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Publication EFFECTS OF HYBRID WORKING ON QUANTITY SURVEYORS IN SINGAPORE(2022) GUO YUNTING; THE BUILT ENVIRONMENT; JONATHAN LIAN KHIN MINGThe COVID-19 pandemic has led to major changes to the way employees in companies work. Hybrid Working (HW), being the new work normal, is transforming the original five day office work week to certain days of Work from Home (WFH). This study explores the effects of Hybrid Working on Quantity Surveyors (QS) in the context of Singapore as little research were conducted in this field. The objectives of the dissertation include 1) Find out whether QS age and gender affects their attitudes towards HW, 2) Investigate whether different genders and work environment, caregivers and non-caregivers affect QS productivity and conduciveness and 3) Document effects of HW on governmental and private agencies’ QS conduciveness and productivity. The non-probability snowball sampling was used for data collection. Microsoft Excel and JASP were tools utilised for frequency table and t-test analysis. The key findings entail, firstly, most QS surveyed preferred HW as it reaps the WFH benefits such as reduced transportation duration, reduced costs, and flexibility. Secondly, paramount challenges of HW include prolong work hours, socialising issues, communication as well as work environment issues. Statistically significant differences were obtained for perceived conduciveness and productivity in the following categories: Gender and/or Work Environment, Caregiver and/or Non-caregivers, Private and/or Public sector. The results provide deep insights on QS employees' attitudes and preferences towards HW. This is useful in transforming the QS sector, to better keep and attract talents within the industry.Publication WORK PREFERENCES AND PERCEPTIONS : GENDER AND EDUCATION DIFFERENCES FOR MILITARY AND NON-MILITARY CAREERS(1998) KOK KAH MAY; SOCIAL WORK & PSYCHOLOGY; JOHN ELLIOTTThe study investigates the effect of gender and education differences on students' work value preferences and perception of the ability of their ideal companies/organizations and Mindef in providing what they prefer in a job. Herzberg's two-factor theory of intrinsic and extrinsic work values was used. Indigenous work values were gathered from several interviews with Mindef applicants and added onto Herzberg's list of factors, which then formed a questionnaire to tap the students' work value preferences and perceptions. A total of 168 tertiary students from Junior College, Polytechnics and University took part in the study. Contrary to recent studies done in the West, males and females differed in their work value preferences. Gender differences were found to predict students' work value preferences better than education differences. In addition, the higher educated females preferred intrinsic work values more than extrinsic ones. On the other hand, neither gender nor education differences were able to predict students' perception of the availability of work values in their ideal companies/organizations. Both sexes were not optimistic regarding the capability of their ideal companies/organizations in providing what they favor. Significant education differences were found for the students' perception of availability of work values in Mindef. The Junior College group held more positive perception of Mindef than the other two groups. No differences in perception were recorded between the sexes. Although both ideal companies/organizations and Mindef were not able to meet the students' work value preferences, Mindef was found to be not comparable with the ideal companies/organizations in their ability to provide work values. The results are discussed and implications are explored in terms of Singapore context when possible. Limitations of study are listed together with suggestions for further research. In addition, a framework is proposed for understanding occupational and company/organization selection.Publication 刘晏与中唐盐政和漕运改革 = LIU YAN AND THE REFORM OF SALT ADMINISTRATION AND GRAIN TRANSPORT IN THE MID TANG PERIOD(2002) 彭育坤; PHANG YUH KOON; CHINESE STUDIES; 李志贤; LEE CHEE HIANGIn the first half of the eighth century, Tang China (618-907) stood out as the world's unrivaled empire. That as an era of unprecedented material prosperity, of political, economic and military prowess, of institutional growth and of tremendous vitality. As the second half of that century proceeded, however, this once influential dynasty was pushed to the brink of collapse by the major An Lu Shan Rebellion (755-763) and a series of subsequent military uprisings. Following the immediate outbreak of the An Lu Shan Rebellion, the Tang dynasty was faced with an entirely new political, economic and financial situation. The whole of the North and Northeast was lost to the rebels, which meant not only the loss of the vast area of territories, but a very considerable loss of tax revenue. Even after the suppression of the rebels in 763, many of the governors of provinces, especially in the Northeast, had their own territories of control and they remained semi- autonomous, and rendered no tax revenues to the central government in Chang An. Simultaneously, the Tang administration had to defend the country from numerous military and territorial conquests launched by the ambitious and aggressive