The purpose of this study was to investigate whether Confucian values based on the four virtues and five relationships influence the style of the HRM practices adopted by Locally owned firms (LOFs) and Foreign owned firms (FOFs) based in Singapore. Confucian values emphasize a way of life. They are based on first cultivating oneself with the basic four virtues highlighted by Confucius (551 - 479 BC). Secondly, through the influence of the individual on others (via the five relationships, namely ruler-subject, father-son, brother-brother, husband-wife and friend-friend illustrated by Confucius), a 'perfect' world with peace and harmony can be created. This study investigates the degree to which the four distinct virtues - 1) human-kindness (ren), 2) integrity (yi), 3) propriety (li) and 4) knowledge (chi) and the five relationships, 1) ruler-subject, 2) father-son, 3) husband-wife, 4) brother-brother and 5) friend-friend, were adopted to underpin the practices of Human Resource Management (HRM) in Singapore. The target group of respondents chosen was executives, who were directly influenced by the style of human resource management in the firm. Electronics/technology related firms based in Singapore were the chosen group. The executives were chosen from electronics/technology related firms because these firms formed the most important industry, responsible for the well being of Singapore's growth (24% of GDP as stated by the Department of Statistics; 1999) and expected to continue so for the next 10 years. Managers from the same firms were given another set of questionnaires to verify the responses obtained from the executives. From the result obtained, it showed that there were influences of Confucian values on the five human resources functions tested. The executives' responses provided evidence on whether or not a certain trait or style has been used in the firm. The managers' responses, on the other hand, helped to verify that the trait or style was due to the influence of Confucian values as a whole and not other cultures or religions. The entire survey and interviews were carried out over twenty months from 1998, during which responses obtainable from both the managers and executives from each firm were analyzed. The data were analyzed using cross-tabulations and chi-square tests because cross-tabulation is one statistical tool which required only at least 5 responses in each cell for a reliable analysis to be conducted (Yong, 1994). Letters were then sent out to the Heads/Managers of the target firms, conducting interviews to obtain more insights to argue the survey data. Two interviews were conducted, taped and results obtained from the quantitative approach, helped further clarify earlier interpretations. This research showed that Singapore-based electronics/technology-related firms, regardless whether they were locally owned or foreign owned, showed that they were influenced by Confucian values in most aspects of the human resource practices. In addition, from the study, it showed that there were no significant differences between locally owned firms and foreign owned firms in terms of the degree of influence Confucian values have on the style of the management. This demonstrated that Chinese culture (in this case - Confucian values) - local/host country's culture played a stronger influence on the style of management in businesses conducted in Singapore than the organization's culture. This finding is important as most past research findings such as Rodrigues (1996) used to state that the organizational culture of the foreign-owned firms often have stronger influence on the practices adopted in firms regardless of the country that they were in. Lastly, after analyzing the responses obtained from the survey, the study justified that four virtues and only three (i.e. ruler-subject, friend-friend, father-son) of the five relationships outlined by Confucius has an impact on the style of HRM amongst Singapore-based firms in the technology/electronics-related industry. / thesis (PhDBusinessandManagement)--University of South Australia, 2002.

This field study is a critical analysis of early streaming in Singapore. Primary school pupils are streamed at the end of Primary 3 on the basis of their performance in achievement tests in English, Mathematics and Second Language. The streaming policy is based on eugenic and economic premises. The policy-makers believe that intelligence is largely determined by genes, and that the quality of human resources is a vital factor for nation building. The study identifies the ideological position of the policy-makers by unpacking some of their major assumptions about humans, society, knowledge, school and curriculum, and reveals the ideological underpinnings of inherited differences in IQ and meritocracy which support this policy. The study also examines the inequality of advantage of this form of streaming. The findings of the pre-primary study and the study on dropouts show that unnatural inequalities do affect the performance of pupils in achievement tests and their desire to stay on in school. The analysis of the planning and management of the change shows that different reactions of principals, teachers and parents can have different effects on pupil motivation and learning, with grave social implications.

"July 2004" / Bibliography: leaves 291-330. / vi, 330 leaves ; 30 cm. / Title page, contents and abstract only. The complete thesis in print form is available from the University Library. / Using Michel Foucault's discourse of governmentality as the theoretical foundation of the thesis, the author offers a strategic approach towards the rethinking of culture and politics in the modern, technologically sophisticated hybrid city-state of Singapore. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Adelaide, School of History and Politics, Discipline of Politics, 2004

Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of South Carolina, 2001. / Director: Donald Puchala. Includes bibliographical references.

During the process of the Singapore economy development, its ¡§elite government¡¨ has to attract the multinational companies to invest in Singapore. Among the public organization, Singapore Economic Development Board¡]EDB¡^ is the statutory institute of marketing the Singapore investment environment. After set up in 1961, EDB has been engaged in creating employment opportunities. In order to improve the most valuable asset of Singaporean, EDB also designs several human resource training programs and training centers. The organization culture of EDB is the key success factor which contributes to following the changes of international economy situation and working out suitable economic policies for Singapore industry. In the past the government takes the responsibility of leading the Singaporean toward the economic vision, but recently the Singapore government aggressively encourages the people to start up a new enterprise instead to avoid depending foreign investments excessively and to balance the economic ecosystem to achieve more value-added. My thesis does a case study of hard disk drive industry in ch4 to show the notable position of EDB in industry development context. In the ch5 the emerging biomedical industry will discuss the transformation from national economic plans to technology entrepreneurship. The future of Singapore economy development depends on whether the policy works or not.

Abstract This thesis focuses on the SARS epidemic situation in 2003, conducting the comparison research. The compared objects are Singapore and Taiwan government¡¦s strategies. When Singapore and Taiwan have been through repeatedly the same crisis, which policies and measures have both countries separately made? Why the Singapore government's strategies were more successful? But Taiwan's strategies were actually thought awaits improvements. This article first introduces SARS epidemic situation development in 2003, after understanding event background, gradually will discuss the focal point to gather in Singapore and Taiwan. Then, the writer will make the analysis to the Singapore government as well as the Taiwan government SARS epidemic situation crisis management. The crisis management can be separated to three phases: crisis prevent phase, crisis handle phase and crisis restore phase, and the writer will discuss each phase. Finally, proposes regarding the government whole related SARS epidemic situation crisis management view and the suggestion.

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Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Queensland, 2003. / Includes bibliographical references.

published_or_final_version / Housing Management / Master / Master of Housing Management

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