Digital Commons Network^™

Corporate Social Responsibility – An Idealistic Goal Or A Reality?, Singapore Management University

Perspectives@SMU

Despite widespread discussion on CSR, there continues to be much disagreement around what constitutes CSR, and how to define it. In addition, the term is often used interchangeably with notions such as corporate responsibility, corporate citizenship, triple-bottom line, sustainability, creating shared value, and in some cases, corporate ethics and governance. However, all of these ideas point in the same direction: a sharp escalation in the social roles corporations are expected to play today.

From The Outside In: China’S Dragons Are Here, Singapore Management University

Perspectives@SMU

Like a blockbuster movie 20 years in the making, China’s dragons have evolved to push the boundaries of global competition. Accelerated innovation is the new frontier of global competition and it’s a space where China’s go-global companies are excelling.

Social Work: A New Phenomenon In China, Singapore Management University

Perspectives@SMU

Social tensions are bubbling in China. Are social workers the way to maintain social stability?

Stepping Up To The Plate, Singapore Management University

Perspectives@SMU

Rajesh Chakraborti talks about how CSR is embedded in everything that Reliance does, in an attempt to limit poverty in India.

Bridge Over Troubled Strategies, Singapore Management University

Perspectives@SMU

If strategy is the future of an organisation, implementation is its bridge. And successful implementation should be straightforward. But it isn’t. A new website has the answers

China At The Crossroads, Singapore Management University

Perspectives@SMU

When villagers in Wukan village (乌坎) in Southern China protested against illegal land grabs in September 2011, it highlighted a main source of tension in China: the displacement of rural Chinese by rapid urbanisation, sometimes done illegally. The Seige of Wukan was a case in point, where local Communist Party officials had sold communally held farmland

Rugged Regulatory Landscapes, Singapore Management University

Perspectives@SMU

Indonesia’s miners are adept at scaling the country’s rugged regulatory landscape. But their legendary resilience may be put to the test in 2014. Written by Dharma Djojonegoro, President Director of Indonesian mining services provider PT Multi Nitrotama Kimia (MNK).

Sustainability And Profitability, Singapore Management University

Perspectives@SMU

The best way to encourage sustainable business practices is to think of it as a brand enhancer ...

Pr In The Time Of Twitter, Facebook And Linkedin, Singapore Management University

Perspectives@SMU

It is not just about setting up a social media profile

Golden Years, Silver Fears, Singapore Management University

Perspectives@SMU

Given the general decline in birth rates in developed nations, retirement planning is being increasingly discussed by both academics and government officials. Ralston asserts that policy makers need to start thinking about striking a balance between the citizen’s personal responsibility for retirement savings, and what the government should do.

Floating Hope, Singapore Management University

Perspectives@SMU

It was 1994 when aristocrat Runa Khan and her soon-to-be husband Yves Marre sailed a decommissioned oil barge from the waters off France to her home country of Bangladesh. They had intended to propose to charitable organisations of a revolutionary plan they had: to turn the shipping vessel into a mobile medical station.

The ship would bring medical help to the unreachable islands, or chars, that make up much of Bangladesh. It was a brilliant plan, and would have solved the problem of reaching isolated char communities, most of whom had been neglected by the government and NGOs (non-governmental …

India Starts To Open Up, Singapore Management University

Perspectives@SMU

Investors have often shied away from India, citing the difficulties inherent in its notoriously difficult businesss landscape. Yet there is a lot of money to be made in India, Dr S Narayan, Senior Research Fellow of the Institute of South Asian Studies at the National University of Singapore, told Perspectives@SMU. Many companies seem reluctant to carry out sufficient market entry analysis, he says, despite the policy changes now taking place in the world's tenth largest economy.

Predicting Health Trajectories, Singapore Management University

Perspectives@SMU

With data going back to pre-World War II, the HRS paints a picture of how we will age . As people age, men are less likely to have physical disabilities than women, but die earlier. Those with higher socio-economic status and education levels have less physical disabilities as they grow old. Less educated single women are often the least financially prepared for retirement.

