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Major maintenance projects are often regarded as maintenance activities regardless of the projects' complexity and scale. Consequently, very scarce research attention has hitherto been paid to the critical skills required when undertaking these projects. More specifically, the body of relevant knowledge is deprived of a study focusing on maintenance projects within the energy sector. In view of this shortcoming, this research aims to examine the critical project management (PM) skills required to deliver major maintenance projects within the energy sector.

Based on a quantitative research strategy, this study addressed the knowledge gap through a cross-sectional survey of professionals involved in the delivery of major maintenance projects in the United Kingdom's (UK) energy sector. Data obtained were analyzed via descriptive (e.g. frequencies, mean and standard deviation [SD]) and inferential statistical analyses (One sample t-test and exploratory factor analysis (EFA)).

Out of the 45 PM skills identified in the literature and examined by the respondents, the results obtained from the One sample t-test (based on p (1-tailed) = 0.05) showed that 37 were considered to be at least “important,” accounting for 80.4% of all the skills identified. EFA revealed a clustering of the PM skills items into seven components: “skills related to work scheduling and coordination”; “communication, risk, safety and stakeholder management skills”; “quality assurance skills”; “people management skills”; “skills related to forecasting scope and duration of outage”; “implementation of processes and time management skills” and “technical/engineering skills and experience pertaining to the outage and local site knowledge.”

This study has identified and contributed to the limited state-of-the-art skills project managers must possess to manage major maintenance projects in the energy sector successfully. The findings would be useful to organizations within the energy sector in ensuring that the organizations have suitable personnel in place to deliver major maintenance projects on the organizations' assets.

The purpose of this paper is to determine priority order of Indian energy sector projects on investments and strategic dimension angles. Grey System Theory (GST) and COmplex PRroportional ASsessment (COPRAS-G) method, a flexible multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM) analyses, is used for this purpose to prioritize Indian energy sector projects, namely, coal, gas, hydro, solar and nuclear.

The GST-based MCDM approach of COPRAS is used. Five projects of energy sector are compared based on various grey criteria. These criteria were selected on the perspectives of life-cycle costing and management-thinking approach for prioritizing these projects. The GST-based COPRAS-G is described, and results are discussed to draw a strategic road map for measuring the sustainability in the energy sector.

On applying COPRAS-G on five energy projects, solar projects get high-priority order, and realistic scenario of results shows that renewable energy projects are preferred over the conventional projects such as coal and gas.

Here, COPRAS-G method is used as MCDM techniques. However, few other MCDM techniques such as fuzzy Preference Ranking Organization METHod for Enrichment Evolution, elimination and choice expressing reality and efficiency analysis technique with output satisficing can be also explored to outrank various Indian energy sector projects.

Indian energy sector involves high degree of complexity, and, therefore, it needs more flexibility to overcome the present barriers of effective decision-making. Grey decision theory-based method like COPRAS-G is able to address energy security dimensions on different scenario of energy supply, i.e. pessimistic, optimistic and realistic, precisely.

The results can provide guidance to the government or public sector regarding various possible investment options for energy supply and can help in drawing a rough trajectory of strategy toward energy security of the country.

This paper can supplement and act as the support for decision-making in conflicting situations specifically to have outlook of the sub-sector project on different flexible scenarios. Moreover, such work can synergize conflicting ideas of decision makers and various stakeholders of the Indian energy sector.

Energy supply delivered via various energy projects is an important aspect of energy security for India. Managing supply through various capacity additions for providing continuous electricity 24×7 by 2019 is a significant challenge for the country. In this context, there is a need to assess the present situation of energy generation from the traditional energy projects that are being installed for the purpose of capacity addition. Thus, the purpose of this paper is to develop an inquiry model based on situation-actor-process (SAP), learning-action-performance (LAP) for the Indian energy and power sectors to analyze the status of the supply side of energy security.

