Commentary

5 things nobody told you about starting a social enterprise in Singapore

Singaporeans are known to be pragmatic. Yet these days graduates and professionals do not simply want a good paycheck but also an intrinsically rewarding job – a mindset that is even spreading to entrepreneurs. Here are five key things to bear in mind as one considers undertaking this rewarding journey in Singapore.

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5 things nobody told you about starting a social enterprise in Singapore

Commentary

High-skilled contingent hires to drive growth of IT industry in Singapore

According to the latest Hays Quarterly Report, employers are now opting for temporary and contract hires when seeking talent to deliver key IT initiatives. We see more vacancies for contingent IT professionals as employers recognise it as a cost-efficient and flexible way of supporting IT projects.

Commentary

The power of data body language

Every day, 2.5 million journeys are made on Singapore's MRT1. Our credit cards carry S$130 million of transactions2 and we send more than 37 million texts3. These are just three examples of the billions of micro-data points that are created in Singapore daily. Almost every interaction we have and every decision we make leaves a digital data impression – our data body language – that can be analysed and interpreted.

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4 myths about Trans-Pacific Partnership busted

The Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) was borne out of a belief that free trade benefits the participating countries' economies. Yet there is skepticism and distrust among various parties on the effectiveness and consequences of signing the TPP. We explore four arguments against the TPP and how it affects Singapore.

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Here's why portfolio workers and contractors are rising faster in Singapore

Against the backdrop of a Ministry of Manpower (MOM) report which adversely highlighted Singapore's slowing economic growth, weak investment returns, and negative employment market prospects, lies a bigger problem – that work-related stress is still Singapore's number one silent killer.

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Singaporean property investors: Look down under for higher returns

Over the past six months, Australia's property market trends have had investors, including those in Singapore, rethinking their plans. In December 2015, harsher punishments for violating foreign investment rules were implemented. Figures for Q1 2016 showed a marginal quarter-on-quarter increase of 1.6 percent for home values in Australian capital cities compared to Q1 2015 which saw a 3 percent increase (CoreLogic).

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Are the Sports Hub and National Gallery white elephants?

The Sports Hub in Singapore was built at a vast cost of at least $1.3 billion with a promise of a packed program of concerts, sports events, and community events. Currently it is used to show pictures on the top of the roof and giving up 10 prime Saturdays for National Day Parade practice sessions as it has no other significant content booked in.

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What you need to know when buying a business in Singapore

The value of mergers and acquisitions (M&A) in Singapore rose to S$142 billion in 2015, almost double that in 2014. Many Singaporean businesses are also dealing in outbound acquisitions to broaden their interests overseas. However, buying a business is more than just a game of dollars and cents – there are many legal considerations and processes involved which are must-knows if you are looking to strengthen your hand at the negotiating table.

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State of the industry: The rise of self-storage in Singapore

Singapore has become a hot spot for investments in the self-storage sector lately. With the rise of urban dwellers and demand for more residential and commercial space, more consumers are turning to self-storage services, as an alternative to holding valuable items at home or in the office.

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Makings of our Ideas Nation

Now is the time to inspire people to pursue rainbows and rally around ideas – big and small.

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Is Singapore still attractive for Western expats?

Singapore represents the only case of a nation that did gain independence against its will when it was expelled back in 1965 from the then Federation of Malaysia.

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Why Singapore companies should be thinking Narrow-Deep-Broad and not Broad-Shallow-Narrow

An irresistible phenomenon has been looming large over all developed countries and, given the size of Singapore, its effects are likely to be felt very sharply here over the next few years.

Commentary

How creativity can solve SMEs' woes

This is a season where much focus is placed on SMEs again. At SME events and through the media, we hear various ministers speak of plans to help SMEs. Besides monetary assistance through the Budget, what do SMEs really need to raise productivity and value?

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Trade Associations and Chambers must stay nimble and neutral to truly benefit members

More help for small and medium businesses (SMBs) – that was a ringing hymn from the chorus of trade associations and chambers (TACs), as each offered their own stanza of suggestions to steer Singapore through a more uncertain future, since the national Budget was unveiled in March.

Commentary

Drive, data, and disruption: Who would make the transition?

Would the functional manager/director of today be ready to become a C-suite leader of tomorrow?

Commentary

The rise of Singapore's contingent workforce, and what it means for talent attraction

Economic uncertainly is pushing more employers towards increasing their contingent workforce, so what does this mean for talent attraction?

Commentary

Even a small salary increase could be your best business expense

Businesses have many assets that contribute to the growth and competitive advantages of the company, but none are more important than its human capital. Every night the human resources that drive the productivity of a company walk out the door and in the morning they choose to come back. Business owners and leaders that are conscious of this choice understand that employees need to be treated well enough that they continue to contribute the majority of their waking hours to greater good of the company.

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