Commenting on the trend of quiet vacationing, SMU Senior Lecturer of Organisational Behaviour & Human Resources Paul Lim said quiet vacationing is a complex trend to unpack because of the myriad reasons behind why a worker might travel covertly. He acknowledged that self-motivated employees can successfully balance their personal and professional lives without compromising the quality of their work, but cautioned that the lack of accountability and transparency inherent in remote work could also be exploited by some employees.
In an interview, SMU Assistant Professor of Strategy & Entrepreneurship (Education) Terence Fan discussed how recent changes to the SimplyGo scheme could encourage greater adoption among Singaporeans. He opined that the real-time linking of payment options, like debit cards, simplifies the management of transport expenses for students and parents.
Impact investing, which counts a variety of causes among its beneficiaries, is much harder to quantify, compared with carbon accounting. According to panellists at the seventh annual Global Research Alliance for Sustainable Finance and Investment (GRASFI) conference on 2 September at SMU, there is currently no perfect solution. Koh Lin-Net, institutional relations lead at Temasek Trust hoped the academic community could help the sector collect the data cost-effectively using technology.
Commenting on Cathay Pacific grounding 48 planes for checks on Monday after a Zurich-bound flight had to return to the city shortly after take-off, SMU Assistant Professor of Strategy & Entrepreneurship (Education) Terence Fan said the Airbus 350 planes had an "airworthiness directive" issued on them by the European Union Aviation Safety Agency this year.
Commenting on DFI Retail Group closing its Giant stores in Singapore and exiting the Malaysian grocery market, SMU Lee Kong Chian Professor of Marketing Kapil Tuli said DFI could be pivoting to the high-end market, where there are likely to be better margins. “That makes sense (for DFI) because Cold Storage stores tend to be in more affluent neighbourhoods, and that affordability parameter is in place,” he said.
Commenting on Cathay Pacific grounding 48 planes for checks on Monday after a Zurich-bound flight had to return to the city shortly after take-off, SMU Assistant Professor of Strategy & Entrepreneurship (Education) Terence Fan said defective engine lines could affect fuel flow, which is "urgent and of critical importance". "This seems to be a mechanical issue... one would definitely not want the same to be found in two out of two engines on the same aircraft mid-air," said Asst Prof Fan.
Commenting on the popularity of blind boxes in Asia, SMU Associate Professor of Marketing Hannah Chang noted that their success relies on consumer psychology, driven by surprise and uncertainty. She argued that while the chance element might resemble gambling, key differences exist: blind boxes always provide an item, unlike gambling, which may offer nothing in return. However, she also emphasised the importance of responsible consumption to keep the experience enjoyable and safe.
SMU Associate Professor Kenneth Goh, the new Singapore Aquatics President, has introduced a SwimSingapore national swimming framework to improve standards. He envisions every Singaporean becoming a proficient swimmer and making aquatic sports accessible, promoting a healthier and more active nation. After the Olympics, the team aims to retain dominance at the 2025 SEA Games, win more medals at the 2026 Asian Games, and perform better at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
SMU Associate Professor of Marketing (Education) Seshan Ramaswami clarified that oat milk is termed "milk" even though it's not from animals because the naming aims to “help consumers instantly grasp the main benefit of using it”. He noted that calling plant-based drinks “milk” instead of “juice” or “drink” indicates their primary role as a milk substitute. He further mentioned that this naming strategy by plant-based product producers has led to legal disputes with traditional dairy manufacturers.
In a commentary, SMU Associate Provost (Undergraduate Education) and Associate Professor of Marketing (Education) Michelle Lee, who teaches a course in sustainable consumption, discussed the need to curb consumerism and gave advice on how people can curb their consumption. She concluded that instead of waiting on companies to innovate and offer more sustainable alternatives, we should take matters into our own hands and simply curb our consumption.
