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States that quality assurance has, of late, been positioned as a cornerstone for continued viability and success in universities ‐ and with increasing pressure from funding agencies, employers and students it is even more crucial to have visible quality systems in place. Provides insights on the overall TQM strategy at the Graduate School of Business and the Faculty of Business Administration, National University of Singapore. Presents an overview of thinking and efforts currently initiated in the quest of quality, especially regarding assessment. Particularly addresses institutional quality and performance in key assessment areas. Also highlights learning implications in relation to the assessment initiative.

Examines TQM implementation in Star Union, a small manufacturing firm, and offers insights into how its “dynamic equilibrium” system drives the development of its employees and provides the link between corporate quality culture and performance. TQM ideology is diffused through a unique management and employee relations philosophy as well as the adoption of innovative mechanisms. Provides a useful reference for managers attempting to improve organizational effectiveness.

Despite the burgeoning popularity of virtual gifting in live streaming, research lacks an in-depth understanding of the drivers behind this behavior. Using para-social relationship (PSR), this study aims to capture viewers’ lively social feelings toward the streamer as the key factor leading to the purchase behavior of virtual gifts. It also aims to establish a theoretical link between PSR and viewers’ holistic experience in live streaming as captured by cognitive absorption and aims to investigates the role of technological features (i.e. viewer–streamer and viewer–viewer interactivity, streamer-level and viewer-level deep profiling and design aesthetics) in shaping viewers’ experience.

Based on 433 survey responses, this study employs a combination of structural equation modeling and neural networks to offer valuable insights into the relationships between the technological environment, viewer experience and viewer behavior.

Our results highlight the salience of PSR in promoting the purchase of virtual gifts through cognitive absorption and the importance of the technological environment in eliciting the viewer experience. This study sheds light on the development of PSR in a technological environment and its relationship with cognitive absorption.

By applying PSR to conceptualize viewers’ perceived connection with the streamer, this study extends the research on purchase behavior in the non-shopping context by providing an enlightened understanding of virtual gift purchase behavior in live streaming. Moreover, by theoretically linking PSR with cognitive absorption, virtual gift purchase and technological features of live streaming, it enriches the theory of PSR and bridges the gap between the design practice of supporting the IT infrastructure of live streaming and research.

Previous research suggests that teams pace their change either internally to coincide with the midpoint, deadline, or task phases, or externally by entraining to exogenous pacers. Other research suggests that teams adapt to random environmental shocks. This paper investigates if, how, and when endogenous, exogenous, and random pacers affect the patterns of change in groups. We studied five software development teams during a turbulent two-year period. Our case studies and supporting analyses suggest that teams perform a “dance of entrainment”—simultaneously creating multiple rhythms and choreographing their activities to mesh with different pacers at different times.

The consumption of bubble tea is a huge phenomenon in Southeast Asia, and many bubble tea stores have been decorated uniquely in an attempt to attract more consumers. Hence, the purpose of this study is to investigate the influence of servicescape on experiential value and its influence on consumers' responses (i.e. eWOM, revisit intentions and willingness to pay a price premium) based on the Stimulus-Organism-Response framework.

This research project gathered survey data from 289 consumers of bubble tea. The collected data underwent analysis employing a statistical technique known as partial least squares structural equation modelling to examine and understand the relationships between different variables within the dataset, offering insights into consumer behaviour and preferences regarding bubble tea consumption.

The results show that factors such as facility aesthetics, seating comfort and cleanliness positively affect experiential value. However, layout accessibility and signs and symbols do not affect experiential value. In addition, experiential value positively affects eWOM, revisit intentions and willingness to pay a price premium.

The importance of servicescape in physical stores within the restaurant setting has been extensively documented in existing literature. However, there is a notable lack of research addressing the influence of servicescape on consumer responses, particularly within the bubble tea context. This study stands out as one of the few endeavours to examine the impacts of servicescape on consumer responses within the bubble tea industry.

This study aims to explore the attitudes and perceptions of Chinese coffee consumers towards robot baristas, considering the proliferation of automated entities within China's coffee sector.

Employing the extended Technology Acceptance Model 2 as its theoretical framework, this research conducts in-depth interviews with 30 Chinese coffee consumers. The laddering technique is utilized, supplemented by video simulation. Thematic analysis is subsequently employed to scrutinize the data.

The findings delineate six pivotal themes encapsulating Chinese coffee consumers' perceptions of robot baristas – Perceived Introvert Friendliness, Perceived Novelty, Perceived Intellectual Discrepancies, Perceived Efficiency and Reliability, Perceived Emotional Disconnection, and Perceived Labour Market Disruption. Moreover, six motivational themes are identified - Social Status Boosting, Openness to Experience, Ease of Use, Tech-Driven Affordability, Reliable and Uncompromising Quality, and Resistance to Overbearing Service.

The study is limited by its focus on a specific cultural context. Future research could explore cross-cultural perspectives.

The findings of this study offer guidance on how to market and position robotic barista services to appeal to consumer preferences and drive adoption.

Understanding consumer perceptions of robotic baristas has broader social implications, particularly in terms of labour market disruption and the potential impact on traditional coffee professions. Businesses can navigate the social implications of automation more effectively and foster greater acceptance of technological innovations within society.

This study offers insights into the inclinations of Chinese coffee consumers, thereby facilitating informed decision-making and the formulation of effective strategies to expedite the adoption of robotic service.

Rapid prototyping (RP) is fast becoming a “strategic” technology, one that cannot be simply overlooked. This is because the production of a physical prototype from the computer model can be achieved in a very short turnaround time and without the fuss required by NC programming systems. In Singapore, like many countries around the world, there is great interest in this emerging technology. Discusses the evolution of the RP scene in Singapore from 1988 to 1997.

The traditional methods of library book lending and membership control are discussed, and the advantages of bar code based automated systems are suggested. The experiences of seven major Singapore libraries in implementing such systems are compared, with special reference to the use of ‘specific’, ‘significant’ or ‘smart’ bar codes, comparisons of purchased versus locally printed labels and homebrew versus turnkey systems, and a look at the problems of retrospective conversion.

In the face of Singapore's land scarcity problem, there is an increasing prevalence of strata‐titled developments providing private housing in Singapore. This paper considers the awareness in certain quarters of certain fundamental aspects of this unique form of property ownership. The particular aspect which this paper considers is the understanding and interpretation of the term “common property” among two important groups of people. The first group comprises those who purchase strata title properties – they are referred to as “subsidiary proprietors”. The second group comprises “managing agents” (MAs), who may be delegated this task of professionally managing and maintaining the strata‐titled development. The findings of a survey are that their understanding of this fundamental term is inadequate. Based on these findings, the paper concludes with recommendations for improving the level of professionalism among MAs through licensing and courses for continuing professional development. This will bode well for the overall state of strata‐titled developments which are not only here to stay, but are expected to increase in number in Singapore.