The role of international board members in the integration of NOCs into the global market:a comparative analysis of Saudi Aramco and Equinor

Official URL: http://risc01.sabanciuniv.edu/record=b2313223_(Table of contents)

The aim of this thesis is to find the relationship between the change in the level of integration of NOCs into the global oil market and change in the number of international members on their board. The thesis is based on the hypothesis that the decision of a NOC to be more integrated into the market, and its attempts in this way, creates an increase in the number of international members on the board of the company. The hypothesis of the thesis is generated based on the extensive literature on NOCs and Board of Directors. The methodology used in testing the hypothesis is the most different systems design (MDSD). A comparison is made between Saudi Aramco and Equinor, which are two cases that fit to the application of MDSD. The result of the comparison indicates that there is a correlation between the change in the level of integration of NOCs into the global oil market and change in the number of international board members. Thus, this finding verifies the hypothesis.