Commenting on gender stereotypes in the workplace, SMU Associate Professor of Organisational Behaviour & Human Resources Kenneth Tai said that gender norms expect men to be assertive, controlling and confident. By contrast, women are often expected to be gentle and sympathetic to others’ needs, he said. “Research has shown that women who behave more (rather than less) assertively are likely to be penalised, such as being perceived as more demanding, less likeable and less likely to be hired,” Assoc Prof Tai said.
Commenting on the significant decline in reliability on the East-West MRT Line, SMU Assistant Professor of Strategy & Entrepreneurship Terence Fan opined that this is likely due to the disruptions in September. However, he noted the Land Transport Authority's data remains positive. “Interestingly, despite the recent East-West Line incidents, the overall MRT network reliability, including the East-West Line, still surpasses the million-kilometre mark.”
The Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS), in its Financial Stability Review 2024, emphasised that local businesses, households, and financial institutions have largely maintained financial resilience, allowing them to navigate challenges arising from political and economic uncertainties. However, MAS cautioned against complacency, urging vigilance toward changes in the external environment.
Commenting on Gautam Adani from the Adani Group facing fraud charges in the United States, SMU Professor of Marketing Nirmalya Kumar said the latest charges could also throw a spanner in Mr Adani’s global expansion plans linked to the United States. He noted that Mr Adani has been already challenged in Kenya and Bangladesh over a planned takeover of an international airport and a controversial energy deal. Prof Nirmalya added, “Bribing government officials in India is not news, but the amounts mentioned are staggering.
Commenting on the rise of snack stores in China, SMU Associate Professor of Finance Fu Fangjian pointed out that third- and fourth-tier cities not only offer lower operating costs but also cater to the demand of the lower-tier markets for rich experiences, diversity, and novelty with their affordable and high-quality products, demonstrating immense development potential. From a more macro perspective, Assoc Prof Fu believes that the rapid nationwide rise of bulk snack retailers is driven by the advancement of China's "unified national market" initiative.
Commenting on Gautam Adani from the Adani Group facing fraud charges in the United States, SMU Professor of Marketing Nirmalya Kumar said the latest charges could also throw a spanner in Mr Adani’s global expansion plans linked to the United States. He noted that Mr Adani has been already challenged in Kenya and Bangladesh over a planned takeover of an international airport and a controversial energy deal. Prof Nirmalya added, “This [bribery charges] stops international expansion plans linked to the US.”
In an interview, SMU Assistant Professor of Strategy & Entrepreneurship (Education) Terence Fan discussed why certificate of entitlement (COE) premiums have dropped once more for most categories in the late November 2024 results. He attributed the decline to an increase in additional COEs slated for release in coming years, a lower demand during the holidays and early Chinese New Year, and economic uncertainties.
A tech-based analysis for the Financial Times showed that the topics researched and published by academics align with societal objectives and is aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG). One of the top SDG articles highlighted was "Globalisation and affordability of microfinance" by SMU Associate Professor of Finance Hao Liang and another academic Sunny Li Sun.
SMU Professor of Operations Management Lim Yun Fong, SMU Associate Professor of Operations Management Fang Xin and another academic co-authored a paper, “Urban consolidation centre or peer-to-peer platform? The solution to urban last-mile delivery”, which was published in the journal Production and Operations Management. He shared that he was “thrilled” when the Financial Times told him his academic paper on last-mile delivery had been cited in a patent application by ecommerce company eBay, as it shows their research has some impact.
Commenting on the Labubu craze, SMU Assistant Professor of Marketing Shilpa Madan said anthropomorphised products can provide a sense of comfort and companionship. She noted that research shows that after a rough day, turning to a familiar character can feel almost like having a buddy around.
