Lifting Productivity In Singapore's Retail And Food Services Sectors: The Role Of Technology, Manpower And Marketing


Book Description

Measuring productivity is often considered a difficult task for industries in the services sectors. This book offers a solution in the form of the 8M approach — Management, Manpower, Method, Money, Market, Make, Material and Message. This 8M framework is used to analyze the many facets of productivity and make pertinent solutions and suggestions to lift productivity in enterprises, especially those in the retail and food services sectors.This book consists of 10 chapters. Each chapter is an in-depth study of a specific measure, be it a technological system, a manpower strategy or a marketing program to improve the performance and productivity of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in the retail and food services sectors in Singapore.Technology-driven solutions are the highlight of this book. Every study presented involves field work in terms of surveys, interviews or focus group discussions with stakeholders. The findings of the studies lead to policy recommendations and suggestions for improving the productivity performance of SMEs in the retail and food services sectors.




Digital Transformation Management


Book Description

This book addresses key topics related to organization design and knowledge management in the digital economy with organizational context, particularly in Asia. Asian nations are moving fast toward the digital economy, within which the role of organization design and knowledge management is crucial to support innovative and creative ideas for meeting huge market opportunities where customers are ready for digitalization. The book conceptualizes organization design into three dimensions, people, information, and technology, and offers readers a unique valued insight, bringing new perspectives to understanding emerging business opportunities and challenges in Asia. It presents a valuable collection of 14 chapters with empirical studies from leading researchers. The book addresses digital transformation in companies and organizations in Asia, analysing how disruptive technologies can help them have more efficient organization processes, create innovative products and services, be more resilient and achieve sustainable goals in the post-pandemic time. It fills a gap in the market offering a valuable collection of chapters that combines strategic topics for companies, organizations and nations today, such as digital economy, disruptive technologies, big data and knowledge management, with a specific focus on the Asian region, providing rich examples and studies focused in countries and regions within Asia. Written for scholars, researchers and other specialists in digitalization, this book offers a unique collection of insights into the current and future situation in Asia.




The ASEAN Digital Economy


Book Description

Boasting the fastest growing Internet market in the world, Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) is accelerating into the digital economy. This book assesses the potential economic impact of digital economy agreements (DEAs) and the readiness of some ASEAN member states to grow the digital economy in collaboration. The book presents a novel framework to assess countries’ readiness to enter digital economy collaborations, following the architecture of Singapore’s DEAs with its trading partners. It takes a bird’s-eye view of the digital economy in ASEAN and reviews the current state of digital infrastructure and regulations. The book also includes simulation exercises to project economic outcomes delivered by regional collaborations. It also elaborates on the specific strengths and weaknesses of five ASEAN member states. These ASEAN member states include Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Vietnam, and Cambodia. The book concludes by revisiting the ASEAN economy as a whole. It points out key issues country leaders need to work on as they proceed with digital economy collaborations. This book is written for scholars, policymakers, and industrial practitioners who wish to learn the latest developments in the ASEAN digital economy.




Lifting Productivity in Singapore's Retail and Food Services Sectors


Book Description

Introduction -- The use of lean management principle & practices for productivity improvement in the retail & food services sectors -- Use of self-service technology in supermarkets : a case-study of a supermarket and consumer responses -- Seeking productivity improvement with self service technology (SST) in the food services sector : case study of 6 restaurant holding companies -- Integrating the supply chain with RFID : a study on boosting productivity in retail & food services sectors -- The role of shared services in improving productivity in F&B enterprises -- 3-d printing technology & productivity : prospects in Singapore retail and F&B sectors -- Use of mobile applications in retailing : increasing revenue streams and uplifting productivity -- Effectiveness of cash management technologies in Singapore's retail and food services sectors -- Application of job redesign principles to transform business operations and raise productivity in SMEs in the retail & food services sectors -- Effectiveness of loyalty card in improving business performance and productivity : an appraisal in the retail & food services sectors -- Concluding remarks -- Index




Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists


Book Description

The Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists is the premier public resource on scientific and technological developments that impact global security. Founded by Manhattan Project Scientists, the Bulletin's iconic "Doomsday Clock" stimulates solutions for a safer world.