A SAP-LAP model is used to synthesize the situations of both the energy and power sectors. For both systems, inquiry- and matrices-based SAP-LAP models have been considered for this purpose. The situation is presented for various issues related to the execution of different types of energy projects. Actors in these sectors are classified by those who are responsible and engaged in the execution of various energy projects. For demonstration purposes, only a thermal energy project is highlighted in this case study. Based on the synthesis of SAP elements, various LAP elements are analyzed which leads to lessons that may be learnt from the case. Suitable actions are identified, followed by an assessment of their impact on the performance of the energy projects.

By developing a framework for a SAP-LAP model for the assessment of energy security, it was found that both sectors need more investment for their sustainable growth and that the actors identified should be proactive in their decision making. Decision making should be based on the sustainable management practices of life cycle management and life cycle costing for the better utilization of energy resources to strengthen overall energy security.

The SAP-LAP analysis is used to explain the supply side of energy security in a managerial context, as applied in the case of the Indian energy and power sectors. However, some other quantitative multiple-criteria decision-making techniques like the preference ranking organization method for enrichment of evaluations, the complex proportional assessment of alternatives, the analytic hierarchy process or qualitative interactions assessment techniques such as interpretive structural modeling (ISM), total interpretive structural modeling (TISM) or the interpretive ranking process can also be explored for the development of an energy security framework.

The synthesis of SAP leads to LAP, which bridges the gap by suggesting improvement actions based on learning from the present situation of power supply, from actors in the industry and from existing processes. The model presents the situation of energy security in terms of the timely execution of energy projects and their impacts on the gross domestic product of the country.

The framework for learning can provide information to the various stakeholders, investors and sector organizations inquiring about various issues related to energy projects and supporting the idea for energy security and sustainability.

The SAP-LAP model is a novel approach for analyzing the present status of energy supply performance in a single model, which can act as the support for decision making in conflicting situations, specifically the conflicting nature of the Indian energy and power sectors.

The objective of the paper is to put the energy sector challenges in perspective and to provide a general understanding of sector management issues.

The paper follows an analytic‐deductive method to analyse the issues using existing literature as the source of information. Starting with an analysis of the evolution of the sector, the paper identifies various present and future challenges facing the sector and indicates the management issues that could emerge.

As future developments are shaped by the past and present, it is important to identify and understand the drivers that could bring profound changes. The dynamic nature of the sector brings new challenges and a better understanding of the present issues could help prepare for the future.

The paper focuses on the broad, generic coverage of the issues and is not intended to provide country specific or industry specific issues and challenges.

The paper presents the multi‐dimensional interactions of the energy sector and offers an analysis of the multitude of sector management issues.

The purpose of this research paper is to assess efficacy of e-governance implementation, influenced under the Indian-EU (European Union – EU) strategic dialogue. For the same purpose, this study aims to analyse and measure penetration level of information and communication technology (ICT) applications across ten select gross domestic product-dependent sectors (gross domestic product – GDP) in Indian economy.

Multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM) approach of PROMETHEE, using its partial and complete versions in fuzzy environment, is applied. The approach assesses e-governance efficacy in various sectors, which is chosen based on their contribution to GDP, where criteria values are assigned by expert opinions, feedback is received and lessons are learnt from training and initiatives taken under the Digital India programme launched by the Government of India. These criteria related to IT policy implementation, cyber security breaches, IT infrastructure development initiatives in select sectors are identified. Later, sectors outranking results have been highlighted using both fuzzy set theory along with PROMETHEE (F-PROMETHEE) and its visual application.

On applying F-PROMETHEE, studies found that industrial, railways, health and finance and education sectors outrank in their high merit orders. Contrary, outranking shows that agriculture, defence and aerospace sectors should be more open and accessible to adopt ICT applications in order to promote e-governance processes and their implementation to make e-services available to common citizens. For better interpretation of results, graphical analysis for interactive aid is used to present the analyses.

Research study was found useful in the assessment of ICT penetration level in to support Indo-EU relations, where PROMETHEE method is used to outrank sectors alternatives. Criteria are also weighted using fuzzy scale, and the impact of criteria on all alternatives has also been assessed. MCDM framework addresses that subjectivity lies in sectors to implement ICTs bases services. However, few other MCDM frameworks, methods such as COPRAS, GST, GRA, SAW and SWARA, can be used for the same purpose.

