Singapore's Industry Research Articles

Efficiency analysis of manufacturing industries in Singapore using the DEA-Malmquist productivity index

This study evaluated the efficiency and productivity of the manufacturing industries of Singapore. Singapore is one of the world’s most competitive countries and manufacturing giants. All 21 manufacturing industries as classified by Singapore’s Department of Statistics were included in the study as decision-making units (DMUs). Using the Malmquist DEA on data spanning 2015–2021, we found that excerpt for the Paper and Paper product industry, all industries recorded positive total factor productivity (TFP). TFP ranged from 0.977 to 1.481. In terms of technical efficiency, 14 out of 21 industries showed positive efficiency change. The highest TFP was recorded in 2020 and the lowest in 2016. By measuring and improving efficiency, industries in Singapore can achieve cost savings, increase output, and enhance their competitiveness in the global marketplace. In addition, efficiency measurement can help policymakers identify potential areas for improvement and develop targeted policies to promote sustainable economic growth. Given these benefits, performance measurement is inevitable for industries and policymakers in Singapore to achieve economic objectives. Manufacturing industries need to find ways to manage the size and scale of operations as we flag this as an area for improvement.

TikTok short video marketing and Gen Z’s purchase intention: evidence from the cosmetics industry in Singapore

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to investigate the effectiveness of TikTok, a popular short-form video marketing platform, on purchase intention for cosmetics among Generation Z consumers in Singapore.Design/methodology/approachA quantitative survey was conducted using a convenience sampling method, with a sample of 136 responses. This study examined the influence of various characteristics of TikTok influencers, such as trustworthiness, expertise, attractiveness and entertainment content, on purchase intention.FindingsThis study found that trustworthiness and expertise of influencers, as well as entertainment content, had a significant positive impact on purchase intention. In addition, this study also found that influencer attractiveness and brand anthropomorphism were also significant factors influencing purchase intention. Thise study highlights the importance of the entertainment value, which is in line with the nature of TikTok as a medium.Originality/valueThis study contributes to the limited literature on the effectiveness of TikTok on purchase intention in Singapore, specifically in the cosmetics industry.

Deciphering the Spatial Stickiness, Co-occurrence, and Co-change of Industries at the Scale of City

This paper analyzes the location of industries in two metropolitan cities to investigate how firms are spatially distributed, and identify the prevailing trends in firm location choice. By defining a “Region Index” metric, we show how industries have concentrated in or diffused from the regions-of-interest over time. We apply this metric to the Central Area (CA) of Singapore and the London Region to decipher the relative tendency of industries to locate at CA as well as London. To analyze the spatial co-location of industries, we constructed a community network, which reveals subtle spatial relationships between firms. Extending this approach temporally to create a co-change network, we deduce the occurrences of industries in Singapore and London that move into or out of a spatial region synchronously. Based on this approach, we elucidate firm types that not only co-change but also co-occur in space and remain within a region-of-interest. Overall, we observe certain common and contrasting patterns of industry movements in the context of Singapore and London through the analysis. “Other Activities Auxiliary to Financial Services” is found to have the consistent tendency of diffusing out of CA and London throughout the period of study. Conversely, opposite movement patterns are observed where we see the proclivity of IT and digital service firms to locate in London but relocate out of CA, while the Media, Financial Services, and Life Insurance subsectors tend to diffuse out of London but concentrate in the CA of Singapore.

Data driven predictive maintenance for large-scale asset-heavy process industries in Singapore

PurposeThis paper aims at identifying the key factors influencing the adoption intention of data analytics for predictive maintenance (PdM) from the lens of the Technology–Organization–Environment (TOE) framework in the Singapore Process Industries context. The research model aids practitioners and researchers in developing a holistic maintenance strategy for large-scale asset-heavy process industries.Design/methodology/approachThe TOE framework has been used in this study to consider a wide set of TOE factors and develop a research model with the support of literature. A survey is undertaken and the structural equation modelling (SEM) technique is adopted to test the hypotheses of the proposed model.FindingsThis research highlights the significant roles of digital infrastructure readiness, security and privacy, top management support, organizational competence, partnership with external consultants and government support in influencing adoption intention of data analytics for PdM. Perceived challenges related to organizational restructuring and process automation are not found significant in influencing the adoption intention.Practical implicationsThis paper reports valuable insights on adoption intention of data analytics for PdM with relevant implications for the various stakeholders such as the leaders and senior managers of process manufacturing industry companies, government agencies, technology consultants and service providers.Originality/valueThis research uniquely validates the model for the adoption of data analytics for PdM in the process industries using the TOE framework. It reveals the significant technology, organizational and environmental factors influencing the adoption intention and highlights the relevant insights and implications for stakeholders.

