It is now the end of my time in Singapore and one of the greatest experiences I have had traveling overseas. These past two weeks have opened my eyes to not only the way of life in Singapore but also how different business operates in the Western and Eastern worlds. This study abroad gave us an opportunity to explore businesses within various industries, industries I did not expect.
For example, one of the businesses we visited was at an aquarium, where we had a tour of the facilities and a presentation on how marketing concepts applied to the business. It was interesting to see concepts I learned about just in the previous semester be applied to the real world.
Another business visit that piqued my interest was our visit to Changi Airport. Here we learned a valuable lesson in that every decision is strategic. From the layout of airport shops to the introduction of elevated consumer experiences (i.e., Butterfly Garden, Waterfall, etc.), each decision made is to further the airport?s revenue and Singapore?s stance within Asia.
In a presentation given by a hedge fund researcher, we learned how much more apparent family businesses are in Asia as opposed to the States. In the states, family businesses are often times kept within the family for generations and are rarely franchised. However, in Singapore, it is common to see family businesses being similarly operated as public companies.
My favorite industry visit was not necessarily a scheduled visit in the itinerary but a place I visited often throughout my time in Singapore: hawker markets. Hawker markets are essentially rows of stalls that are individualized to the food and beverages they sell. They are located all around Singapore and are the perfect place to not only assimilate into the Singaporean lifestyle but also see the influences of the various ethnicities that make up the people of Singapore. What makes hawker markets unique is that even though each vendor is focused solely on selling their goods to consumers, the men and women in bright yellow work in the background to maintain the busy centers.
Overall, Singapore is certainly much different from the States. Singapore prides itself on cleanliness, sustainability, and efficiency which can be seen in the industries we visited as well as general day-to-day activities. Singapore is also a country that operates by traditions and religious/cultural influences. While the Western world has strong business and lifestyle foundations, there is much to learn especially from countries like Singapore.
