Open Access. Powered by Scholars. Published by Universities.®
- Discipline
- Keyword
Articles 1 - 30 of 327
Full-Text Articles in Business
Are Us Economic Variables Useful For Chinese Stock Market Forecasts?, Knowledge@Smu
Are Us Economic Variables Useful For Chinese Stock Market Forecasts?, Knowledge@Smu
Knowledge@SMU
It is commonly thought that the economic systems of the world's two largest economies distinct, and so one's experience may not necessarily inform the other. Yet, a new study that compares and analyses stock market data from both countries offers a contrarian view. Undertaken by a PhD candidate at SMU's Lee Kong Chian School of Business, this study was recently presented at the HU-HUE-SKBI Tripartite Conference.
Loafing Behind Screens: Of Websites And Work-Avoidance, Knowledge@Smu
Loafing Behind Screens: Of Websites And Work-Avoidance, Knowledge@Smu
Knowledge@SMU
While most people will agree that the internet has given rise to greater efficiency and productivity, there are concerns that these technologies increasingly represent a threat to the workplace – as an instrument for distraction and loafing around. What might influence people to submit to the temptations of news, entertainment and social networking sites, and to avoid work? SMU assistant professor David T. Wagner studied internet traffic patterns to find out more.
Power Transitions And Theories Of Order, Knowledge@Smu
Power Transitions And Theories Of Order, Knowledge@Smu
Knowledge@SMU
Every nation has its own unique narrative but a study of history will tell us that an inevitable trend of human evolution is that empires rise and fall. From the Roman empire to the dominance of the European colonial powers, the present times has seen much talk about the rise of China as a global power. What does this new international order mean for the world?
Modelling Housing Prices And Credit Activity, Knowledge@Smu
Modelling Housing Prices And Credit Activity, Knowledge@Smu
Knowledge@SMU
Together, the housing and banking sectors of any capitalist nation can play an important hand in determining its overall economic health. This is clear from studies of booms and busts in the United States over this past decade and in Japan about three decades ago. A new econometric model now attempts to make sense of large changes in housing prices with corresponding changes in credit volume. The model was presented at a research seminar organised by SMU's School of Economics.
Attributes For Successful Fund Management: Experience Or Education?, Knowledge@Smu
Attributes For Successful Fund Management: Experience Or Education?, Knowledge@Smu
Knowledge@SMU
Successful fund management is no longer about having “rock star” fund managers, but a team, made up of mutually respecting members bringing them with a mix of the right education, and the relevant experience, said Simon Davies, executive chairman of Threadneedle Investments, at a seminar at SMU.
Adaptability In Socio-Political Contexts: Moving Beyond Ability And Intelligence, Knowledge@Smu
Adaptability In Socio-Political Contexts: Moving Beyond Ability And Intelligence, Knowledge@Smu
Knowledge@SMU
It is increasingly difficult to be a popular political or corporate leader. Public and employee expectations are evolving quickly and technologies now impose constant demands on 'engagement'. While most leaders are already expected to possess both the skills and the smarts to navigate within highly complex environments, what sets the good apart from the mediocre is an ability and willingness to exert the necessary efforts for change. 'Adaptability', however, requires an appreciation of the psychological processes underlying human cognition, emotion and behaviours, said a distinguished line-up of speakers at the inaugural Behavioural Sciences Institute Conference 2012.
Twitter: High On Celebrity Gossip, Low On News Discussion, Knowledge@Smu
Twitter: High On Celebrity Gossip, Low On News Discussion, Knowledge@Smu
Knowledge@SMU
The news media are going through their most robust transformation since the dawn of the printing press, in large part due to the Internet and message sharing services like Twitter. As news agencies gear up to find out how they can make use of social media, businesses have also wondered how tapping on this new phenomenon can help them increase their customer reach. The first step to doing it is to understand the information sharing habits of these users.
Can The Next Housing – And Financial Crisis Be Averted?, Knowledge@Smu
Can The Next Housing – And Financial Crisis Be Averted?, Knowledge@Smu
Knowledge@SMU
The costs of the subprime crisis are still being tabulated. Taxpayers of many countries are still being penalised unfairly as their governments stagger under the burden of bailing out banks poisoned by the burst of the real estate market. Regulators, including the US Fed, need to play a more active role in shaping and implementing policies that will include those meant for the real estate market. According to Wharton professor Susan Wachter, the tools needed for such effective policing are still in development. Nevertheless, the process of learning to avert the next such crisis is already underway.