bordet nomads like the Uighur and the Turks. As a result, large armies had to be stationed in the Northwest These troops consumed all the tax revenues, financial and economic resources and other food commodities from the Northwest, and more besides. Hence, under these critical conditions, financial and economic reforms were made essential to make good the enormous losses of stores and tax revenue suffered during wartime and to cope with the exponential increase in government" s financial expenditure. Just when the country faced a major financial crisis and a serious grain shortage problem coupled with the soar in grain prices in the capital, Liu Yan (715-780), a prominent finance Minister, entered the political power pivot and implemented an array of financial and economic reforms. Of all, the most successful and farsighted ones were the institution of the new indirect salt tax system and the reconstruction of the grain transportation system. Under Liu Yan' s financial and economic administration, the Salt Commission grew into a powerful organization with manifold interests, while the salt tax revenue successfully replaced the government' s income normally derived from Tsu-Yung-Tiao, a direct taxation system. The salt tax revenue even increased to such an extent that by 780 it was providing more than half of the annual income at the disposal of the central authorities. In addition, as a result of the reforms made to the grain transportation system, not only was transport restored, but also its transportation cost and time greatly reduced. To a great extent, the grain transport reforms also lessened the financial burden of the commoners and ensured the safety of the transportation crew. Furthermore, these reforms greatly stimulated the country' s economic development and trade growth. Most importantly, the abundant and unobstructed influxes of grain imports, tax revenue, financial resources and other commodities from the South into the capital' s treasury and grain storehouses that resulted from Liu Yan' s grain transportation reforms solved the grain shortage problem in Chang An. Indeed, the new indirect salt monopoly and the reconstruction of the grain transportation system implemented by Liu Yan revived the Tang dynasty. With due success of these economic reforms, the Tang dynasty's ruling ability and strength was consolidated Thus Liu Yan became a pivotal figure during an age of dynastic decline and political turbulence. Interest in Liu Yan has continued among Chinese, Taiwanese, Hong Kong, Asian and even Western scholars. A number of books, biographies, thesis papers and academic articles on his economic views and financial and economic policies or reforms have been published in various countries like China, Taiwan and Hong Kong. Hereby, this thesis paper which consists of six chapters is intended to be an exploration and critical analysis of Liu Yan and the Reform of Salt Administration and Grain Transport in the Mid-Tang Period. Chapter One states the reasons, methodology and areas of research. Chapter Two provides the reader with some background knowledge of liu Yan' s time, family background, and his political career that is fraught with obstacles. Chapter Three examines Liu Yan's economic thoughts or views that are distinctively demonstrated in his reform of the salt administration and grain transport Liu Yan' s reform of the salt administration and grain transport was like a sea change in ancient China, thus Chapter Four and Five are intended to be not only a mere narration of the detailed content of these reforms, but also comparison of Di Wu Qi's direct salt monopoly and liu Yan's indirect salt taxation system; Pei Yao Ching's, Wei Jian's and other Tang Transport Commissioners' reforms of the Grain Transport respectively. These comparisons are done to achieve a critical discussion and analysis of the merits and inadequacy of Liu Yan' s Salt Administration and Grain Transport reforms. Last but not least, Chapter Six, with the intention to arave at a valid conclusion, places emphasis on the reconciliation of conflicting viewpoints on the research topic.Publication INTEGRATED FACILITIES MANAGEMENT PRACTICES LEADING TO COST EFFECTIVENESS IN FACILITY MANAGEMENT(2024) NUR ATIKAH UMAIRAH BINTE MD ROSLAN; THE BUILT ENVIRONMENT; TEO HO PINFacility Management (FM) plays a pivotal role in ensuring the efficient operation and maintenance of built environments, encompassing a wide range of functions aimed at supporting the core activities of organizations. In the context of Singapore's dynamic and rapidly evolving urban landscape, the effective management of facilities is imperative to meet the growing demands of various industries and sectors. One approach that has garnered increasing attention in recent years is Integrated Facility Management (IFM), which emphasizes the holistic and integrated management of multiple facility services to optimize performance and achieve cost savings. The integration of IFM practices has emerged as a strategic imperative for FM practitioners and organizations seeking to enhance operational efficiency, reduce costs, and improve service delivery. By consolidating various facility management functions under a unified framework, IFM aims to streamline operations, leverage synergies, and maximize the utilization of resources. However, while the potential