David Wan

Determinants of firm innovation in Singapore

Abstract Despite the numerous studies on the topic of innovation, there is still a lack of consensus as to a single definition. By taking the broadest view of the term, this study considers innovation as a process that involves the generation, adoption and implementation of new ideas or practices within the organization. Using data from 71 companies in Singapore, this study examines the relationship between firm innovation and six of its potential determinants. The results indicate positive and significant relationships between organizational innovation and (1) decentralized structure; (2) presence of organizational resources; (3) belief that innovation is important; (4) willingness to take risks and (5) willingness to exchange ideas.

Factors Affecting Internet Shopping Behaviour in Singapore: Gender and Educational Issues

Despite the increasing number of online users and products that are being offered on the Web, there is relatively little work that specifically examines the role of gender and educational level on the attitudes of Internet users in the Singapore context. Our findings reveal that there is a general consensus amongst Singaporeans that the Internet is a convenient medium for information search or making purchases. The better-educated respondents seem to be less concerned with security issues. They also perceive that Internet shopping provides better prices and more cost savings. Females indicate a strong dislike for not being able to savour a physically fulfilling shopping experience online.

Three conceptual models of board role performance

Purpose – Past literature on board research has centred on board structure and firm performance. Since empirical studies do not reveal a conclusive relationship between the two, attention has shifted towards board role performance. This paper aims to investigate this issue.Design/methodology/approach – The paper examines three conceptual models for the studying of board role performance: structure, process, and mediation.Findings – Current literature provides little consensus as to the specific configuration for effective board role performance.Originality/value – First, the study examines various aspects of board role performance. This is in contrast with previous research which largely investigates board role performance in general or under the dominant agency perspective which emphasises the boards monitoring role. Second, unlike traditional governance models, the role of board process is explicitly advocated here. Third, the three conceptual models regarding the relationship among board structure, pr...

An Exploratory Study on Interlocking Directorates in Listed Firms in Singapore

Interlocking directorates is not a recent phenomenon in Singapore. In any country where a substantial proportion of commercial and industrial activities are undertaken by corporations, the importance of the role played by board interlocks should not be ignored. This study examines the structure of interlocking directorates among 295 listed companies in Singapore. The objective is to explore whether firm size, financial connections, debt and corporate performance affect board interlocks. Using ten independent variables, we found that market capitalisation, board size, total assets, return on assets, return on sales, profit before tax and nature of the company (financial or non-financial) are significantly correlated with board interlocks. This lends support to the Bank Control Theory and Resource Dependency Theory. The findings are consistent with those of the United States and Australia.

Factors affecting Singaporeans’ acceptance of international postings

Singapore is a cosmopolitan city. With the rapid globalisation of businesses and the governments call for Singapore companies to “go global”, to what extent are Singaporeans ready to take up foreign assignments? Location‐related factors have often been cited in the popular press as one of the most powerful barriers to expatriation. This study aims to ascertain: the willingness of Singaporeans to consider overseas assignments with specific reference to the cultural distance between the host and home countries; and the relative importance of different contributing factors (demographic attributes, individual personality traits, job and community tenure, spouse‐related attributes and company relocation policy) in determining Singaporeans’ willingness to accept expatriate assignments. Results from a survey of 200 working adults reveal that Singaporeans, in general, prefer to work in a culturally similar host country rather than an unfamiliar place. For both locations, the most influential antecedent of expatriation appears to be a companys relocation policy.

Factors affecting consumers' choice of a travel agency: the case of Singapore.

Abstract This study aims to identify the most important factors in selecting a travel agency as perceived by Singaporeans. Based on a sample of 184 respondents, this study showed that “value for money of the tour package” was the most important factor affecting ones choice of a travel agency, followed by “reputation of the travel agency.” Nine factors were derived from 27 attributes using factor analysis. With the factor scores and the parametric (t-test and one-way ANOVA) or non-parametric tests (Mann-Whitney test and Kruskal-Wallis test), the study also showed that when selecting travel agencies, females attached more importance on the Image factor than their male counterparts. In addition, contingency analysis further revealed that age and income levels had significant influences on the choice of preferred travel agencies.

Factors affecting indivual innovation: an examination within a Japanese subsidiary in Singapore

Abstract This exploratory study aims to identify those internal and external organizational characteristics that significantly affect individual innovation in an organization. The sample was drawn from a subsidiary of a Japanese company manufacturing consumer electronics products in Singapore. A total sample of 190 was obtained, which is made up of 34 top-level employees, 54 middle level employees and 102 operational level employees. Results from the study showed that individual innovation does not significantly differ across the three levels of employees. Nine internal characteristics were hypothesized to affect the innovation propensity of individuals: (1) communication structure, (2) knowledge structure, (3) individual interaction, (4) integration, (5) project identification, (6) project facilitation, (7) leadership, (8) organizational support and (9) task. Only knowledge structure was found to be significantly related to individual innovation. The external organizational characteristic, which is represented by environmental dynamism in this study, is also found not to have any significant relationship with individual innovation.

Who are the online grocers

Online grocery sales experienced a surge in Singapore in the early half of 2003 during the SARS outbreak. This research uses the technology acceptance model and some basic demographic variables to study the intended usage of online supermarkets. Based on a sample size of 211 shoppers, it was found that those 21–40 years old have a higher propensity to use the online grocery stores while those having income lower than S

The cross-border shoppers' behaviour: the case of Singapore

2000 a month have less inclination to make use of e-grocery shopping. The stepwise discriminant analysis shows that two perceived variables, usefulness and ease of use, and two demographic variables, age and income are significant in differentiating the intended customers. Our results are different from past studies, where gender and education were found to be significant. This may be due to the fact that the bulk of the respondents were under 41 years old with at least tertiary education.

Case study of tourist revisit behavior in Singapore

Cross-border shopping has been of interest in the past decade. Given the close proximity of Singapore and Johor Bahru (JB) (located at the southern tip of Malaysia), outshopping has become a notable feature of cross-border visits. We compared the travel frequencies of 203 Singapore residents who travelled to Malaysia for shopping purposes. We also identified and measured the factors that might influence their cross-border shopping behaviour. Our results revealed that there was a significant difference in the travel frequencies between the younger and older respondents. However, there were no significant differences between males and females and between the low income earners and the high income earners. As for the determinants of outshopping behaviour, it was found that marketing mixes and accessibility, as well as economical factors, all had significant and positive influences on cross-border shopping.