An Inside Job: To Get On The Right Career Track, Look Within, Knowledge@Smu
An Inside Job: To Get On The Right Career Track, Look Within, Knowledge@Smu
Knowledge@SMU
While some people may claim to work solely for the money, research has shown 'self-concept' to be an important but often overlooked consideration when choosing between jobs. An out-of-work investment banker may fail to consider 'analyst' positions due to perceptions of job prestige. Similarly, gender stereotypes may prevent a female civil engineering student from considering a career in construction. Speaking at a Behavioural Sciences Institute seminar, Serena Wee, an assistant professor of psychology at SMU, drew links between job seeking behaviours and concepts of identity.
From Boardroom To Parliament, Knowledge@Smu
From Boardroom To Parliament, Knowledge@Smu
Knowledge@SMU
The benefits of state-owned enterprises are well known: cheap loans, favourable policies and little competition. Because of the perks they enjoy, these companies have often been criticised for not being hungry enough to maximise firm value, especially when their CEOs are not as well paid as those in the private sector. There is proof now that competition in the political job market helps mitigate the weak monetary incentives for CEOs in China. Interestingly, this means that state control and political connections may not be inconsistent with economic pursuits.
Creativity Meets Cash: An Unlikely Pair?, Knowledge@Smu
Creativity Meets Cash: An Unlikely Pair?, Knowledge@Smu
Knowledge@SMU
There has long been a perception that creativity and money are somewhat opposed to one another. Profitable artists are sometimes seen as sell-outs while risk-averse corporations are seldom regarded as centres of creativity. Yet, for survival, businesses need to be creative and the creative-types need to eat. In the book, Brainfruit: Turning creativity into cash from East to West, authors Hugh Mason and SMU associate professor Mark Chong provide a slew of practical ideas for anyone aspiring to build or understand the business of creativity.
Knowledge As A Driver Of Growth And Development In Asia, Knowledge@Smu
Knowledge As A Driver Of Growth And Development In Asia, Knowledge@Smu
Knowledge@SMU
Many Asian economies are in the process of transitioning from an industrial-led growth model to a more knowledge-based one. While some have seen greater success than others, several challenges have arisen in recent years, in particular, with rapid advancements in information-communications technology. These changes are discussed in 'Beyond the Knowledge Trap: Developing Asia's Knowledge-based Economies', a book that presents a range of studies to show how Asian countries are adapting and addressing some of the new issues brought about by changes within a more complex and globalised environment.
Good Reputation: A Reputation For Doing Good, Knowledge@Smu
Good Reputation: A Reputation For Doing Good, Knowledge@Smu
Knowledge@SMU
Having a good product is no longer sufficient for companies to retain a competitive edge in the modern society where consumers are getting more sophisticated and environmentally conscious. And corporations around the world are realising it. What is it that motivates companies to take up the corporate social responsibility flag and how does it relate to their corporate reputation?
Markowitz 2.0: Innovations For Asset Allocation, Knowledge@Smu
Markowitz 2.0: Innovations For Asset Allocation, Knowledge@Smu
Knowledge@SMU
The idea of conducting financial analysis on asset classes, while widely accepted today, was a new concept in the 1950s. It was so new that Nobel Prize winner in economics Harry Markowitz almost did not receive his doctorate because his thesis on portfolio optimisation was deemed as “not economics” by his supervisor. Dr Paul Kaplan, quantitative research director at Morningstar, introduces an updated model of Markowitz’s portfolio optimisation model at a seminar in SMU.
