Some Miscellaneous Items
The Stampede in Calgary is as much of a corporate event as it is a tourist attraction. We welcome the tourists each year to what we call the “greatest outdoor show on earth.” And as a visitor, I can only assume they have a good time. The town transforms itself into one party city. I for one have looked upon Stampede as a time to let loose and enjoy the weather and the festivities. This tradition has been upheld throughout the city since the beginning of time. Well over the past 100 years, our big flood of a few years ago, gave it the appropriately named “come hell or high water” as the theme. That flood was the countries biggest natural disaster, happening one week before the big event, and it didn't slow this town down. Apparently this year we will witness what does slow the Stampede down.
Cancellation of corporate events is the name of the game in town. It would seem the oil and gas industry wants to send a message to the new government that they are not happy with their plans for a revised tax and royalty regime. Since when did the bureaucrats concern themselves about the business of the oil and gas business? Optics? It doesn't look good to be partying so hard when the people need to be told that their choice in government doesn’t sit with them. So instead of partying, everyone will be present at their desks for the entire Stampede. No corporate breakfasts or festivities. That'll send the message.
Its one thing to sit down and make representation about how the industry is having difficulties financially. To engage the government to advise them and educate them about the industry. The New Democrats are now running a $40 billion government with many of the cabinet ministers never being responsible for much more than their local communities budget. A little help and encouragement might have been the appropriate direction. Particularly their leader Rachel Notley is of fine pedigree and seems capable and approachable. These bureaucrats however have fallen into their classic pattern of attack and bully to make it as difficult for everyone, and the bureaucrats importance is the key and only issue.
These bureaucrats don't concern themselves with the business unless they can exercise some real public relations value out of the issue. By ramping down the Stampede festivities they attempt to destroy an annual tradition so that they can look good in the eyes of, well I don't know who will buy in to the BS, or who will give them credit for being prudent about the business. If they were really concerned about the business they would be focused on our $45.7 trillion value proposition over the next 25 years and how they can make that real. Not in punishing everyone during Stampede week.
The Cloud Paradigm
Amongst our distinct competitive advantages, the cloud provides us with much value over the traditional decentralized IT infrastructure. Today, each producer is tasked with the needs of developing, maintaining and operating their organization with the IT resources afforded by their budgets. This may have been easier in the past when the organization was less dependent on IT, and when the IT infrastructure was less robust and mature. Now with so much dependent on these technologies the ability and capability to have the skills, talent and resources housed within the producer organization are exceeding the budgets that are provided to these departments. None of this activity is within the domain of a producer's competitive advantage of their earth science and engineering capabilities, or land and asset base.
Maybe the best example of this is in the area of security. Where cyber security has become the issue of the day and is occupying many hours and days within a producer firm. Each producer is having to spend this time and effort to ensure the firm's data and resources remain secure. Each producer is undertaking the same tasks and activities to ensure their systems are safe. With the cloud, or more specifically with People, Ideas & Objects, producers will be able to rely on the efforts of our software developers, our user community and the service providers to provide this security. By aggregating the resources of the industry we are able to focus our budget on items such as cyber security and devote more resources to the issue than what a producer can. This centralization theme works most effectively in our key competitive advantage of providing the oil and gas industry with a software development capability for the long term. A capability that will enable changes to be made in the business model when and if they are required.
The Preliminary Specification and user community provides the oil and gas producer with the most dynamic, innovative, profitable and successful means of oil and gas operations. People, Ideas & Objects Revenue Model specifies the means in which investors can participate in these user defined software developments. Users are welcome to join me here. Together we can begin to meet the future demands for energy. And don't forget to join our network on Twitter @piobiz anyone can contact me at 403-200-2302 or email here.