Shaping Singapore:Lessons in Leadership and Governance with a Healthy Dose of Paranoia

Abstract

Singapore has been very fortunate to have elected leaders, right from the Pioneer generation till today, who have set the bar high on integrity, ethics and excellence. This mindset of constructive paranoia, Singapore style and simulating a burning platform when one doesn't exist is one that all corporates should embrace. Successful business models are being rendered obsolete faster than ever because of an increasingly flat and connected world and the pace at which technology is developing. Longevity of businesses and business models are only going to get shorter going forward and businesses will have to constantly reinvent themselves if they are to survive let alone grow. Traditional retail banks with large branch networks and department stores are examples of two legacy businesses which are heading into a perfect storm as technology and new competitors are poised to enter their space in a big way with completely different cost structures delivery models and supply chains.