The strict lockdown and restrictions imposed worldwide
3.0 Literature review
This section will provide a brief overview of the recent literature on logistics (transportation) disruption and mitigation strategies.
Many other sources result in the disruption of logistics. Akanle, OAdebayo & Adetayo, (2014) has reported on the disruption in the logistics of the downstream petroleum industry of Nigeria. The researchers stated that this disruption occurred due to the inadequacy of the internal management process and also due to the inadequacy in the external supply chain networks of the petroleum industry. Furthermore, Hussain, et al., (2006) conducted research on the logistics and supply chain of the petroleum and oil industry, Through the study, the researchers found that the supply chain and the logistics of the petroleum and the oil industry are more complex as well as inflexible when compared to other industries and sectors, along with this the researchers also stated the inflexibility in the petroleum industry arises due to the limited production potency of the suppliers of crude oil, lengthy transit delivery lead and travel modes restrictions. On the other hand, Kazemi, and Szmerekovsky, (2015) in their research study found that the complexity and inflexibility in the petroleum industry or oil sector arise due to disruptions in the infrastructure and the worldwide functioning of outsourcing. Recently, a study was conducted by Okoroafor and Adiele (2020) on the influence of the transportation system on the logistics and supply operations in the downstream petroleum sector of Nigeria. Under this study, the researchers outlined that in the logistics and supply operations, mainly the transportation system is utilized to provide products and services to the consumers. As transportation covers one-third of the logistics amount or cost, therefore the transportation system impacts the logistics and the supply chain operations in the petroleum sector majorly. The study also revealed that for managing the logistics of the petroleum sector, there is the requirement for various activities which includes site selection, demand forecasting, packaging, management of the raw materials, warehousing, inventories, transportation, procurement, order processing, and communication regarding logistics. Along with this, the study also concluded that the challenges in the logistics and supply operations of the petroleum industry of Nigeria also brought various other issues which include the enhanced amount of product distribution by oil marketing organizations and the fluctuation in the pump price by the government, which further leads to the industrial strike by the trade union in the petroleum downstream sector. Considering such disruptions in the logistics and supply chain operations, the study by Okoroafor and Adiele (2020) also emphasized that the owners, as well as the marketers of the petroleum industry, must get involved in every segment of the supply chain which includes bulk storage, transportation, and retail to bring the efficiency to the petroleum industry. Ivanov D (2020) highlighted in the research study that recently, the global covid-19 pandemic brought spark and major disruptions in the supply chain. Ivanov D (2020) reported that during covid-19 pandemic the major disruptions in the supply chain mainly occurred in supply demand and also in the distribution unit. Suppliers disruption occurs due to the lack of raw materials, finances, and availability of skilled laborers. Disruption in the distribution occurs due to alterations in border controls, transportation availability, and disrupt labor potencies. It also has been highlighted by Ivanov D (2020) that various other major adversities occurred in the supply chain during the covid-19 pandemic. As major disruptions occur in production, this results in delays in the supply of the products to the customers. The enhancement of these supply chain disruptions results in a raised demand for beneficiaries.
Furthermore, another study was conducted by Fernandes et al. (2013) on the strategic network design of the downstream supply chains of the petroleum industry in Nigeria. In this study, the researchers stated that in the petroleum industry there is a complex web between the logistics organizations and the service providers of the petroleum sector in the downstream supply chain. Along with this, the researchers also outlined that this complex web in the downstream supply chain completely depends upon the physical infrastructures and the information network for the implementation of their functions. If disruptions in the physical infrastructure and the information network occur, then it directly puts a major impact on the downstream supply chain of the petroleum industry.
3.2 Available mitigation plans
It has been viewed that many sources result in the disruption of logistics (transportation) and supply chain operations, which include natural disasters, terrorism, etc. This disruption in the logistics and the supply chain operations can lead to various major consequences which are delays in the delivery of the products and goods to the customers, poor quality of the products, loss of good relations with customers, financial and reputational loss to the organization. Considering this, as a critical issue, there is a requirement for mitigation plans and strategies that help in mitigating and curbing the disruption in the supply chain operations and logistics. John et al (2019) researched the supply chain disruption in the oil and gas sector in Nigeria. In this study, the researchers found the key drivers for the disruption in the logistics and the supply chain. The researchers found that the causes or the drivers for the supply chain disruption are poor quality of the supply chain information, inaccuracy in the product demands, poor infrastructure and inventory management, etc. So, for this, some of the major strategies for handling the disruption in the downstream petroleum supply chain operations are to bring flexibility to the supply chain processes and operations, conduct collaborative outsourcing, efficient management of the inventories and the infrastructure, and maintain the supply chain coordination. So, all these strategies and plans mainly emphasize the requirement for the Nigerian National petroleum corporation (NNPC) to bring advancement to its supply chain processes and practices. As this helps in mitigating the disruption to the logistics and supply chain operations.