SWOT Analysis of the Tourism Industry in Singapore

Singapore as a small city-country was ranked 36th in the worlds GDP with a GDP of USD396.99 billion, therefore, Studying the tourism development of Singapore is of great reference significance for its future development. This essay uses literature research methodology to analyze the SWOT of Singapore's tourist industry and to evaluate its status quo for future development. The tourism industry in Singapore has a decisive role in generating profit for economic growth. Research on Singapores tourism industry can assist future development planning. Based on SWOT analysis, Singapores tourism industry benefits from the improvement of tourism infrastructure and political stability, besides that, there is a new chance for the mitigation of the global public health security affair. However, the development of the tourism industry is also limited by its low tourism carrying capacity. Additionally, Singapores tourism industry also faces the threat from the surrounding same type of tourism cities. Therefore, Singapore can promote the tourism industry by adhering to sustainable development, building a convention tourism city and developing cultural tourism these three aspects.

Protection of the Rights of Parties to a Construction Contract Under the Laws of Singapore and Thailand

The institute of protection of rights of construction contractors and customers under the legislation of the Republic of Singapore and the Kingdom of Thailand is considered. The purpose of the article is a comparative legal analysis of the ways of protection of the rights of parties to construction contracts in these states. The article presents a comprehensive view at this issue from a legal point of view. The normative basis for regulating the construction industry in Singapore and Thailand includes Civil codes and special legal acts (construction laws, by-laws of ministries and departments). Protection of rights includes measures of responsibility, measures of protection, measures of operational influence and measures of self-defense. Such methods of protection as reco very of liquidated damages, unjust enrichment, special contractual clauses, suspension of fulfillment of obligations and others are analyzed. It is noted that recovery of liquidated damages is a common method of protection of rights in foreign countries. However, this method is not typical for the Russian Federation. Unjust enrichment and restitution are considered equivalent and interrelated concepts applied in various relations, including construction. Self-protection measures include the inclusion of various clauses in construction contracts, suspension of fulfilment of obligations. The parties have the right to stipulate in the contract a condition of exclusion or limitation of liability, if such a condition is not prohibited by law. In the states in question, the rights of construction clients and contractors may be protected through various bodies. Most often construction disputes are resolved in courts or in arbitration. It is concluded that the legal regulation of protection of the rights of the parties to a construction contract in these states was formed under the influence of both continental and Anglo-Saxon legal families. At the same time, these countries have their own customs and traditions, that are unique and original. Based on the conducted research, a proposal for reforming the current civil legislation of the Russian Federation in terms of protection of the rights of construction contractors has been formulated.

Chelvi Paramanathan

Chelvi Paramanathan earned the CQF in 2018. Chelvi started her career as an engineer in the scientific research industry in Singapore, before transitioning to a career in finance, and working her way up to her current role as Global Head of Pricing and Analytics for Agency Securities Finance and Collateral Services business at J.P. Morgan Chase & Co. We spoke to Chelvi about how she made the move into finance, the biggest challenges facing the industry over the next few years, and her advice for people looking for their next role in quant finance.

Health profile of workers from different industries in Singapore.

Workplace safety and health are interrelated - a worker who is not healthy may cause safety lapses at the workplace; conversely, safety lapses could affect the health of the workers. This study was part of a larger Total Workplace Safety and Health (WSH) programme run by the Workplace Safety and Health Council, Singapore. The objectives were to obtain a baseline health profile of workers across four major industries and identify important health risks for targeted workplace interventions. Five service providers (SPs) were appointed to run the Total WSH programme. As part of the programme, SPs conducted an anonymous basic health survey among workers of participating companies. The responses of 6,373 respondents from the cleaning, construction, manufacturing, and transport and storage industries were studied. The overall response rate was 62%. Key health issues identified were high rates of obesity (22%) and smoking (24%) and low prevalence of regular exercise and healthy dietary habits. Chronic disease rates were similar to population self-reported rates (hypertension 15%, high lipid 12% and diabetes mellitus 6%). The workers reported high work stress (13%). Health issues are prevalent in the workforce and may affect work and employee safety. It is increasingly important for employees' health to be considered in risk assessments and prioritised in workplace safety and health management systems and strategies. Health promotion interventions should be targeted, and multilevel and multicomponent initiatives should be integrated with pre-existing occupational safety programmes.