Sectors alternative involve high degree of complexity to adopt ICT applications for smooth e-governance and seek effective decision-making for investment prioritization and future development. This study also aims to address cyber security concerns of policymakers. Outranking methods of F-PROMETHEE are able to address the criteria-to-criteria impact and support decision-making in a more precise way.

This study is inspired from the strategic implementation of the framework of the e-Government Action Plan 2016-2020 of the EU. The findings from the paper can provide referential support to the Indian Government and policymakers to support information delivery, implement cyber security policies and various sector developments.

This research study can act as a strong base in the decision-making process in conflicting situations of e-governance in India. This study not only can synergize conflicting ideas of various stakeholders, academicians in the Indian IT-sector but also can act as support to administrators and the policymakers to monitor the status of the India-EU Information Society Dialogue.

Iran is currently among the countries with high energy consumption levels. Based on the statistics published on the country's hydrocarbon balance sheet, the industrial sector was the largest energy user of all the sectors, followed by the household and transportation sectors. Besides, production lines account for the highest percentage of the industrial sector energy consumption. Accordingly, this paper aims to investigate the effects of coordinated energy management and manufacturing strategies to increase energy management performance.

This paper collected the required information on energy management and manufacturing from the experts of petrochemical companies; and oil and gas refineries and then examined their relationship. Moreover, the questionnaire tool was used to measure the independent variable.

The evaluations showed that organizations with coordinated and uncoordinated strategies do not exhibit equal energy management performance. Organizations with a coordinated combination of strategies have higher energy management performance than those with an uncoordinated combination of strategies. Combinations such as 11, 22, 33 and 44 are among the more coordinated combinations, which lead to higher performance.

Reviewing the studies in this regard revealed that limited and a handful of research papers were carried out on organizations' energy management strategies. None of the existing research has considered energy management strategies as a subsystem of an organization or specified its coordination with manufacturing strategies. However, this research has delved into this issue and our findings confirm certain assumptions of past studies and contribute to evaluating its effects on energy management performance.

This paper aims to introduce strategic management tools for companies with hybrid business models, for example, those with citizen participation. These models are often used of citizen renewable energy companies that have become a main pillar of the energy sector in Germany in recent years. The strategic management tools proposed here could help to achieve most of their objectives.

In the first step, a definition of hybrid businesses is derived by literature review, and the importance of strategic management in companies with citizen participation is discussed. In the next step, a new construct of a balanced scorecard (BSC) model is applied to citizen renewable energy companies by using survey data and previous studies.

Companies with citizen participation differ from profit-seeking companies and nonprofit organizations, and they are described by new hybrid business models. This study shows with a modification of the BSC that social or environmental aims are as important as financial ones to companies with citizen participation, which follow a double bottom line approach.

Hybrid businesses are important for the German energy sector, and strategic management tools are needed for their continued success and competitiveness. This paper can be a starting point for the management who want to implement these tools.

The paper addresses a gap in the strategic management literature on companies with citizen participation. The tools developed here can be modified for other hybrid businesses.

Inefficiencies in the power sector resulting from underinvesting and underselling reduce the ability of governments to adequately finance energy projects. The purpose of this paper is to explore mechanisms of energy financing, benefits and challenges associated with innovative financing of energy infrastructure as well as strategies to improve innovative financing of energy infrastructure.

Questionnaires were used to elicit responses from respondents. Seventy-eight responses were retrieved. Mean score ranking, Kruskal–Wallis test and discriminant validity were the analysis conducted.

Partial credit guarantee; partial risk guarantee; credit enhancement; and loan guarantees were the significant mechanisms. Production efficiency; reduce pressure on public budgets; access to management expertise; and self-sustainability of infrastructure facilities were the significant benefits. Lack of transparency and adequate data for risk assessment; high up-front cost; heterogeneity, complexity, and presence of a large number of parties; and lack of a clear benchmark for measuring investment performance were the severest challenges. Complete transparency and accountability; political stability and public view on private provision of energy infrastructure services; and macroeconomic environment were the significant strategies.

