Among the Mercosur countries (Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay), the free trade agreement between them and Singapore reveals Brazil's clear interest in expanding economic and trade relations with key players in Asia, a highly dynamic trading area. © 2022 The Author(s). Published by Oxford University Press. All rights reserved.

This study explores the veracity of the six ethical variables proposed in the contingency theory of strategic conflict management - the role of PR practitioner, the role of top management, nature of the crisis, the activism of stakeholders; government regulation/intervention; diversity to different cultures and exposure external business environments. In-depth interviews with 10 communication professionals in Singapore were conducted. In line with the patriarchal management structure, the top management plays a critical role in determining ethical stances, with practitioners playing important consultative positions. Also, the role of the relevant government almost predisposes the organization toward certain ethical stances. The study supported the rigor of the ethical variables posited in Asian organizations and affirmed the role of practitioners as "moral conscience" of the organization. Insights provide guidance to practitioners on ethical elocution during times of crisis.

https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/13/5/2630

Despite the steady growth of grid‐connected installed capacity in Singapore in the last decade and intensive government effort towards “solarization”, implementation of photovoltaics (PV) and especially building‐integrated photovoltaics (BIPV) into the built environment has not gathered as much momentum as would have been expected given the country’s ample solar energy resource potential, strong economic fundamentals and the robust real estate sector. Based on a conducted web‐survey and qualitative interviews among local professionals, this paper examines the obstacles, potentials and drivers that could facilitate and accelerate BIPV and PV façade integration, as well as needs that could encourage wider PV use. In order to define a unified strategy, aligning the stakeholders’ views, the following disputable factors are pointed out and discussed: (1) incomplete understanding of BIPV and building‐applied photovoltaics (BAPV) among stakeholders, (2) costs of BIPV systems, (3) low awareness of and confidence in “integrability” of PV modules, (4) incomplete knowledge about and insufficiently investigated PV performance and (5) potential of PV façade and roof integration. Since the costs are the key identified factor for BIPV implementation, life‐cycle cost (LCC) assessments of PV façade and roof integrations have been performed, which supported the search for solutions to identified problems. The performed analysis and findings present the basis for the development of a long‐term holistic strategy for PV implementation in Singapore that could help the highly‐urbanized, tropical resource‐ and land‐constrained island city‐state reduce the dependency on fossil fuels and achieve the climate change targets, thus promoting a more sustainable built environment.

Purpose: Due to the fragmented and complex nature of the construction industry, many countries, including Singapore, have progressively encouraged greater collaboration amongst major stakeholders in the industry. It is hoped that doing so will result in an increase in the quality of construction projects. Given the long duration of typical construction projects, it is plausible for collaborating parties to develop close and personal relationships. In recent years, corruption cases arising from familiar collaboration have caught the public's attention. This study seeks to better understand familiar collaboration and its adverse impacts on the quality of construction projects. Design/methodology/approach: A mixed research method was adopted, with a questionnaire survey distributed to 32 respondents representing client and contractors. This was followed by interviews to validate the survey findings. Findings: The findings suggest that, when there is a lack of surveillance, familiar collaboration is likely to lead to favouritism and dishonesty, which can have an adverse impact on the quality of construction projects. The findings additionally suggest that value for money, conformance to specifications and fitness for purpose are the main aspects of quality that are likely to be adversely affected by corrupt practices bought about by familiar collaboration. Originality/value: In this paper, these relationships are described using the term familiar collaboration. Strong and intimate relationships of this type may lead to a danger of parties committing corrupt practices. This study is one of the very attempts seek to better understand familiar collaboration and its adverse impacts on the quality of construction projects.

http://cejsh.icm.edu.pl/cejsh/element/bwmeta1.element.cejsh-9de4a8ed-fd94-4eac-a234-75b20748dabb

This paper explores the topic concerning cultural identity and self-identity expressed by Yeng Pway Ngon and Chia Hwee Peng, two leading figures of Chinese Singaporean poetry. By employing textual analysis, contextualisation and theoretical intervention, this paper is an attempt to examine how they come to terms with the questions of modernity, globalisation, and identity politics, and furthermore, to re-evaluate the cultural implications they may bring about while addressing these issues. In view of the critical role played by Yeng and Chia in the emergence of literary locality, the paper seeks to open a dialogue, a critical inquiry on the focuses of Chinese Singaporean literature.