Towards a sustainable built environment industry in Singapore: Drivers, barriers, and strategies in the adoption of smart facilities management

In the era of the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR), rapid development in innovative technologies facilitates the adoption of smart facilities management (FM) in the built environment industry to improve sustainability and digitalization. The Singapore government has realized the enormous potential of smart FM in developing a sustainable city and has implemented several initiatives to promote its adoption. However, the adoption of smart FM in the built environment industry is still in its early stage. Therefore, this study aims to (1) investigate drivers, barriers, and strategies in the adoption of smart FM; and (2) explore whether there are significant differences in the perceived importance of the drivers, barriers, and strategies by designations and years of experience. To achieve these objectives, a comprehensive literature review was first conducted to identify 6 drivers, 13 barriers, and 10 strategies. A survey questionnaire was designed and then validated by pilot interviews to collect data from practitioners in the built environment industry. Post-survey interviews were also carried out to validate the analysis results from the questionnaire survey. The study identified that increased energy savings, improved sustainability, and reduced downtime are the three most important drivers. Poor data management, high initial cost, and high cybersecurity risks are the three most important barriers. Development of technology selection mechanisms, improvement of smart FM system, and increased amount of funding are the three most effective strategies to address the challenges. Designations and years of experience have been proved to affect the perceptions of the importance of drivers, barriers, and strategies. The findings provide a comprehensive understanding of the drivers, barriers, and strategies in the adoption of smart FM, offering a starting point for organizations to consider its adoption. This study also enriches the knowledge of smart FM in the built environment industry with the expectations of facilitating the digital transformation and sustainable development of the built environment industry.

Transportation and growth of Tourism Industry in Singapore

Transportation and growth of Tourism Industry in Singapore

The current state of solar energy and prospects of offshore solar energy in Singapore

Situated in an area near the equator, Singapore has a promising potential to develop solar energy. And apart from solar energy, other types of renewable resources are relatively scarce in Singapore. As a result of the continuous supply of sunlight, as well as the silent operation, low maintenance costs, and environmental friendliness, solar was the best choice for developing renewable energy resources in Singapore. However, on account of the dense population and limited land resources, photovoltaic development is also facing some problems. And the use of the surrounding sea area to develop offshore photovoltaic is a very good option. This paper mainly discusses the current state of solar energy in Singapore and puts forward some future prospects for the development of offshore PV in Singapore. In general, the photovoltaic industry in Singapore has developed rapidly in recent years, but it can still only meet a small part of the demand for electricity. In the future, it should continue to vigorously promote its development, especially in the offshore photovoltaic sector, which deserves more attention.

Thermal, exergy and economic analysis of a cascaded packed-bed tank with multiple phase change materials for district cooling system

In Singapore's industry, the required temperature of a district cooling system's outlet and return water are 5 °C and 12 °C, respectively. Thus far, few researches have been reported on the cascaded phase change material (PCM) tank focusing on this temperature duration. In this study, a cascaded packed-bed tank for a district cooling system is proposed to improve heat transfer efficiency and decrease tank cost with the same cold energy capacity. The cascaded PCM system, employing PCM-1 and PCM-2 (volume ratio 50%–50% and 30%–70% tetradecane-hexadecane mixtures), is designed, modeled, and validated through experimental data. Key results revealed that the PCM-1 tank performs poorly during its charging phase, while the PCM-2 tank performs poorly in discharging phase. However, the proposed cascaded packed-bed tank that simultaneously PCM-1 and PCM-2 can achieve high average exergy efficiencies during the charging and discharging phases. Additionally, the cascaded system incorporating 0.42 of PCM-1 and 0.18 of PCM-2 demonstrates higher exergy efficiency and tank volume but incurs higher construction costs than other tank designs. Comparatively, the same cold energy capacity tank with 0.18 of PCM-1 and 0.42 of PCM-2 reduces construction cost by 6.8%, with a depreciation of exergy efficiency by 14.1% during the discharging phase.

