contact and brief interview of Michael Wilson, as well as studying TGT’s website and gaining some insight into TGT, I have identified 4 key challenges posed to the business. 1. The need to transfer huge amounts of information; reservoir logs, various sophisticated reports. 2. The need for constant, quick communication through voice or chat inside company across the globe. 3. Ability to communicate with clients effectively, at minimum cost. 4. The spread of ‘in-house’ software to employees. Security of software is extremely important due to its uniqueness and could cost dearly if ‘stolen’. 1. The need to transfer huge information has been resolved by the **Global Tree software**; which is essentially and FTP server based in the research centre that holds it. Some features of this document software: · Access through globaltree.tgtoil.com with a username/login given to employees. · Access/history logs of all users. · Easy to use Document Management Software developed by **KnowledgeTree** Inc that allows for easy global transfer of: a. Reports b. Field Descriptions c. Scientific Papers d. Sources codes of executable codes of software (ready and in-development). e. Sample Contracts Due to the private nature of the information on the Global Tree I was not granted access to it. This solution does accommodate all big file transfer effectively (according to Michael Wilson) and is very friendly to use. 2. The need for quick communication within the company is resolved through: · **Google Talk**: Simple PC-PC voice over IP communication. Every employee has one with all other employees added as contact. · **Skype**: Similar concept except it allows Video communication, as well as PC-phone calls. This is often used for communication with clients as well. · **Inter communication video** **conferencing:** not clear what software allows this, but this resource is used when collaboration is necessary within the company. The two features described above, along with e-mails and regular phone communication is all that is necessary. 3. The need to communicate with clients, often internationally without travel is resolved by: · **Remote presentations:** interactive business presentations are facilitated by software called Team Viewer that allows real-time presentations that transmits voice, video and live movements on the screen during a presentation. By doing this, TGT save a lot of time and money by avoiding travel of employees. · **Skype**: This mundane ‘tool’ is very effective in the business world, as agreed upon by Michael. · **Global Tree:** although not specified by Michael, Global Tree accounts could be created for clients with limited access. 4. The challenge of distributing custom software is resolved by the HASP. This is how it works: 1. Employee installs Software on machine. 2. Employee gets the HASP on a USB key. 3. Every time the employee uses the software he needs the HASP. 4. Employee has to renew HASP every 2 months. Therefore, even if the software is stolen, it can’t be used with the HASP. - **HASP**= Hardware against Software privacy, commonly known as a Dongle or a key for the software.
 * TGT’s solution to identified challenges:**
 * Brief SWOT Analysis**

· **Strengths** § Competitive Edge of using its own software, processes and tools. § Competitive edge of unique research, supported by Kazan State University.

· **Weaknesses** § Difficult to penetrate market as a new company with presence of giants such as Shell. § Limited resources; assets, machinery, tools, human resource. § Restricted by price of oil, general state of economy which extends to their clients. · **Opportunities** § Expansion into new countries, penetration of new markets. § Expansion within existing contracts; e.g extension of time periods, bigger work load. § Expansion of services provided. For e.g: try and gain entry into other tightly related aspects of oil recovery. · **Threats** § Loss of employees to bigger companies. § Loss of clients to bigger companies if unsatisfactory results are seen. § Software, technology used could both be stolen.

TGT oil is a rather young yet modern company that makes good use of the technologies available to companies globally and use them effectively to resolve the challenges that they face. TGT is effectively on its way to a certain variation of ‘cloud computing’ except they are creating the cloud themselves. By creating an elaborate system of inter-communication consisting of various aspects, that covers all levels of communication, they have a tailor made cloud, with each connected computer acting as a portal.
 * Conclusion**

=All information taken from:= [|www.tgtoil.com] Michael Wilson- michael.wilson@tgtoil.com