About this topic, it should have a real awareness of the coming risk because of the sustainment of developed countries consumption and the increase of developing countries one. That’s why the national governments have to react quickly or the main problem won’t be how to replace this resource anymore. Indeed, we could link the actual conflicts in Middle East (the war in Iraq, the conflict between Israel and Palestine), so we can imagine that in the future others disagreements will happen to keep the last resources to hand.
There are several economical political and financial threats. Certainly, biofuels are a good alternative but it is not enough to dismiss danger. Moreover, it will certainly lead to inflation so in the same way, social crisis. Research design: To answer to these objectives, first of all I think it is essential to study the environment of the oil market. There are few suppliers (Middle East, North Africa with Algeria and Libya etc. ) but too many demand. It would be very interesting to know the external influences of the market.
To do this, Pestel analysis is the more appropriate. Pestel analysis identifies the influences of the environment. It permits a global view of the market and its environment, to give priority to attractiveness and to take into account all the data with method. Then to complete the examination of this market, we can add a SWOT analysis. SWOT analysis permits to analyse the external and internal environment with the Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats. As a result, it will permit to ascertain the strategic options to view, if they exist.
I am going to use also the both kinds of data, quantitative and qualitative. Quantitative data because of the necessity to count the reserves still available and how many years we can rely on it. I could also give some percentages about number of people who really realise what’s happening underground with our natural reserves, using questionnaires for instance.
Thus, I can ask them “According to you, is petroleum really important in your daily-life except to use your car? ” or “How do you imagine your future without oil?”, “Do you realise this resource is disappearing? ” or “For how long do you estimate the reserves? ” etc. My aim is to estimate their degree of awareness.
I would prefer to investigate the average young people (up to 25 years old) because I consider them like the ones who can influence the future behaviours. The using of a questionnaire to fill in by my colleagues at university would be a good way to collect enough data about awareness of people. Later, when I’ll explain them everything known in 2008, I imagine a group interview.
The aim of this collective discussion will be to pay attention to the suggestions, how they think they can manage to solve this problem. Qualitative data because I think I have to compare the quality of biofuels and ones of classic oil. I will find this information through research made by experts. It would be interesting to know more about the effects of producing this alternative to petroleum, if it is not a long-term danger for environment or a social issue (i. e. problem of agriculture).
About the actions of the governments in the whole world I was thinking about looking for some reports, meetings, and statements of Parliament. In these documents, I hope finding all the pieces of information I need to conclude on their actions and to make sure that authorities are conscious of the reality of this problem. To link this issue to the war in Iraq for example, I could look at the historic of this country to understand better why US was interested by setting up there.