Asia Today


Book Description




Securing Australia's Future


Book Description

The future will bring change for Australia. But whether that change is for the better or worse largely depends on the decisions we make today as individuals and as a nation. Recognising rapid changes in the global economy, environment and policy, the Australian Government engaged the Australian Council of Learned Academies (ACOLA) to undertake detailed interdisciplinary research to help guide Australian thinking and policy decisions. Dozens of Australia’s finest minds assessed the opportunities available to the nation globally and domestically, charting a course for the future. The resulting findings can prepare Australia to address the challenges ahead and make the most of the opportunities. Securing Australia’s Future synthesises the major themes that emerge from ACOLA’s reports. Each chapter includes key findings designed to optimise Australia’s prosperity and place in the region. The future is a long game but its base must be built now. This book provides a vision for the nation, for its politicians, public servants and industry leaders – a sound footing for securing Australia’s future. It is a vital resource for Members of Federal and State parliaments, senior public servants, industry leaders, universities and the interested public.




China’s Productivity Convergence and Growth Potential—A Stocktaking and Sectoral Approach


Book Description

China’s growth potential has become a hotly debated topic as the economy has reached an income level susceptible to the “middle-income trap” and financial vulnerabilities are mounting after years of rapid credit expansion. However, the existing literature has largely focused on macro level aggregates, which are ill suited to understanding China’s significant structural transformation and its impact on economic growth. To fill the gap, this paper takes a deep dive into China’s convergence progress in 38 industrial sectors and 11 services sectors, examines past sectoral transitions, and predicts future shifts. We find that China’s productivity convergence remains at an early stage, with the industrial sector more advanced than services. Large variations exist among subsectors, with high-tech industrial sectors, in particular the ICT sector, lagging low-tech sectors. Going forward, ample room remains for further convergence, but the shrinking distance to the frontier, the structural shift from industry to services, and demographic changes will put sustained downward pressure on growth, which could slow to 5 percent by 2025 and 4 percent by 2030. Digitalization, SOE reform, and services sector opening up could be three major forces boosting future growth, while the risks of a financial crisis and a reversal in global integration in trade and technology could slow the pace of convergence.




World Development Report 2019


Book Description

Work is constantly reshaped by technological progress. New ways of production are adopted, markets expand, and societies evolve. But some changes provoke more attention than others, in part due to the vast uncertainty involved in making predictions about the future. The 2019 World Development Report will study how the nature of work is changing as a result of advances in technology today. Technological progress disrupts existing systems. A new social contract is needed to smooth the transition and guard against rising inequality. Significant investments in human capital throughout a person’s lifecycle are vital to this effort. If workers are to stay competitive against machines they need to train or retool existing skills. A social protection system that includes a minimum basic level of protection for workers and citizens can complement new forms of employment. Improved private sector policies to encourage startup activity and competition can help countries compete in the digital age. Governments also need to ensure that firms pay their fair share of taxes, in part to fund this new social contract. The 2019 World Development Report presents an analysis of these issues based upon the available evidence.




The Second Machine Age: Work, Progress, and Prosperity in a Time of Brilliant Technologies


Book Description

The big stories -- The skills of the new machines : technology races ahead -- Moore's law and the second half of the chessboard -- The digitization of just about everything -- Innovation : declining or recombining? -- Artificial and human intelligence in the second machine age -- Computing bounty -- Beyond GDP -- The spread -- The biggest winners : stars and superstars -- Implications of the bounty and the spread -- Learning to race with machines : recommendations for individuals -- Policy recommendations -- Long-term recommendations -- Technology and the future (which is very different from "technology is the future").