Commentary

Making Singapore a shinier red dot

Firstly, I must confess that the content of this article will not go down too well with many Singaporeans and maybe some Indonesians. I grew up in Singapore, born and bred here – except for a short stint overseas for my university education. This is based on my observations and after thoughts after one of my recent business trips to Jakarta.

Making Singapore a shinier red dot

Firstly, I must confess that the content of this article will not go down too well with many Singaporeans and maybe some Indonesians. I grew up in Singapore, born and bred here – except for a short stint overseas for my university education. This is based on my observations and after thoughts after one of my recent business trips to Jakarta.

The problem with Singapore's high value added investment philosophy

Singapore has always emphasized high value added economic activities when soliciting overseas investments and devising development programmes. In fact I myself was recruited to NUS because of one such push started in 1980 with the establishment of National Computer Board, to promote the widespread use of IT in business and in society generally.

Lessons from the Singapore Girl

As my profession revolves around luxury brand strategies, I have often asked myself and my friends “what is the best customer service you have ever experienced?”

Stir up your business with impressive corporate governance

For many Singapore’s businesses such as small and medium enterprises (SMEs), corporate governance is like the weather. We always talk about it, but we cannot do anything about it.

The keys to excellent leadership at all levels

Leadership is becoming increasingly complex not just in Singapore. Leaders need to be mindful and respect various cultural, societal backgrounds, market differences and expectations of their fellow employees. The business environment today also brings together a culmination of social and economic circumstances, which challenge responsibilities, roles and competency among leaders.

Singaporean qualifications don’t mean a thing without experience

Singapore is obsessed with qualifications. Everyone is geared towards getting the best and most number of diplomas and degrees and MBA’s. I hate to tell you all but they mean absolutely nothing without experience.

5 challenges that HR professionals face today

In light of the rapidly changing business landscape in Singapore today, the challenges within the field of human resources are endless. The role of human resources professionals is constantly evolving and expanding, with new challenges surfacing beyond operational HR issues.

Just when you thought you've forged a great team

Here in the Lion City, I speak to many Lions and Lionesses, and some Cougars and Pumas, who run their own businesses or are part of large organizations. We talk about many things under the sun, ideas, current affairs, vagaries of people and establishments, and, invariably at some point, the topic of “good help is so hard to find nowadays” crops up.

Worries over Singapore's wage gap intensify

Professor Lim Chong Yah's call to greatly reduce Singapore's rich/poor wage gap as a matter of national urgency, has aroused much interest - he is not only is one of the long standing prominent economists in Singapore, but also happens to be related to Mr Lee Kuan Yew by marriage thus making it natural for one to wonder whether the issue was discussed between them before being brought out in public.

Insights and Lessons from Leadership in Asia Part 2: Effective Leadership in Asia: Summaries and Implications

Following on from Part 1, what leaders do that make them successful is to respond to the country context so that their behaviors are consistent with the values and beliefs of the prevailing culture. Leaders also need to respond to their company culture which creates expectations and norms of how they should act to help their company deliver business goals.

Why you should engage and retain your best employees even in difficult times

The fallout from the financial crisis has been loss of face, wealth, homes, jobs, and/or businesses for many people. What disturbs me is that the financial crisis is not the root problem, the attitudes that caused it are.

Effective marketing in mobile apps

Consumers spend a large proportion of their time on their mobile devices. A study by Flurry analytics showed that in Q1 2012 daily smartphone app consumption rose to 77 minutes per day.

Be a leader with a vision to inspire your team

OVER the past 30 years, there has been increasing data to suggest that leadership has a lot more to do with inspiration and vision, rather than straightforward technical competence.

Effective salesmen should know WHY people make purchases

PEOPLE purchase products and services for both logical and psychological reasons. Some products and services because they make life easier for us by saving us time, effort and money.

Rooting out your productivity problems

With a declining economy coupled with rising rents and wages, businesses in Singapore are more interested than ever in increasing productivity.

5 reasons why you should be a guest blogger

Guest Blogging simply means writing and publishing a blog post on someone else’s website or blog. The opportunity to guest blog may be by an invitation from the host blogger or a request from the interested guest blogger.