Investigating Global Business Environment: Tullow Oil Plc Case Study

This research project investigates the benefits and drawbacks of the global business environment on the functions and operations of Tullow Oil Plc, a multinational oil and gas exploration and production company. The study begins with a background on the global business environment, including economic, political, and cultural factors, and then poses research questions to explore the advantages, disadvantages, and overall impact on Tullow Oil Plc. The research aims to examine the global business environment's influence on the company's functions and operations, with objectives that include exploring the environment, examining advantages, ascertaining negative impacts, and identifying the relationship between the environment and the company's improvement. The literature review explores the global business environment and its factors, the advantages like resource utilization and understanding future prospects, and the drawbacks such as lack of resources and high competition. The research methodology employs an interpretivism philosophy, using primary data from questionnaires and secondary data from books and journals. The research design is descriptive, and non-probability sampling is used to gather data from 60 respondents. Data analysis will be conducted using thematic analysis, and the research includes a questionnaire to gather information about the topic. The findings will be used to draw conclusions and make recommendations regarding the impact of the global business environment on Tullow Oil Plc.

Research Project

Table of Contents
TITLE:.............................................................................................................................................1
BACKGROUND TO THE RESEARCH .......................................................................................1
RESEARCH QUESTION ...............................................................................................................1
RESEARCH AIM AND OBJECTIVES .........................................................................................1
LIMITATION OF THE STUDY.....................................................................................................2
LITERATURE REVIEW ...............................................................................................................2
RESEARCH METHODOLOGY ....................................................................................................4
DATA ANALYSIS .........................................................................................................................6
RESEARCH FINDINGS ................................................................................................................7
CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS .........................................................................16
REFERENCES .............................................................................................................................18
APPENDIXES ..............................................................................................................................19
Research Proposal .........................................................................................................................19
.......................................................................................................................................................23

TITLE:
“To investigate the benefits and drawbacks of a global business environment upon
functions and operations of an organisation”. A case on Tullow Oil Plc.
BACKGROUND TO THE RESEARCH
Global business environment is multidimensional including the exchange risks, cultural
differences, political risks, taxation and legal issues. Therefore, it comprises the economic,
political, tax, regulatory, social and cultural, technological and legal environments (Cavusgil and
Knight, 2015). Main reason behind selecting this topic is to explore different advantages and
drawbacks of global business environment on operations and functions of company. Tullow Oil
Plc is chosen multinational organisation for this project. It is an independent oil and gas
exploration and production enterprise. Company was founded in 1985 by Dorothy Thompson at
London, United Kingdom. Tullow Oil Plc has their functions and operations in various nations
including West Africa, East Africa, and New Ventures. In this organisation, various departments
are work together with purpose of improving brand awareness nationally as well as
internationally also. Global business environment of specific country is positively and negatively
influence on business operations and functions by reducing cost and following international rules
and regulations.
RESEARCH QUESTION
 What about an overview of the global business environment?
 What are the advantages of a global business environment upon functions and operations
of Tullow Oil Plc.
 What are the negative impact of a global business environment on operations and
functions of Tullow Oil Plc.
 What are the relationship between global business environment and improvement of
company's functions and operations?
RESEARCH AIM AND OBJECTIVES
Research Aim: Main aim of this research is “To investigate the benefits and drawbacks
of a global business environment upon functions and operations of an organisation”. A case on
Tullow Oil Plc.
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Research Objectives: There are some important and valuable research objectives which help a
researcher to complete research systematically. Few are determine as below:
 To explore an overview of the global business environment.
 To examine advantages of a global business environment upon functions and operations
of Tullow Oil Plc.
 To ascertain negative impact of a global business environment on operations and
functions of Tullow Oil Plc.
 To identify relationship between global business environment and improvement of
company's functions and operations.
LIMITATION OF THE STUDY
This research is based on exploring drawbacks and benefits of international business
environment on business functions and operations of Tullow Oil Plc. For analysis data or
information about this topic, there are some limitation which is faced by researcher such as
formulation of research aims and objectives, implementation of data collection methods, sample
size, lack of previous studies in the research area, scope of discussions and time (Gupta 2013).
All these are biggest limitations of the study which will impact on researcher while completing
each activities or tasks related to the project within given time period.
