Commenting on the “low-buy challenge”, SMU Associate Professor of Marketing (Education) Seshan Ramaswami said that when making their lists, participants would be more conscious of why they are buying things. They may then realise that some purchases are to escape from deeper emotional issues, and find healthier ways to address them instead. He also commented on the underconsumption trend, which he said could be a bane for retailers, whose profits are closely tied to consumer spending, but could also create other business opportunities.
President Tharman Shanmugaratnam continues to play an active role on the international stage. The latest is a new appointment to co-chair a global advisory council on jobs. In an interview, SMU Professor Emeritus of Finance (Practice) Annie Koh discussed the significance of President Tharman’s appointment as co-chair of the World Bank's High-Level Advisory Council on Jobs and what he will do in his new role. She also applauded President Tharman's appointment as one that will raise the stature of Singapore on the world stage.
In a commentary, SMU Professor Emeritus of Operations Management Arnoud De Meyer discussed the need to measure and reward learning for the effort put in and how students challenge themselves. He pointed out the need for a more multifaceted approach to measuring learning success, and shared that the University has invested in developing systems where students define their learning objectives and then measure the progress they make over the course of a term.
Commenting on FairPrice's strategy of launching the Prime drinks collection and Feastables chocolate bars from celebrity influencers, SMU Associate Professor of Marketing (Education) Seshan Ramaswami said, “The association with this trend can help its brand image – making it more appealing to younger people and drawing new traffic.”
In a Bloomberg interview [from 38m:30s – 45m:17s], SMU Professor of Marketing Nirmalya Kumar discussed the complexities of succession planning within large conglomerates like the Adani Group. He emphasised that a clear succession plan is crucial yet challenging due to the division of vast businesses among multiple heirs. He also highlighted the unique role of conglomerates in India, attributing their success to family control, risk diversification, and access to government resources.
Commenting on whether colonial-chic dining is still a hit in Singapore, SMU Associate Professor of Marketing (Education) Seshan Ramaswami said it all comes down to the food at the end of the day. “Ultimately, what Singaporeans care about is what they’ve always cared about the most about when it comes to food: quality, presentation, service and pricing. The nostalgia positioning will certainly attract attention for a while, but the symbolism is likely to be over-ridden by the sensory experience,” he added.
Regarding Grab's failed takeover of Trans-Cab, experts emphasise that the market share of the involved parties is crucial in assessing the impact on competition. Mergers between smaller players often benefit from economies of scale. SMU Assistant Professor of Strategy & Entrepreneurship Terence Fan cited the merger of taxi operators Premier and Strides in May last year as an example. Although Strides Premier became the second-largest taxi operator, its fleet was still less than half the size of market leader ComfortDelGro.
Commenting on the new wellness-themed retail hub at Dhoby Ghaut MRT station, SMU Associate Professor of Marketing (Education) Seshan Ramaswami said many MRT stations already have convenience stores, grab-and-go food outlets and quick-service hair salons, and expanding to a health and wellness space was a “natural extension”. “Curating a theme specific to localities can bring coherence to SMRT’s retail leasing strategy...
In an interview on the proposed acquisition of Trans-Cab by Grab, SMU Assistant Professor of Strategic Management & Entrepreneurship (Education) Terence Fan discussed how Grab’s merger with Singapore’s third-largest taxi operator would strengthen their already dominant position in the ride-hailing and point-to-point market, making it harder for rivals to compete, and how the everyday consumer would be affected if the merger goes through.
Commenting on whether China regrets vacating the crypto playing field in 2021, SMU Associate Professor of Finance Emiliano Pagnotta said, “Beijing’s 2021 mining crackdown was a strategic blunder. They accounted for 75 per cent of the mining industry and, in a short period, lost a considerable percentage to the United States, chiefly.” On why China made the strategic error, he said, “An adversary to Bitcoin has much more leverage against the security properties of the network by controlling the majority of the hashrate.