Identifying the drawbacks of joint patents: An evaluation of IPR sharing in R&D alliances in Biotechnology Firms in Singapore

R&D alliances in the biotechnology industry have always been common in order to fulfill the demands and needs of the involved parties to carry out their innovation processes. The increasing trend of R&D alliances in the biotechnology industry in Singapore has also promoted IPR sharing in R&D alliances. This mechanism has promoted the concept of joint patents in this regard. Thus, the present study focused on the drawbacks of joint patents in R&D alliances in biotech firms in Singapore. For this purpose, semi-structured interviews were conducted with five employers from different biotech firms in Singapore. The collected data was then analyzed using NVivo software, and project map and tree maps were formulated for each research objective. The results obtained from this study showed that R&D alliances are effective in improving the financial and innovation performance of biotechnology firms. It has also been observed that IPR sharing in these alliances is effective in promoting technology and knowledge transfer. However, various drawbacks of joint patents were also observed, including financial issues, technology-related issues, and legal issues.

An analysis of logistics financing prospects in Singapore

Singapore is well-positioned as a global hub for logistics and supply chain management. Singapore’s modern logistics industry has five main characteristics: high efficiency, robust technology, strong professionalism, high service concentration and strength. Singapore is a foreign trade-driven economic model. With the prosperity of cross-border trade, companies in the logistics industry in Singapore seek diversification and expansion of supply chain technology and logistics finance. This paper mainly analyses the advantages of Singapore’s development of the logistics industry and the promotion effect of Singapore’s growth in the financial field on logistics industry financing. Factors such as the Internet of Things, blockchain, intelligent management, talent cultivation and policy support are enormous drivers for developing logistics financing in Singapore. Among them, the most representative and promising is the blockchain platform, which provides technical support for the Internet of everything, improves the security of multi-agent cooperation, and expands the scope of credit transmission. Although there are still some risks in developing logistics financing in Singapore, as a potent combination of the financial and logistics industries, logistics financing has a bright prospect.

CURRENT PROBLEMS IN THE TOURISM AND HOTEL INDUSTRY TAKING THE WORLD'S TOURIST CITIES AS AN EXAMPLE

Chinese tourism companies are facing problems such as over-exploitation of tourism resources, severe homogeneity of tourism service products, and gradual decline in corporate competitiveness. The article aims to provide the theoretical basis and experience for Chinese tourism to go abroad and develop international operations. This article uses a combination of qualitative and quantitative analysis methods. This article analyzes Singapore's tourism investment environment in many aspects, based on the existing theories of tourism transnational management, starting from relevant research results outside China. The results demonstrate that the tourism industry in Singapore is the highest among Asian countries.

Green Practices and Innovations of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) Industry in Singapore: Idea Worth Sharing

TCM health benefits and pressure to thrive TCM businesses while taking care of the sustainability of resources has challenged the TCM industry to produce more with less. It is of interest to know how TCM businesses innovate to sustainability through green practices. By capturing the perspectives of TCM organizational stakeholders on practices to minimize the negative impacts on the local environment by TCM enterprises (clinics) in Singapore from the lens of a qualitative exploratory study, the present study explored the presence of green practices and innovations of TCM organizational stakeholders though it is less clear whether these engagements are conducted out of the intention to be green, as these are daily practices at TCM clinics. The phenomenological approach was applied to examine the lived experiences of study participants who work or had worked at TCM clinics in Singapore. The highlights of the paper stressed inadequate focus on green practices at the organizational level to achieve sustainable development targets of TCM industry in Singapore, despite the existence of self-awareness at the individual level to protect the environment. The findings can be building blocks for future research on green and policy making. Green practices and innovations to stay healthy while protecting the environment, with more sensible choices, can bring differences to humans’ lives.