Two common approaches to tackling transportation disruption involve acting in advance and putting measures in place before the disruption (mitigation) or taking action to recover (contingency) after the disruption has occurred (Tomlin, 2006). Hishamuddin, et al. (2013) modeled transportation disruption between a supplier and a manufacturer (two-stage supply chain system) to establish a recovery plan for unexpected transportation disruption. The study aims to determine the ideal products and order quantities for the supplier and retailer in addition to recovery duration. While this study buttresses the point that delivery delays result in
Chapter 3: Methodology
3.3 Research design or approach
Many research approaches are used widely by researchers to collect as well as to examine the data, to find the relevant solution for the identified research questions, and also to attain the goal of the study. The research approaches include:
3.3.4 Quantitative research
Quantitative research is conducted to collect quantitative data that is measurable or quantifiable. Wisker (2008) stated that quantitative research is utilized for appraisal and also helps in discovering the quantity. Quantitative research can be conducted using surveys. As various forms of survey can be conducted to obtain quantitative data, those are online surveys, mobile or telephonic interviews, face-to-face interviews, and the methodological approach. So, in this research work the mixed-method approach will be utilized, which means both qualitative and quantitative research approach will be used to analyze and collect reliable and relevant data to the research topic and the research questions, which has been identified. (Creswell & Plano Clark, 2007) stated that the mixed-method approach is considered the best research approach or method because it helps to provide in-depth details regarding the research topic and the research questions. Along with this, with the use of both qualitative and quantitative research methods, the research study can be made more reliable and authentic, as the mixed-method approach helps to validate the research study.
3.6 Sampling frame
The study is of the logistics disruption in the oil sector or industries, in the context of Nigeria. Therefore, the sample frame for this research study is the oil sector or the industries of Nigeria. This sampling frame will mainly emphasize both male and female employees working in the oil industries of Nigeria. Only a small sample size of 10 individuals will be considered in this research study, as the oil sector is considered one of the vast sectors.
Furthermore, in this research, it has been analyzed that two types of data have been collected. One is the primary data and another is secondary data. Primary data is the data which is collected by the researcher on its own and this data is collected from firsthand experience whereas secondary data is collected from other sources. So, in this research work, the primary data is collected from the survey or interviews conducted with experienced employees or workers working in the oil sector or the industries in Nigeria. To gather the data, the digital questionnaires will be conducted through the platform Google Forms. This platform is being used due to the covid-19 pandemic and due to the major consequences of this pandemic on the lives of humans. The forms were made accessible to all the participants through the online platform. For the distribution of the forms or to make these forms accessible to the participants or the employees or workers working in the oil sector, a third party is involved that is working with the oil industries in Nigeria. The collection of the primary data through the survey or the interview conducted with the employees or the workers in the oil industries of Nigeria provided many opportunities for the researcher. As, through the surveys and the interviews, the researcher was able to collect a wide range of responses from the participants, also able to introduce new parts of the questionnaires to the participants, able to provide the background through which it is easy to interpret the outcomes, and also give the great opportunity to the researcher to be in close contact with the workers or the employees in the oil sector of Nigeria.
Further, for collecting the secondary data, a systematic review is being conducted. In this, the research papers or the literature is chosen based on the keywords, which are related to the research topic of planning for dealing with the logistics disruptions in the oil sector or industries in Nigeria. Along with this, the appropriate Boolean operators are also used for selecting the most relevant and reliable literature and research papers. Using these, 328 kinds of literature or research papers were screened, among them, around 150 articles were found most appropriate while the rest 178 research articles or the literature were eliminated due to the lack of chosen Boolean operators and the keywords related to the research topic. Further, on screening, a total of 65 articles were identified as most appropriate while the rest of the 85 articles were eliminated due to the lack of abstract and full-text articles. Among them, 75 articles are eliminated due to the irrelevance of the research articles to the research topic, while a total of 10 articles were found most appropriate and the best which are related to the research topic.