LITERATURE REVIEW
It is identify as a form of scholarly paper which includes actual understanding about
substantive findings and theoretical contributions to a specific area of study. In this section of
research, different number of useful sources are includes such as scholarly articles, books,
journals etc. for collecting in-depth information related to the research (Hoskisson and et. al.,
2012). Literature review help a researcher to address each objectives of study in detail and
effective way:
Overview of the global business environment.
According to the Cavusgil and Knight, (2015), the term global business environment can
be explained as different sovereign countries has respective state of affairs factors exogenous to
home surroundings. It includes several environmental factors like, economical factor, social
factor, political factor, cultural factor, regulatory factor and technological aspects. Every
business is surrounded with the several internal and external forces when they are operating in
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the market. There is no single firm in the global market who has not faced the challenges of
external factors to sustain in the market globally. It is a process by which barriers or obstacles
can be removed between the countries. This directly or indirectly helps to increase efficiency of
global resources, change industry structure and marketing strategies. It is considered the main
reason for gap between the rich the poor. However it hampers cultural convergence of any
country and environment by increasing the gap between the poor and rich section of the people.
Global business environment is the environment in different countries with exogenous factors
that create impact on business associates while taking decisions on resource and capabilities. To
explore in the global market it is necessary to look at all the factors of that particular country
whether socially, economical, technology etc.
Advantages of a global business environment upon functions and operations of Tullow Oil
Plc.
According to the Mohammed Julfekar Haider, 2010, global business environment assist a
Tullow Oil Plc to identify their strength, weakness, opportunities and threats internationally.
There are some benefits which will effects on business functions and operations of company are
determine as below:
Ensures optimum utilization of resources: Proper study of global business environment
is required as it see optimum utilisation of resources available. Along with this, the study of
technological and economic environment is useful for different functions of company. It will also
help an organisation to improve their operations and gain better advantages for future
development.
Understanding future problems and prospects: Global business environment enables to
know future prospects and problems of organisation in advance. This enables Tullow Oil Plc to
face the issue and also take different benefit of favourable situation. Thus, it will support an
enterprise to make business operations and functions more effectively and smoothly.
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Drawbacks of a global business environment on operations and functions of Tullow Oil Plc.
According to the Marchi, Maria and Micelli (2013), global business environment has
different negative effects on business functions and operations of Tullow Oil Plc. Some
drawbacks are determine as used:
Lack of resources: It is biggest issues of global business environment which will effects
on entire operations and functions of company. Lack of time, human resource and cost is
negatively impact on business.
High number of competitions: At international level, nigh number of competition
introduce biggest issues which will influence on market share and productivity of company.
Relationship between global business environment and improvement of company's functions
and operations.
According to the Zhang and Huang, (2012) ,global business environment play essential
role in improving operations and functions of Tullow Oil Plc. There are different points that
presents international business environment has positive relation with an organisation. Some are
determine as under:
 It help an organisation in achieving long term goals and objectives internationally.
 With the help of international business environment company easily identify threats and
ways to covert it into opportunities (Benefits of global Business Environment, 2011).
 It will also help Tullow Oil Plc in determining business opportunities and threats which
will further support an organisation to maintain their operations smoothly.
 Global business environment provide direction for growth and success to entire
departments of company.
RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
Research methodology is important section for completion of research activities or tasks
within given time duration (Lasserre, 2017). In this part, different methods and approaches to
primary and secondary methods used by researcher to collect in-depth and accurate information
about the field of study. Some essential methods are determine as under:
Research philosophies: Interpretivisim philosophy will be applied in the research
because it assist in measuring the data or information efficiently which will further outputs in
arriving valid conclusion. On the other side, positivism philosophy is not applied in this project
because it not help a researcher in evaluating research systematically.
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Data sources: For collecting accurate information about the research topic, there are
basically two types of data sources namely primary and secondary. Under primary source,
questionnaire is consider one of the best tool which will help a researcher to accumulate accurate
amount of information about the topic (Marchi, Maria and Micelli, 2013). On the other side, in
case of secondary source, books, journals, magazines and many other relevant methods included.
All these are essential for researcher to gather in-depth and accurate information related to the
topic.
Research design: The entire activities of project depends on the research design which is
followed by investigator for exploring the impact. It is mainly divided into three sections such as
descriptive, experimental and exploratory (Zhang and Huang, 2012). All these designs are useful
but according to the study, descriptive design is used because it is more appropriate for the topic
and via this, conclusion can be derived in effective manner.