benefits of IFM are widely recognized, there remains a need for empirical research to elucidate the extent to which IFM practices contribute to cost effectiveness within the Singaporean context. This dissertation seeks to address this gap in the literature by examining the relationship between IFM practices and cost effectiveness in FM operations in Singapore. Through a systematic analysis of IFM strategies and their impact on cost savings and operational efficiency, this study aims to provide valuable insights into the efficacy of IFM in driving cost effective facility management practices. By investigating the adoption and implementation of IFM practices across various industries and sectors, this research endeavors to identify best practices and key determinants of success in achieving cost effectiveness in FM.Publication CAPITAL FLOWS AND THE REAL EXCHANGE RATE : EVIDENCE FROM SELECTED ASEAN COUNTRIES(1998) LEE BIYI; ECONOMICS & STATISTICS; MEHER MANZURRecent years have seen ever increasing volume of capital inflows. With the trend of globalization and movement towards a relatively borderless world, we expect an even greater amount of capital flows. These flows are thought to be closely linked to many macroeconomic variables, with possible repercussions particularly on the exchange rate. The objective of this study is to take a new look at the relationship between capital flows and real exchange rate, analyzing this link with empirical data from selected countries from ASEAN, namely Philippines and Singapore. The choice of the sample is dictated by the availability of the data. The thesis starts with an extensive review of literature on the intriguing relationship between the real exchange rate and capital flows. The idea is to highlight and distill the relevant theoretical and empirical issues dominating the literature. Next, we present a theoretical framework to formally set up the relationship between the real exchange rate and capital flows. In this framework, the real exchange rate is posited as a function of international capital inflows. This framework is based on the idea that the more open an economy is, the more will be the response of the real exchange rate to international capital movements. Given that Singapore and Philippines are considered very open, we would expect the data to indicate that the real exchange rates for these countries are less elastic to capital inflows. Interestingly, our empirical results indicate that the real exchange rate is more elastic in the case of Singapore than that for Philippines. This is a bit striking in the sense that Singapore appears to be relatively more open than Philippines. One explanation could be that the share of foreign direct investment in the total capital inflows is greater in Philippines than in Singapore. However, the results have to be interpreted with sufficient caution because of the data problem typical of countries like Philippines.Publication VENTILATION RATE IN SINGAPORE’S MARKETS AND ITS IMPACT ON THE SPREAD OF RESPIRATORY DISEASES(2023) TAN MEI NA; THE BUILT ENVIRONMENT; CHEW LUP WAIAs Singapore has a tropical climate with relatively high temperatures and humidity throughout the year, the environment of the markets and hawker centres is ideal for the spread of respiratory diseases. In 2021, Singapore recorded high transmission of COVID-19 cases in its markets and hawker centres. This research aims to determine the relationship between the ventilation rate of the six markets and hawker centres in Singapore and the spread of respiratory diseases. This study uses observational skills and objective measurements to obtain data. The results are compared to a list of ventilation components discussed in the literature reviews to determine whether the ventilation performance of the individual market is up to standard. The results obtained from the observational research indicate that North Bridge Road Market & Food Centre is the only market that failed to meet expectations. On the other hand, the objective research indicates that the wind speeds measured in two of the COVID-19 clusters are relatively low. The p-value of 0.405, 0.317 and 0.396, for wind speed, temperature and relative humidity from the t-test suggests that the ventilation rate does not have an impact on the spread of respiratory diseases. This is supported by the chi-square test which shows that all the ventilation components have a p-value higher than 0.05. Therefore, both tests reached the same conclusion that the ventilation rates in Singapore’s markets do not have an impact on the spread of respiratory diseases.Publication COMPARING IMPACTS OF AMENITIES ON PUBLIC AND PRIVATE HOUSING PRICES WITHIN MATURE AND YOUNG ESTATES(2011-04-19) TAN YI HUA; REAL ESTATE; SEAH KIAT YINGHousing amenities are essential in supporting community living within estates. It is observed that HDB flats and private properties coexist in most estates. Differences in residents’ profile might result in a disparity in their willingness to pay for proximity to amenities. Furthermore, it is uncertain if amenities’ effects on property values vary across mature and young estates that differ in terms of development. A hedonic pricing model was implemented and it was discovered that proximity to primary schools, parks and petrol stations have a greater impact on prices of private