Part Of The Job: The Positive Side Of Office Politics, Knowledge@Smu
Part Of The Job: The Positive Side Of Office Politics, Knowledge@Smu
Knowledge@SMU
It may sound counter intuitive but playing with office politics may not necessary make you the villain at work. Embracing office politics and learning to use it positively can help companies retain talent and build ethical leadership, says Jane Horan author of a new book I Wish I’d Known That Earlier In My Career: The Power of Positive Workplace Politics
Get Organised: The Importance Of Focus In Shopping, Knowledge@Smu
Get Organised: The Importance Of Focus In Shopping, Knowledge@Smu
Knowledge@SMU
Consumer decision making can be conceptualised as a series of stages progressing from the recognition of a need to search for information about alternatives, the formation of a consideration set, a formal evaluation of the choices, and finally, making the purchase. But how much of this process might be affected by a consumer’s style of goal pursuit? According to Hannah Chang, an assistant professor of marketing at SMU, businesses will do well to pay attention to their target customers' decision environments.
Walking The Talk Of Wall Street, Knowledge@Smu
Walking The Talk Of Wall Street, Knowledge@Smu
Knowledge@SMU
Years after he theorised that a blindfolded monkey throwing darts at stock listings can select a portfolio that would perform as well as one chosen by experts, Princeton economist Burton Malkiel is sticking by it. In the tenth edition of his investment classic, A Random Walk Down Wall Street, Malkiel explains why the experts are overrated, and why sticking with a buy-and-hold strategy using a broad stock market index fund will outperform the professionally managed ones.
Making Sense Of The Strategic Value Behind Ceo Pay Cheques, Knowledge@Smu
Making Sense Of The Strategic Value Behind Ceo Pay Cheques, Knowledge@Smu
Knowledge@SMU
In a country where conformity and harmony are valued, Japanese multinationals have become open to appointing foreign CEOs, who are deemed to be able to effect change faster than a Japanese CEO, as part of corporate strategies to conquer overseas markets. But one difficulty in hiring these foreign CEOs is that their pay is much higher than their Japanese counterparts, who are famous for their relatively modest salaries. A study on the impact of firm strategy and foreign ownership sheds more light on the strategy-compensation relationship in Japanese firms.
The Worth And Values Of Education, Knowledge@Smu
The Worth And Values Of Education, Knowledge@Smu
Knowledge@SMU
Since he took over the helms of Singapore’s education ministry after the General Elections in May 2011, first term minister Mr Heng Swee Keat has signalled that he wants a renewed emphasis of character and values education in schools. In his first dialogue session with SMU university students, Heng shared more about his vision for Singapore’s education system.
The Central Role Of Information Systems In Managing Crises, Knowledge@Smu
The Central Role Of Information Systems In Managing Crises, Knowledge@Smu
Knowledge@SMU
Important decisions should be taken with the best information available. Such an axiom may not apply, however, in large-scale emergency situations where officials would find themselves in a bind, unable to access accurate data yet faced with huge responsibilities to be effective at work. These complexities led a team of researchers, including SMU's associate professor of accounting, Gary Pan, to examine how information systems may facilitate management and coordination work at times of crises.
Large Mutual Fund Families: Bigger May Not Always Be Better, Knowledge@Smu
Large Mutual Fund Families: Bigger May Not Always Be Better, Knowledge@Smu
Knowledge@SMU
Investments are vital to one’s financial freedom. But investment strategy is an art which not everybody can master. Those who are new to investing may see mutual funds as an easy tool to make money. It has been traditionally thought that larger mutual fund families tend to perform better than their smaller counterparts. Do they really?
Enhancing Internal Communications: How Microsoft Cuts Through The Clutter, Knowledge@Smu
Enhancing Internal Communications: How Microsoft Cuts Through The Clutter, Knowledge@Smu
Knowledge@SMU
The thought of having to rally thousands of employees, scattered across a diverse continent, behind a set of corporate goals may seem daunting. Not for Jovina Ang, an adjunct faculty of corporate communication at SMU and marketing communications director at Microsoft Services Asia. With a little out-of-the-box thinking and some coordination, Ang pulled together a series of weekly videos to achieve this objective and more. Best of all, the idea has proved itself to be low in costs but high in returns.
Financial Literacy And Numerical Ability: Keys To Better Mortgage Outcomes, Knowledge@Smu
Financial Literacy And Numerical Ability: Keys To Better Mortgage Outcomes, Knowledge@Smu
Knowledge@SMU
The US mortgage crisis and its dire after effects have highlighted the criticality of financial literacy. And while most people would have picked up fundamental mathematical principles in schools, not everyone appreciates how arithmetic translates within the complex world of finance. Yet, given what has transpired with the subprime crisis, is it important for borrowers to appreciate complicated financial concepts before taking up a loan? A study of the US mortgage market, presented at a SMU School of Economics Seminar Series, provides some clues as it uncovers links between basic numerical skills and financial fate.
