Walden University ScholarWorks Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies Collection 2020 Risk Assessment Strategies to Reduce Profitability Losses from Pipeline Accidents in the Natural Gas Industry Cynthia Hurdle Walden University Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarworks.edu/dissertations Part of the Oil, Gas, and Energy Commons This Dissertation is brought to you for free and open access by the Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies Collection at ScholarWorks. It has been accepted for inclusion in Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies by an authorized administrator of ScholarWorks. For more information, please contact ScholarWorks@waldenu. Walden University College of Management and Technology This is to certify that the doctoral study by Cynthia L.
Hurdle-Lightfoot has been found to be complete and satisfactory in all respects, and that any and all revisions required by the review committee have been made. Review Committee Dr. Chad Sines, Committee Chairperson, Doctor of Business Administration Faculty Dr. John Hannon, Committee Member, Doctor of Business Administration Faculty Dr.
Carol-Anne Faint, University Reviewer, Doctor of Business Administration Faculty Chief Academic Officer and Provost Sue Subocz, Ph. Walden University 2020 Abstract Risk Assessment Strategies to Reduce Profitability Losses from Pipeline Accidents in the Natural Gas Industry by Cynthia L Hurdle- Lightfoot MS, Walden University 2014 BS, Walden University, 2012 Doctoral Study Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Business Administration Walden University February 2020 Abstract Ineffective risk assessment strategies can negatively impact the natural gas industry. Engineer project managers who struggle to maintain a risk assessment plan are at high risk of failure, which could result in devastating consequences for the business and environment. Grounded in the theory of risk assessment, the purpose of this qualitative single case study was to explore strategies engineer project managers in the natural gas industry use to improve risk assessment planning to reduce pipeline accidents and improve profitability.
The participants comprised of 5 engineer project managers in Virginia, who effectively use risk assessment strategies to promote safety metrics and maximize effective approaches to improve the natural gas industry. Data were collected from semistructured interviews, company documents, and company social media platforms. Thematic analysis was used to analyze the data. Four themes emerged: safety, training and development, process management, and strategic risk assessment.
The implications for positive social change include continuous monitoring of project engineer managers to create a risk assessment plan to support safety initiatives for economic development in the business, environment, community, and society. Risk Assessment Strategies to Reduce Profitability Losses from Pipeline Accidents in the Natural Gas Industry by Cynthia L Hurdle- Lightfoot MS, Walden University 2014 BS, Walden University, 2012 Doctoral Study Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Business Administration Walden University February 2020 Dedication This study is dedicated to my late father Rev. Willis Hurdle who started out with me on this journey but was called home to be with the Lord before I could finish. Love and miss you daddy.
To my mom the late Odessa Hurdle, my big sister the late Sharon Hurdle and my little sister who called and checked on me daily as I went to my residences the late Freda Hurdle. I love and miss you all. Acknowledgments I would like to acknowledge my Lord and Savior Jesus, the Christ for without him I would not have completed this study. I would also like to acknowledge Dr.
Charles Needham, Dr. Bob Miller and Dr. Chad Sines for their guidance and believing in me. I would like to thank Shannon Hill and Sylvia Mcmanus for their love, assistance, and support.
I would like to also acknowledge and thank my children; LaTisha, Delroy, and Quinton, my grandchildren Armani and Chaumont Jr. Nana loves you both, my niece Shana, and nephew Jovan for your love and support. Finally, the love of my life, the man who has stood by me throughout my educational journey Kerry Welch Sr. To God be the glory for the great things he has done.
Table of Contents List of Tables. iv List of Figures .v Section 1: Foundation of the Study.1 Background of the Problem .3 Nature of the Study .7 Assumptions, Limitations, and Delimitations. 8 Significance of the Study .9 A Review of the Professional and Academic Literature. 11 Reducing Risk within Power Stations.
14 Best Practice Model for Approving a Risk Assessment Plan. 16 i Natural Disaster Events Impacted by a Risk Assessment Plan. 16 Risk Assessment Technology. 40 Summary and Transition .45 Section 2: The Project .47 Role of the Researcher .49 Research Method and Design .52 Population and Sampling .54 Data Collection Instruments .56 Data Collection Technique .57 Data Organization Technique .60 Reliability and Validity.
62 Summary and Transition .63 Section 3: Application to Professional Practice and Implications for Change .64 Presentation of the Findings. 65 Training and Development. 69 Strategies and Assessment. 70 Applications to Professional Practice .72 Implications for Social Change .73 Recommendations for Action .74 Recommendations for Further Research .77 Appendix A: Interview Protocol Form .109 iii List of Tables Table 1.
Frequently Used Strategies for Implementing a Risk Assessment Plan .62 iv List of Figures Figure 1. Risk assessment hazard identification and vulnerability. Business process management continuous risk management planning .34 v 1 Section 1: Foundation of the Study This qualitative research study involved the safety risk assessments and the importance of implementation of policy standards in the natural gas pipeline industry. An abundance of natural gas pipelines exists in the United States (Lee & Dupuy, 2018) for which managers may develop a risk assessment plan as a safety precaution that includes monitoring and responding to natural gas leaks and disasters.