Those are the main findings of the U.S. Health and Retirement Study (HRS), described as "the mother ship" of statistics on aging by Michael Hurd, Principal Senior Researcher and Director at the RAND Center for the …

Dark, Semi-Sweet And Full-Bodied, Singapore Management University

Perspectives@SMU

Cadbury grows up in India

Nursing Homes: Insure To Ensure Quality Care, Singapore Management University

Perspectives@SMU

Women are more likely to need nursing care, but few – men or women – can afford it in old age

Economic Indices: Managing By The Numbers, Singapore Management University

Perspectives@SMU

Understanding indices is not just about crunching numbers, but appreciating how it is constructed

Retirement Villages: Golden Years In A Golden Community, Singapore Management University

Perspectives@SMU

Putting the folks in a retirement home might actually be the best thing you can do for them, if you can afford it

Chinese Cinema's Role In Moulding Chinese Culture, Singapore Management University

Perspectives@SMU

Mainland China may be an economic force, but its soft power is still lacking

Winning The Global Contest For Talent, Singapore Management University

Perspectives@SMU

Knowing what workers want help keep them at your company. But don’t forget about your managers.

Parallels Between The U.S. And Asian Property Markets, Singapore Management University

Perspectives@SMU

U.S. home prices are on an upswing. What does this mean for the Asian property market?

Are Women Ready To Lead?, Singapore Management University

Perspectives@SMU

In a world where Sheryl Sandberg and Hilary Clinton regularly steal headlines, it’s easy to think that the world has become a more egalitarian place for women. Not so, says Marina Mahathir, who goes on to speak about lack of opportunities for women in politics.

When I'M 64: The Aging Of Southeast Asia, Singapore Management University

Perspectives@SMU

Family structures in Southeast Asia are changing, presaging a need for sound policies to cover its rapidly aging citizenry.

Penchant For Property Drives Buoyant Market, Singapore Management University

Perspectives@SMU

The catch phrase “location, location, location” is often cited by the real estate industry as crucial to closing a deal. In the case of land-scarce Singapore, its citizens’ penchant for property is giving Mr Patrick Liew, CEO of real estate company HSR Property Group, much cause for optimism as he says he is “very excited” at the opportunities available in the robust property market.

Breaking Through The Noise, Singapore Management University

Perspectives@SMU

Today’s smartphone companies operate in a crowded and competitive environment. What can brands do to stand out?

‘Educating Indonesia’ And The Minister Who’S Making It Happen, Singapore Management University

Perspectives@SMU

Energy and optimism were highlights of the recent speech given by Indonesia’s Trade Minister Gita Wirjawan during the SMU Presidential Distinguished Lecturer Series. While the optimism may be rooted deeply in the potential of Indonesia’s current demographic — more than 30 percent of its population is aged between 19 and 24, and more than 50 percent is under 29, making it one of the youngest productive populations in the world — its economic success story is fact, reflected in its G-20 membership, where it is the second fastest growing economy.Yet much remains to be done to unleash the full potential …

Bridging The Business Cultures Of The East And West, Singapore Management University

Perspectives@SMU

As companies in the West look to the East for business opportunities and those in the East looking westwards to expand themselves, it is no longer enough for business executives to be bilingual. Those who want to be in hot demand will have to be "bi-cultural" and understand the differences between Western and Eastern business cultures.

Living In Digital Asia: Better, Faster, Stronger?, Singapore Management University

Perspectives@SMU

The rate at which Asia is embracing technology is simply "amazing", according to Olivier Muehlstein, principal consultant at the Boston Consulting Group. “It's astounding how digitally engaged and active people are in this part of the world. Southeast Asia is extremely connected; it's an anomaly,” he said, and cautioned that an important consequence from all of these changes, is that privacy does not exist anymore.

The Ups Approach To Employee Relations, Singapore Management University

Perspectives@SMU

But at UPS, the management starts off every meeting by reciting one of the policies in the company’s policy handbook that contains guidelines on how to handle employees, stakeholders and customers. Mary Yeo, vice president of supply chain operations at UPS South District, said at a talk presented at Singapore Management University (SMU): “This is a reminder to all of us working at UPS that we cannot overlook any important matters happening in our environment by simply forgetting the good culture at UPS.”

Show Me The Money!, Singapore Management University

Perspectives@SMU

Governments worldwide are accumulating reserves to guard against financial turmoil. Could they be contributing to it?

Corporate Governance: The Role Of Independent Directors, Singapore Management University

Perspectives@SMU

Companies in Singapore may now have to spend more time and resources to look for independent directors for their firms after the recent revised Corporate Governance Code, but the efforts will be worth it, said Jeremy Goh, associate professor of finance at SMU at a panel discussion during the 3rd Singapore Corporate Governance Week.