Research ethics: It is most essential and important part for research project which is play
by researcher with purpose to complete whole research in more significant way (Peng, 2016).
There are some research ethics principles which should be used by researcher such as informed
consent, confidentiality and anonymity.
Research cost: It is one of the main part of research which is used by researcher to
complete research activities in allotted cost. Without accurate amount of capital a researcher can
not complete research activities or tasks in systematic manner (Voegtlin, Patzer and Scherer,
2012). Thus, for completion of research, sufficient amount of capital is require.
Sampling: For selecting sample size out of total population, there are two form of
sampling methods such as probability and non-probability. According to topic, non-probability
sampling method is used because it will help an organisation or researcher by saving time, cost
and resources (Popescu, 2013). On the other side, probability method is not suitable for this
study because it require maximum time, cost and resource of company. Thus, with the help of
non-probability sampling 60 respondents are taken into consideration.
Research reliability and validity: Research reliability is based on the carrying out of the
test instrument which name is survey questionnaire. It is consider one of the best tool which help
a researcher to overcome all issues effectively. It is also useful for investigator to accumulate
valid and reliable data about the topic.
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DATA ANALYSIS
It will be done with the utilisation of thematic analysis. In this, different themes will be
developed in executing research activities effectively or systematically. It is a form of analytical
tool which will assist a researcher to analysis accurate data about the study (Salvatore, 2015).
The themes or patterns will be made each questions as this will assist the scholar or researcher in
minutely evaluating the response from respondents. In order to analysis data, questionnaire will
be prepared which are shown as below:
Questionnaire
Q1) Do you have any idea about an overview of the global business environment?
a) Yes
b) No
Q2) What are the main reason of Tullow Oil Plc for expanding their business operations and
functions in another country?
a) Increasing market share
b) Improving productivity
c) Enhancing relation with international clients
Q3) Is global business environment support an organisation to accomplish competitive
advantages?
a) Yes
b) No
Q4) What are the advantages of a global business environment upon functions and operations
of Tullow Oil Plc.
a) Increase sales and profit
b) Improved international relation
Q5) What are the relationship between global business environment and improvement of
company's functions and operations?
a) Positive
b) Negative
Q6) Does global business environment beneficial for company to maximise customer base by
providing quality products or services?
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a) Yes
b) No
Q7) How can technological innovation assist a Tullow Oil Plc become globalised?
a) By communicating with competitors in other nations
b) By giving online opportunities to their customers
Q8) What are the negative impact of a global business environment on operations and functions
of Tullow Oil Plc?
a) Government rules and regulations
b) Overexploitation of resources
c) Additional cost of recruitment
Q9) How to overcome negative impact of global business environment?
a) Follow rules and regulations properly
b) Utilisation of proper communication channels
c) Others
Q10 Recommend different ways through which Tullow Oil Plc can easily enhance their
preferences at global level.
RESEARCH FINDINGS
In order to find accurate and reliable information from the respondents questionnaire will
be most suitable instrument which was prepared in the section of data analysis. Therefore, with
the help of these research findings are determine as below:
Theme 1: Overview of the global business environment
Q1) Do you have any idea about an overview
of the global business environment?
Frequency
Yes 50
No 10
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Yes No
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
45
50
50
10
Frequency
Source: Survey Data
Interpretation: From the above given information, it has been concluded knowledge
among respondents about the overview of global business environment. 50 out of 60 respondents
are aware whereas 10 are not aware about this concept.
Theme 2: Main reason of company for expanding business functions and operations
Q2) What are the main reason of Tullow Oil
Plc for expanding their business operations and
functions in another country?
Frequency
Increasing market share 25
Improving productivity 20
Enhancing relation with international clients 15
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Increasing market share
Enhancing relation with international clients
0
5
10
15
20
25
25
20
15
Frequency
Source: Survey Data
Interpretation: According to the above mentioned chart, it has been determined main
reason of Tullow Oil Plc for expansion of business operations and functions. 25 out of 60
respondents are agree as it help an organisation by increasing market share, 20 respondents have
knowledge as it improve productivity and remaining are agree as it enhance relation with
international client is main reason of company.
Theme 3: Effectiveness of global business environment
Q3) Is global business environment support an
organisation to accomplish competitive
advantages?
Frequency
Yes 45
No 15
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