An integrative model of facial recognition check-in technology adoption intention: the perspective of hotel guests in Singapore

PurposeThis study aims to explain how hotel guests form attitudes toward facial recognition technology in Singapore by integrating technology acceptance model (TAM), privacy calculus theory and personal innovativeness.Design/methodology/approachA self-administered online questionnaire was developed with measurements adopted from past research. Guests who stayed in four- or five-star hotels in Singapore were recruited via systematic random sampling. Structural equation modeling was conducted to examine the proposed integrated models.FindingsResults showed that hotel guests performed calculative cognitive processes, weighing the benefits and risks of using facial recognition check-in system. Contradictory to the past research which suggested that trust activates both perceived risk and benefits, this study demonstrated that trust independently directed consumer attention on the benefits gained while risk perception was triggered by privacy concern. Furthermore, the current study revealed that the ease of use of facial recognition check-in system could possibly backfire.Practical implicationsThe research indicates that the effort to adopt new technology in the hotel industry is promising in view of the growing millennials and Generation Z population who are digital natives. Furthermore, the current study highlights ways to elevate institutional trust and divert consumers’ attention from risk perception to enhance their positive attitude and behavior toward accepting facial recognition check-in system.Originality/valueThis study integrated TAM with privacy calculus theory and personal innovativeness in examining the acceptance of facial recognition check-in system in the hotel industry in Singapore. This study is also the first, to the best of the authors’ knowledge, to investigate the relationships among privacy concern, perceived risk, institutional trust and perceived benefits, as well as their effects on consumers’ attitudes and behavior toward the biometric system.

Prevalence and risk factors for depression, anxiety and stress among foreign construction workers in Singapore – a cross-sectional study

Objectives The aim of this study was to establish the prevalence of depression, anxiety and stress among foreign workers in the construction industry in Singapore. Methods This cross-sectional study used convenience sampling to include participants from three construction companies in Singapore that employed blue-collar workers from Bangladesh, China, India, Myanmar,Thailand, Malaysia and the Philippines. The DASS-21 (Depression, Anxiety, Stress Scales) questionnaire was used to determine the occurrence of depression, anxiety and stress in the study population and a demographic and work environment questionnaire was used to account for the additional factors that could influence the personal and workplace characteristics. Results The study included 348 participants. About 29% of the study population exhibited moderate to extremely severe levels of depression, 37% showed moderate to extremely severe levels of anxiety and 33% expressed moderate to extremely severe levels of stress. Ethnicity and lack of awareness of job scope were found to be significant predictors of all three parameters studied, namely, depression, anxiety and stress. Regression analyses revealed that older workers were less prone to anxiety and lack of job clarity was correlated to higher levels of anxiety and stress. Conclusions The findings of this study indicate that all three aspects considered in this study, namely, depression, anxiety and stress are widely prevalent among the foreign construction workers in Singapore and effective measures needs to be put in place in order to reduce the same and provide a safe work environment for them. One measure that can be utilized to reduce the mental illness symptoms is to provide clear indications on the workers’ job scope as that was found to be a significant predictor in this study. Further studies need to be done to figure out other possible intervention measures that could be put in place to improve the mental wellbeing of foreign construction workers in Singapore.

Exploring the drivers and barriers to lifelong learning in Singapore’s construction industry

ABSTRACT With the ongoing evolution in technology, there is an increasing need to address participation in lifelong learning in Singapore’s construction industry. It is necessary for employees and workers in the construction sector to acquire skillsets and knowledge to adapt to the ever-changing world. This study attempts to identify ways to increase participation in lifelong learning in the construction industry in Singapore by examining motivational theories for drivers and barriers. With the establishment of the conceptual framework, this study adopts a quantitative approach, using a questionnaire survey, the results of which are analysed using the SPSS and SmartPLS 3.0 software. The result of the analysis strongly supports the use of self-determination theory (SDT) and the fulfilment of three basic psychological needs – competence, autonomy, and relatedness of individuals – will produce a significant effect on the participation of lifelong learning within the construction industry. This means that the practical use of this theory in the construction industry will gradually increase individuals’ participation in lifelong learning. This study examined theories of amotivation and barriers, and both were demonstrated to be insignificant affecting participation rates. This study also identified institutional barriers as a key factor within the barrier domain, suggesting that changes in the institutional situation may help individuals to fulfil their lifelong learning dream.

The Singapore Green Plan 2030: Analysing its implications on law and the legal industry in Singapore

While sustainability has always been an important policy imperative in Singapore, the advent of the Singapore Green Plan 2030 marks a significant development in this regard. Announced in February 2021, the Green Plan represents a concerted national-level strategic shift towards advancing the sustainability agenda in Singapore. With sustainable development now being a ‘major policy priority’, it is inevitable that the Green Plan will have important legal implications, each of which will be identified and analysed in this paper. More broadly, however, the paper also suggests that the Green Plan will open up valuable opportunities for environmental law to receive greater attention and become a mainstream legal discipline in Singapore.