properties, whereas shopping centres and MRT stations have a lower impact on prices. This relates to higher demand for quality living as household income increases where private homeowners place greater emphasis on environmental goods and prefer to be located away from amenities that generate higher noise and traffic. Higher incomes groups also tend to possess their own transport and are less concerned with the convenience to shops and public transport systems. In this aspect, externalities generated from amenities on prices of residential properties tend to have a reduced effect beyond a certain distance.Publication FERTILITY DIFFERENTIALS BY ETHNIC GROUP, SINGAPORE 1980-1999(2001) ADELINE PHUA LI CHUEN; ECONOMICS & STATISTICS; G. SHANTAKUMARPublication THE FUTURE OF GREEN MARK SCHEME WITHIN SINGAPORE(2011-05-20) LIM CHOON TAT; BUILDING; CHEONG KOK WAI DAVIDIn order to match up with the challenges of global warming and scarce natural resources, the practice of sustainable construction is necessary. Since the construction sector plays an important role in Singapore’s economy and social development, efforts must be put in to achieve a sustainable built environment in the form of utilizing green building schemes such as the Green Mark Scheme (GMS). Active promotion is carried out by the Building and Construction Authority (BCA) in Singapore to encourage adoption of the GMS and meet the growing demand for green technologies and green construction in Singapore. As such, this study aims to establish the current level of success of the GMS and LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design), followed by the revision of the GMS to determine if any suitable guidelines from the LEED can be implemented into it to further improve it as an attractive and better green rating system. Literature reviews were conducted extensively to determine the level of success for the GMS and LEED and to provide a basic understanding of where the two green rating systems stand in the current construction industry. Interviews were conducted with two construction industry professionals to gain their valuable insight on the LEED guidelines to be implemented. A survey was conducted in complementary to the interviews to gather opinions from the other construction industry professionals on the implementation of the LEED guidelines into the GMS. Due to time constraints and word limit imposed, the general conclusions being drawn were limited in terms of accuracy and applicability to the rest of the construction industry. Hence, there may be insufficient information gathered for this study. It was proposed that a more in-depth and larger study be conducted for future works in order to have a broader perspective on the industry’s opinions on the LEED implementation.Publication A SHIFT IN CURRENT EMPLOYMENT CULTURE IN SINGAPORE'S CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY(2015-01-08) CHIEW JIA QIAN; BUILDING; GEORGE OFORIOne of the significant industries in Singapore is the construction sector. The practice of subcontracting is widely adopted in the current employment culture. However, this method presents several difficulties to both main contractor and subcontractor. Thus, this study aims to identify the challenges faced by main contractor and subcontractor due to subcontracting; explore unique employment cultures in other countries such as Japan and South Korea; and recommend solutions to improve the present situation. The study is based on literature review and the findings from the results of a field study comprising interviews and a survey using questionnaires. The literature review gives an overview of the current subcontracting practices in Singapore’s construction industry. Japan’s and South Korea’s unique employment culture were also studied. For instance, in both countries, there is long-term collaboration between involved parties and the development of the subcontractor. Therefore, the study of both countries could present valuable lessons for the construction industry in Singapore. Two sets of survey questionnaires were completed by 32 main contractors and 23 subcontractors. The survey sought to ascertain the issues facing both main contractors and subcontractors with subcontracting and also gather their views and recommendations on the issue. Interviews were conducted with 4 professionals from 4 contracting firms in the local construction industry in order to obtain deeper perceptives and analysis. The findings revealed the actual challenges faced by the main contractors and subcontractors and presented some of the recommendations proposed by them. Thereafter, recommendations were made, based on the findings drawn from the components of the study: the literature review; and analysis of survey questionnaires and interviews. The adoption of long term relationship between main contractors and subcontractors, development of the capability of subcontractors, negotiable terms in subcontracting contract and prohibition of total subcontracting would help to achieve improvement in the current subcontracting practices. The recommendations are beneficial to the main contractor, subcontractor and the industry as it will eventually lead to an enhancement in the quality of work in the construction project. Lastly, future research can be done with regards to the feasibility of the recommendations proposed.