Risk Management In A Volatile Market, Knowledge@Smu
Risk Management In A Volatile Market, Knowledge@Smu
Knowledge@SMU
The September 2008 collapse of Lehman Brothers was the 9/11 on Wall Street. Since then, the global risk landscape has changed and swings in the equity markets have become more volatile Now, a study of statistically significant changes in global financial risks and sharp increases in conditional Value-at-Risk after September 2008 has suggested a technically superior technique for effective risk management.
Business Strategies For Emerging Markets: Agility, Size And Taste, Knowledge@Smu
Business Strategies For Emerging Markets: Agility, Size And Taste, Knowledge@Smu
Knowledge@SMU
Success in a new emerging market depends on many factors, such as market size, its purchasing power, and competition. Marketing strategies are critical for success too. While many companies have traditionally opted to localise their brands, a group of speakers at SMU's Centre for Emerging Markets believe that businesses need to be far more agile in differentiating themselves for local customers – especially as markets become increasingly global and homogenous.
Broadening Boards: How Directorships Should Adapt For Challenging Times, Knowledge@Smu
Broadening Boards: How Directorships Should Adapt For Challenging Times, Knowledge@Smu
Knowledge@SMU
Not only do Boards have a hand in the long term success of organisations, they are often expected to be the guardians of management – providing guidance and strategic inputs. Yet, names like Olympus, Enron, MF Global, News Corp and Hewlett Packard have turned the value of directorships on its head. To what extent should stakeholders trust Boards to look out for their interests, and is can diversity at the top really guard against the dangers of group-think? These questions were discussed at a panel discussion organised by SMU’s Office of Executive Education.
Beckon The Dragon: How Businesses Can Attract The Chinese Consumers Through Digital Marketing, Knowledge@Smu
Beckon The Dragon: How Businesses Can Attract The Chinese Consumers Through Digital Marketing, Knowledge@Smu
Knowledge@SMU
The rise of China to the world’s second largest economy has seen a boom in its consumer market with its citizens having more purchasing power. China’s retail market is growing rapidly, including the trend of online shopping with the expansion of the credit card industry. As more and more Chinese citizens get online, the internet is slowly becoming a powerful tool for businesses to reach out to them.
Chilling A Hot Planet: Many Solutions, No Answers, Knowledge@Smu
Chilling A Hot Planet: Many Solutions, No Answers, Knowledge@Smu
Knowledge@SMU
Rising temperatures and massive environmental catastrophes should rightly bring about greater emphases on climate change issues. Yet, there is much inertia due to disagreements amongst world leaders on emission curbs and their ensuing economic impact. A panel of speakers at the recent Social Sciences and Humanities Seminar on climate change discussed the various approaches taken by governments as such issues feature increasingly not just in political chatter, but also, in security assessment.
Social Renaissance: When Governments, Businesses And Society Collaborate, Knowledge@Smu
Social Renaissance: When Governments, Businesses And Society Collaborate, Knowledge@Smu
Knowledge@SMU
It would neither be appropriate nor reasonable to apply conventional thinking to new and increasingly complex social issues. Creative thinking and innovation, more often associated with arts and technology, can bring great value to the social sector. Best of all, it can, all at once, address public, private and social sector challenges. Speaking at the Lien Centre for Social Innovation's Social iCon 2011 conference, Geoff Mulgan, chief executive of UK's National Endowment for Science, Technology and the Arts, shared insights on social innovation can create win-win solutions.
Read Leadership Books. Become A Leader., Knowledge@Smu
Read Leadership Books. Become A Leader., Knowledge@Smu
Knowledge@SMU
Leadership books, be it biographies or self-help books, often present "leadership" as something achievable by any common person through diligence, skills, and, of course, luck, if only to sell the hope and magic that such power can sometimes come out of nothing. In 'How to Lead', author Jo Owen frames this 'luck' as 'context' – a meeting of 'skills' and 'performance' at the right place and at the right time.