The response by API regarding the Huffington Post article, which alleges that Big Oil tried to stop the U.S. Minerals Management Service from promulgating the new offshore safety rules before the Deepwater Horizon drilling rig accident, is only the next controversy regarding the usefulness of formal management systems in business.
Management systems allow companies to take a proactive role in understanding their business enabling increased profitability, stability and reputation. SEMS, Sarbanes Oxley and ISO are official implementations evaluating business performance. Taking a head-in-the-sand management approach and not initiating internal tracking for important aspects of their business can lead to crisis or disaster. Believing the company is doing well without applying the Deming improvement cycle or something similar often leads a viable company into trouble.
SEMS and other auditable management systems might be imposing to companies as they consider their implementation. However, by taking a proactive approach to committing to formal systems will enable important measurements of business, operational, organizational, health, safety, and environmental performance. Painful at inception – yes. Is the view worth the climb? Certainly. Why would you not want to know how your business really functions? Why would you not want to know the pitfalls in your operations? Why would Big Oil not want to know operational issues that could recreate the Macondo disaster?