EXPLORING STRATEGIC LEADERSHIP AND GRAND STRATEGY
SINGAPORE CASE STUDY (Individual preparation for ALL students)
• How successful has Singapore been?
• What major decisions or choices did Singapore make from the time of independence to
the current situation?
• What role did Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew play and how would you describe his
leadership philosophy, values and approach?
• Analyze Singapore’s strategy on climate change.
• What challenges do you believe Singapore faces over the next 5 – 10 years and what
changes should be made to ensure its continued success?
2000-2001 : Singapore economy was declining ( 2% growth vs projected 10 %), recession,
unemployment
Economic review committee: ERC recomende:
1. Reduce dependence on US imports and electronics
2.
Ecosystem strategy -1. ‘Ecosystem strategy’
a. Innovation and Diversify
2. Cluster : Move closer to origins of value chain – ‘scientific knowledge-based economy’’
a. Requires ‘reform in education system for the large population to reap the benefit
3. Tax reforms
a. Reduce corporate tax but in crease GST
Singapore INC ( past strategy rooted deeply into Singapore INC’s history)
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Early leaders identified the following needs to form their earliest strategy:
o need of differentiation from the neighbors in order to become the
‘Oasis for first world county in the third word region’’
 Better organized and more efficient
o Be attractive to foreign investments
Governance: (We are 100% government, but in terms of operational discipline, we are run like the
private industry,)
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Competitors:
Democratic but has ‘Job rotation’’ to keep fresh perspectives in senior
positions juts like in corporate world
Strict control – rule based – Michael Fay’s caning
Anti-corruption – via adequate pay and vigilance ( 5th/102 -2002)