I conducted a series of interviews with project managers in the natural gas industry in central Virginia. Management understand the value of a risk assessment plan that must continually be updated and on which managers in the natural gas pipeline industry must be regularly educated. Managers must implement strategies to reduce profit losses and maintain required safety documents. Background of the Problem Natural gas is a primary source of energy in the United States (Weber et al.
When considering laying a natural gas pipeline, flammable or toxic gases from a pipeline failure constitute a safety risk of adverse effects on the daily operations of project engineers. As the demand of the pipeline industry’s transportation consumption of natural gas increase so does the cost to the consumption of natural gas for commercial purposes (Sklavounos & Rigas, 2006). Global corporate leaders’ practices and responses to safety initiatives support a risk assessment plan. Safety and injury concerns for employees are increasing in the oil and gas industry (Wei, Zhou, & Wu, 2015).
The lack of safety initiatives poses a particularly serious risk because of the hazards involved in the daily field service of the operations. 2 This includes employee exposure to harsh weather conditions, hazardous chemicals, and other dangerous materials. In addition, unidentified pipe leaks could lead to an explosion. The engineers’ project managers’ training and education are critical for providing awareness of the potential dangers of working with a natural gas pipeline.
The proper training includes how to maintain safety, risk assumptions, pre job briefings, OSHA requirements, and emergency response protocols. The Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 mandates safe working conditions for all employees by providing education and training on safety and health (Occupational Safety and Health Administration, 2015). Energy is a major commodity to the U. and global community (Bigliani, 2013).
Safety, transportation, and profitably are important concerns to the gas industry. Continuous process improvement, risk assessments, and continuous process monitoring, and updates are essential in the oil and natural gas industry to minimize accidents and employee injuries. Problem Statement Companies in the natural gas industry often experience financial devastation because of revenue losses resulting from natural gas accidents involving employees, and poor safety methods can be a contributing factor (Silvestre & Gimenes, 2017). Natural gas industry pipeline accidents account for 45 million dollars of lost revenues in the past two decades (Parfomak, 2015).
The general business problem is that some natural gas companies are being negatively affected by safety hazards, which results in loss of profitability for the businesses. The specific business problem was that some natural gas 3 engineer project managers lack strategies to improve risk assessment planning to reduce pipeline accidents and improve profitability. Purpose Statement The purpose of this qualitative single case study was to explore strategies that engineer project managers in the natural gas industry use to improve risk assessment planning to reduce pipeline accidents and improve profitability. The population for data collection in this single case study came from engineer project managers in the natural gas industry located in central Virginia who have successfully implemented business strategies to reduce pipeline accidents and improve profitability.
The implication for positive social change includes the potential to provide a safer workplace environment throughout the central Virginia region by developing risk assessment strategies for engineer project managers. In addition, by reducing safety risks associated with natural gas pipelines, project managers could enhance community perceptions of the industry and improve relationships with environmentalists. Nature of the Study After comparing the qualitative and quantitative methods, I chose a qualitative study as the method for this research. The qualitative method was appropriate for the study because it included exploration of real experiences to answer the research question.
Through the qualitative method, researchers can gain a deeper understanding of a problem. The qualitative method provides an opportunity to explore sensitive and complex issues (Brannen, 2017). The quantitative method was not suitable for the study because I did not concentrate on statistical study variables, which include opinions, 4 motivations, and hypotheses (Yin, 2014). Thompson and Carlson (2017) stated that they would not concentrate on statistical study variables.
In this study, I documented the data analysis by including the participant’s concepts obtained from collecting research data. The mixed methods approach includes the advantages of both the qualitative and the quantitative methods and mitigates the weaknesses of each by combining the two. The mixed methods approach was not appropriate for the study because there was not a need to use multiple data collection methods to document data analysis or variables. The design I used for my study was a single case study.
Robinson (2014) stated that the identification of best practices in a single case study design allows for a minimum of three participants to be acceptable for conducting a single case study. Yin (2014) concluded that a qualitative case study involves real-life experiences that assist a researcher in exploring a complex process in the form of how or why. The qualitative study offers many designs including narrative, ethnography, phenomenology, and the case study (Yin, 2013). According to Percy, Kostere, and Kostere (2015), the ethnographic approach explores areas that define a culture’s practices, behaviors, and social concerns.
A phenomenological design explores a phenomenon or a concept from a particular point of view (Kahlke, 2014). The phenomenological and ethnographic designs were not appropriate for my study because this study consisted of gathering data on a risk assessment plan from the perspective of interviewed participants (Yin, 2013). 5 Research Question RQ: What strategies do engineer project managers in the natural gas industry use to improve risk assessment planning to reduce pipeline accidents and improve profitability? Interview Questions 1. What cost strategies do you use to improve risk assessment safety initiatives? 2.
What are some successful technologies you and your team’s engineer project managers incorporated into the risk assessment plan that have reduced the costs associated with pipeline accidents? 3. How do employees assist managers in documenting risk issues? 4. What is your strategy for training staff on risk assessment and have they improved firm performance? 5. What strategies have you successfully used to ensure employee safety? 6.
What successful strategy does your organization use to evaluate risk assessment for profitability? 7. What successful method did you find worked best in implementing the risk assessment strategy? 8.