AN INTEGRATED ENVIRONMENT: A CASE STUDY ON ONE-NORTH

Abstract

In the recent years, the drive for knowledge-based economy has radically altered the ways that cities establish and maintain their competitive advantage. The crux of competitive advantage has shifted to those countries that can generate, retain, and attract the best talent. Even as cities strive to achieve urban liveability, new industrialized areas have also been focusing on urban quality and providing quality working environment for their knowledge workers. This study sets forth to assess the recent mega development by JTC known as One- North. The case study focuses on examining the institutional and economic environment in Singapore that will support the development of One-North, a vision of growth for the three main knowledge-based industries; information communications technology, research and development in biomedical and life sciences as well as the media productions modeled after Silicon Valley. The second part of the study employs the use of surveys to discover how receptive knowledge workers are towards an integrated environment or the concept of a work, live, play and learn environment. The case study reveals that Singapore basically has most of the factors necessary for One-North to succeed. However, One-North may falter on the entrepreneurial aspect given that Singaporeans are risk adverse, an aspect making up the essence of a Silicon Valley type of development. In respect of an integrated environment, most of the respondents are receptive to the concept. The primary reasons why the respondents like the concept are the convenience that the place offers and the diversity in amenities.