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Case Study: BP and the Gulf of Mexico Oil Spill

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Case Study: BP and the Gulf of Mexico Oil Spill
Table of Contents
Question 1 ............................................................................................................................................................2
Do you agree with Tony Hayward’s quote at the end of the case? .................................................................2
Was this disaster strictly a BP failure or an industry accident?........................................................................2
What factors affect the competitive environment of the oil industry? ...........................................................2
Question 2 ............................................................................................................................................................4
What were the most significant flawed decisions made by BP and its partners in this case?.........................4
Was this a case of poor strategic choices that were made over time or of a high-risk taking culture? ..........5
Question 3 ............................................................................................................................................................5
How did BP’s history and culture shape decision-making on the Deepwater Horizon rig? .............................5
How did the political and regulatory environment affect decision-making by BP and its partners? ..............6
Question 4 ............................................................................................................................................................6
What factors does BP appear to take into account when looking at its long-term sustainability? .................6
What strategic approaches would you recommend to BP in order to ensure long-term competitive advantage in this industry? ..............................................................................................................................8
Bibliography



Bibliography: 10 Disastrous Mistakes BP Made Before The Deepwater Horizon Exploded. (n.d.). Retrieved December 02, 2013, from http://www.businessinsider.com/bp-mistakes-2010-5?op=1 Applying the VRIO Framework. (n.d.). Retrieved December 02, 2013, from http://academic.udayton.edu/dianesullivan/fall/2007/applying_the_vrio_framework.doc BP: “An accident waiting to happen” - Fortune Features. (n.d.). Retrieved December 02, 2013, from http://features.blogs.fortune.cnn.com/2011/01/24/bp-an-accident-waiting-to-happen/ Deep Water Summary To President. (n.d.). Retrieved December 02, 2013, from http://www.housemajority.org/coms/anw/pdfs/27/deep_water_summary_to_president.pdf Top 20 Risk Factors Facing the Oil & Gas Industry - Energy Digital. (n.d.). Retrieved December 02, 2013, from http://www.energydigital.com/oil_gas/top-20-risk-factors-facing-the-oil-gas-industry

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