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Sat, Mar 27, 2010
The Straits Times
Family comes first, but not when hiring
By Melissa Sim
'FAMILY first' and 'meritocracy' are more than just buzzwords.
Going by the results of a new survey, they are values that are very closely held by Singaporeans.
The survey, done by researchers at the National University of Singapore (NUS), found that Singaporeans regard the family unit as the most important social group, but when it comes to hiring, merit trumps blood ties.
The study, designed to throw light on the behaviour of Singaporean consumers, was also done elsewhere in Asia - China, South Korea, Japan, Vietnam, Taiwan and Hong Kong. More than 8,000 adults aged above 20 were polled in face-to-face interviews, with each country or territory represented by more than 1,000 respondents.
Associate Professor Tan Soo Jiuan of the NUS Business School, referring to the consumer-behaviour thrust of the survey, explained that if it is known that Singaporeans are family-oriented, businesses can think, for example, along the lines of pro-family activities, products and services. They can also be aware of whether the buying of a big-ticket item will be a family or individual decision.
She added that, to a certain extent, pro-family campaigns such as that in 1994, to promote family values, have worked: 'I won't say our values are a result of such campaigns, but these campaigns do raise awareness of such values.'
Asked which social group was important to them, 99.7 per cent of Singaporeans named the family, which they would turn to first when in need.
Family also ranked highest in the other countries. Among Vietnamese respondents, 98.5 per cent said family was an important social group; among the Japanese, the figure was 98 per cent.
Mr Lim Soon Hock, who chairs the National Family Council, said: 'I think the value system and enormous educational efforts to promote the family have contributed to this positive outcome.' Partially government-funded, the four-year-old council is a champion and advocate for the Singaporean family.
The survey also showed that Singaporeans value education. If the breadwinners from 10 families here were to die, fewer than one in 10 of those families would set their school-going children to work.
Only the South Koreans and Japanese were less willing to do this under the same circumstances.
Prof Tan noted that this probably came from the big premium put on education and obtaining a university education in all these countries.
But although Singaporeans consider their immediate family and relatives as their two most important social groups, they will not let this get in the way of meritocracy. The survey showed they will hire the most deserving candidate, even if the next best candidate is kin. Only 15.5 per cent said they would hire a relative, much lower than the 40 per cent in Japan.
Mr Lim said: 'I think this is a healthy state of affairs. There is a place for family, and there is a place for business. We need to separate business from family relations.
Sat, Mar 27, 2010
The Straits Times
Family comes first, but not when hiring
By Melissa Sim
'FAMILY first' and 'meritocracy' are more than just buzzwords.
Going by the results of a new survey, they are values that are very closely held by Singaporeans.
The survey, done by researchers at the National University of Singapore (NUS), found that Singaporeans regard the family unit as the most important social group, but when it comes to hiring, merit trumps blood ties.
The study, designed to throw light on the behaviour of Singaporean consumers, was also done elsewhere in Asia - China, South Korea, Japan, Vietnam, Taiwan and Hong Kong. More than 8,000 adults aged above 20 were polled in face-to-face interviews, with each country or territory represented by more than 1,000 respondents.
Associate Professor Tan Soo Jiuan of the NUS Business School, referring to the consumer-behaviour thrust of the survey, explained that if it is known that Singaporeans are family-oriented, businesses can think, for example, along the lines of pro-family activities, products and services. They can also be aware of whether the buying of a big-ticket item will be a family or individual decision.
She added that, to a certain extent, pro-family campaigns such as that in 1994, to promote family values, have worked: 'I won't say our values are a result of such campaigns, but these campaigns do raise awareness of such values.'
Asked which social group was important to them, 99.7 per cent of Singaporeans named the family, which they would turn to first when in need.
Family also ranked highest in the other countries. Among Vietnamese respondents, 98.5 per cent said family was an important social group; among the Japanese, the figure was 98 per cent.
Mr Lim Soon Hock, who chairs the National Family Council, said: 'I think the value system and enormous educational efforts to promote the family have contributed to this positive outcome.' Partially government-funded, the four-year-old council is a champion and advocate for the Singaporean family.
The survey also showed that Singaporeans value education. If the breadwinners from 10 families here were to die, fewer than one in 10 of those families would set their school-going children to work.
Only the South Koreans and Japanese were less willing to do this under the same circumstances.
Prof Tan noted that this probably came from the big premium put on education and obtaining a university education in all these countries.
But although Singaporeans consider their immediate family and relatives as their two most important social groups, they will not let this get in the way of meritocracy. The survey showed they will hire the most deserving candidate, even if the next best candidate is kin. Only 15.5 per cent said they would hire a relative, much lower than the 40 per cent in Japan.
Mr Lim said: 'I think this is a healthy state of affairs. There is a place for family, and there is a place for business. We need to separate business from family relations.