This study is beneficial to energy sector as the current government of Ghana hints on willingness to involve private sector in management of the power sector.

The novelty of this study is that it is a pioneering study in Ghana on innovative financing of energy infrastructure.

The purpose of this research paper is to assess e-governance efficacy in various sectors of India. The paper develops on Grey System Theory (GST) methodology and enlightens grey portions of e-governance in select sectors. Research study identifies few grey criteria which affect implementation of information and communication technology (ICT) applications to support sustainable e-governance. Such criteria are related to information security breaches, information technology (IT) policy implementation, investments and strategic advantages for the various sector developments.

Considering “information” as a sensitive element to security for administration and part of dark portion to Indian economy, GST-based COmplex PRroportional ASsessment (COPRAS-G) method is adopted to assess the e-governance efficacy. The method provides flexible multicriteria decision-making (MCDM) approach to assess e-governance in prioritizing the sector alternatives of future strategic development. Priority order of select sectors is estimated, and COPRAS-G method is used in the research study to support decision-making on e-governance. Study compares ten major gross domestic product-dependent sectors based on few grey criteria. These criteria are chosen based on authors’ perspective on this study and feedback received from government officials of district levels under the Digital India-training programme. To address the subjectivity that lies in e-governance grey areas of sector, criteria are also weighted using fuzzy scale. Later methodology-based results are presented to draw a strategic road map for strategic development of the country.

On applying COPRAS-G method to predict pessimistic, optimistic and realistic scenarios of e-governance implementation across the ten sectors, high priory order in realistic scenario of results shows that implementation of ICT applications for e-governance should be in the sectors such as environment, climate change and in the railways. Industrial sector is also ranked as the preferred one over the other sectors on the basis of e-governance efficacy assessment.

Here COPRAS-G method is used as MCDM techniques. However, few other MCDM techniques such as GRA, DRSA, VIKOR, SMAA, SWARA and SAW can be also explored to outrank various Indian sectors to deal with subjectivity in decision-making.

Implementation of ICT applications to support e-governance varies from sector to sector. ICT-based governance involves high degree of complexity in driving the operations for development of respective sectors. Therefore, government and policymakers need more flexibility to overcome present barriers of sector development. Such research can support decision-making where GST-based COPRAS-G method is able to capture and address the breaches of information security. Moreover, management concern for sector development has been presented on the basis of pessimistic, optimistic and realistic scenarios more precisely.

The results can provide guidance to the academicians, policymakers and public sectors highlighting various possible measures to handle the security breaches in multi-facet intention of sustainable development. The outcomes from MCDM framework can also help in drawing a rough trajectory of strategy, i.e. development of ICTs applications and e-governance process.

This paper can supplement and act as the support for decision-making in conflicting situations on different flexible scenarios. Moreover, such work can synergize conflicting ideas of decision makers, academics and various other stakeholders of the Indian IT sector.

The purpose of this paper is to demonstrate how an open innovation strategy of public management in the energy sector enables the creation of innovation ecosystems and how it reduces the cost of wind energy projects in energy-poor countries.

This research study reflects on seven wind energy startups (WESs) in Pakistan using quantitative and qualitative data following a sequential mixed-methods approach. First, it draws from growing literature on innovation and renewable energy management to conceptualize an open innovation ecosystem model around WESs. It then tests this model using cost analyses of wind projects and identifies possible cost-saving strategies. Finally, follow-up interviews with managers in investigated projects cross check study findings and validate the model.

Three noteworthy findings can help policymakers in developing countries to effectively meet the future energy challenges and get benefit from international funding opportunities: by protecting lenders on approved terms rather than offering sovereign guarantee to operating firms; by letting the government take control of the initial development phase; and by giving off-take guarantees to the manufacturers.

It offers policy recommendations to energy sector managers about guarantees, financing, regulators, governmental control, tariffs and transfer of technology that can significantly curtail outlays.

Results suggest that adopting an open innovation ecosystem model can potentially save around 6 per cent ($4-$7m) in the overall cost of a 50 MW wind energy project.