3.11 Research ethics
While conducting the research study, there are certain ethics or moral views which are needed to be considered. Research ethics is very significant in research work, as it helps in the avoidance of errors in the research study and also helps in avoiding misrepresentations. In this research study, there are certain ethics are considered. As, it is made sure that while collecting the primary data from the participants, their personal information is kept confidential and not disclosed to anybody. The research was conducted respectfully and the data which is collected is also confidential. A healthy and positive environment was created while collecting the data from the respondents so that they feel comfortable.
According to the ABC (2018) and survey findings indicate that ………... It has been found from the collected data that around 13% of the respondents believed that very little consideration is provided to the disruptions in the logistics and also its planning in the oil sector or the industries whereas the 42% of the respondents revealed that the logistics and its disruption is the prime subject for the oil industries but they do not have any strategic planning for the logistics disruption during the oilfield development project. Furthermore the 45% of the respondents stated that logistics is the main area, which the oil industries consider, therefore the oil industries have put in place the appropriate plannings or the strategies that deal with the logistics disruptions during the oilfield development projects. They further articulated that the strategies or approaches which mostly the oil sector or the industries worldwide have in place are the hybrid approaches, as this helps the oil industries to recover well from consequences caused by the disruptions in the logistics and the supply chain operations, by mitigating the logistics disruptions. As, the study conducted by Traei et al (2018) on the hybrid approach for managing the supply chain risks and for prioritizing the drivers for risks in the oil and petroleum industries. In this study, the researcher clearly outlined that in the oil sector or the industries for the identified risks, there is always a plan or strategy that helps in eliminating or mitigating the identified risks. One of the major issues or the risks that has been suspected in the oil industries is the disruptions in the supply chain operations or logistics, this includes the disruptions in the crude oil supply, the poor transportation and also the logistics systems. Therefore, the oil industries have the hybrid approaches that helps in mitigating the issue of the logistics disruption in the oil industries.
So, through this data, it can be interpreted that for the oil sector or the industries, it is very essential to maintain logistics and also to manage the risks that lead to the disruption in logistics. As, to maintain their reputation and also to enhance their financial growth. The oil industries mainly need appropriate plannings or the strategies for the logistics disruptions during oilfield development projects. As, during the development projects of the oil industries, it is required to analyze or identify all the possible risks which can act as the barrier in the way of the development or the growth of the oil sectors or industries. Considering this, during the oilfield development projects only, the oil industries put in place certain strategies or the plannings that can mitigate the risks of logistics disruptions or which can not even lead to the development of the issue like logistics or supply chain operations disruptions. This allows the positive and the exponential growth of the oil sector or industries. Marroquin et al () conducted the research on the analysis of the logistics in the oil activities based on the approaches of system dynamics or project development. Under this study, the researcher stated that the planning for the logistics is very important or significant to avoid the disruptions in the logistics that can lead to various major consequences or adverse effects on other operations of the oil industries. Also, to foster the development of the oil industries. Adumene et al (2021) conducted the research on the dynamic disruption risk model for the offshore supply vessel operations in the water of arctic. Under this research study, the researchers stated that the harsh climatic condition of the arctic regions leads to the disruptions in the supply chain operations and logistics of the offshore oil and the gas industries. So, considering this, there is the requirement of critical logistics strategic planning. This planning highly depends on the delivery time, environment, cargo volume, location. So, for this Adumene et al (2021) outlined that the effective routing of the operations is required and also there is the need to outsource the materials through the appropriate supply chain planning. This will lead to effective execution or implementation of the tasks. So, through this it can be interpreted that there are many plans and strategies with the oil industries worldwide under their development projects that effectively deal with the disruptions in the logistics and the supply chain operations.
In the previous theme, it has been discovered that in the oil industries, the disruptions in the supply chain operations and the logistics is quite common. Considering this, the oil industries worldwide always have the plan or the strategies that help in the eliminating or mitigating the issue of the logistics disruptions. Now, under this theme, the efficacy or the efficiency of the logistics disruptions mitigation plans or the strategies will be explored and also their effectiveness in context to the covid-19 pandemic will be discussed.
Possibility to plan for sudden global transportation disruption (Covid-19 outbreak)
