ASB Thought Leadership

The ASB Faculty Feed brings you valuable insights and highlights through research, commentaries and interviews from our world-class faculty.
Finance & Central Banking
Innovation & Entrepreneurship
Leadership & Management
Marketing
Economics
Sustainability
  • How Leaders Can Drive A Culture Of Sustainability Through The BASE Framework - Read on to discover how the scientifically-backed B.A.S.E. framework, taught by Dr. Thun Thamrongnawasawat, P​​rofessor of Practice at Asia School of Business and International Faculty Fellow at MIT, can help organizations answer these questions and chart a sustainable path forward. ...
  • Can exposure through volunteering change implicit biases? - Does exposure to an unfamiliar migrant community change implicit biases? In 2021, ASB professors Sam Flanders and Melati Nungsari conducted an experimental study by exposing Malaysians to a few hours of volunteering with Rohingya refugees. They then studied changes in the attitudes of the Malaysian participants towards refugees. ...
  • Sparking Joy this Mental Health Awareness Month - There is much to celebrate in the month of May as we will be celebrating Hari Raya (Eid al-Fitr) and Mental Health Awareness month. As such, our theme at Asia School of Business for this holiday season is Spark Ceria, or Spark Joy. Along with celebrating and enjoying the holidays,… ...
  • Is A Four-Day Work Week Good for Business? - From Japan and Iceland to the UK, pilot schemes across the globe are testing the effectiveness of the four-day work week, but is it good for business? Prof. Yi-Ren Wang, Assistant Professor of Organizational Behavior weighs in. ...
  • What Is The Future For Digital Currencies In Asia? - Technological change in Asia is happening at a rapid rate. But how is the region embracing Bitcoin, Ethereum, and the future of digital currencies? ...
  • The Challenges and Opportunities of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion for Asian Businesses - Although the concept of DE&I initially evolved from the West, learning how to work effectively with workers that are traditionally underrepresented in workplaces is critical to all businesses’ success in this new era of globalization. This article presents some unique challenges and opportunities for businesses to consider while promoting DE&I… ...
  • Conversations on Central Banking: How Can The Integrated Policy Framework Benefit Emerging Economies? [Webinar Recap] - Central banks face several challenges in emerging markets. The International Monetary Fund often visits member countries to consult with the financial authorities (mainly the finance ministries and central banks) on the country’s overall economic outlook and policy strategies they can follow in dealing with challenges. One of the main topics… ...
  • Conversations on Central Banking: Finance As Information [Webinar Recap]  - Recently, ASB hosted a webinar as part of its “Conversations on Central Banking” series, focusing on the fast-changing world of #digitaldata, and the promise it holds in creating financial markets that are profoundly better informed. This information revolution is especially exciting when it supports new financial instruments and wider access… ...
  • Essay on Adam Smith | Book V: Of the Revenue of the Sovereign or Commonwealth - Book V of the Wealth of Nations, 'Of the Revenue of the Sovereign or Commonwealth' concludes Smith's magnum opus. Having criticised the existing state of government involvement in the economy in Book IV, Smith uses Book V to outline his principles regarding when and how governments should intervene in the… ...
  • Covid-19: A prelude to what is to come if we don’t avert climate change - While the problem of climate change is simple to understand, the solutions are complex and require a deeper understanding of the systems and dynamics surrounding them. ...
  • Does Everyone Need To Be A Leader? - Muhammad Sabri Rawi, Senior Lecturer at Asia School of Business spoke of what leadership is and what it means to be a leader in his webinar “Leading Self and Others,” where he gave insight into personal purpose, overcoming leadership misconceptions and pushback, leadership energy, and followership. ...
  • Conversations on Central Banking: Building Resilience and Policy Frameworks [Webinar Recap] - Held in December 2020, this installment of the Conversations on Central Banking series focused on building resilience and policy frameworks. The focus was to discuss the increasingly complex and unpredictable environment facing central bankers and financial regulators. Some other factors addressed were the technological, institutional, and geopolitical changes creating new… ...
  • Conversations on Central Banking: Bloated Central Bank Balance Sheets [Webinar Recap] - Recently, ASB hosted a webinar series titled Conversations on Central Banking. One of the webinars in this series focuses on bloated central bank balance sheets. In this blog, we will recap the conversations with a focus on key takeaways from the discussion. ...
  • Managing Power Dynamics on Boards - The quality of board decisions is affected by power dynamics, and the best way to manage this is for directors to acknowledge that power dynamics exist. This article explores the implications for businesses that fail to manage them and recommends ways to manage these dynamics. ...
  • The Update of the MCCG Signals Fresh Focus on Sustainability for Companies - What does the recent update of the Malaysian Code on Corporate Governance mean for companies? Dr. Elsa Satkunasingam highlights the big changes and how companies can prepare. ...
  • Why Mental Health and Wellbeing Matters: Interview with Coaching and Counseling Center at ASB - Mental and emotional health challenges are stigmatized, yet they impact a wide range of people. At ASB, we strive to create a supportive environment for people to thrive. ...
  • How ASB is Equipping Leaders for the Future Through New Exec Ed Offerings - Recently, we spoke to Dr. Lawrence Abeln, Associate Dean at Asia School of Business (ASB), on the changing nature of executive education, the case for a business school in Asia, and the new offerings that ASB is set to offer following its merger in 2020 with Iclif (formerly known as… ...
  • ASB-UNHCR-REFUGEE STUDIES AND FORCED MIGRATION Prof Melati Nungsari: “What can I do that helps solve problems?” - Covid-19 has shown us how interconnected we are, serving as a wake-up call that we need to work together to solve pressing societal challenges. At the Asia School of Business (ASB), Prof Melati Nungsari is using her work to address some of these challenges. ...
  • Q&A: Professor Loredana Padurean, Asia School of Business - Teaching the MIT Sloan Executive Education program at Asia School of Business, Prof. Padurean talks innovation, smart skills and digital transformation ...
  • Leading Leaders for Strategic Innovation - Change is happening at a rate never seen before. To keep up, business as usual just won’t cut it. Instead, the ability to understand how to drive strategic innovation is crucial – not merely to survive, but to truly drive breakthrough performance. ...
  • How Can An MBA Prepare You For The Future Of Work? - As the world recovers from the coronavirus pandemic, MBAs are well-placed to lead through changes in the business landscape. Here’s what you’ll need to prepare for the future of work. ...
  • Key Skills for a Successful Digital Transformation - In the last of three articles, Prof. Loredana Padurean, Asia School of Business, lists the smart and sharp skills for successful digital transformation ...
  • Empowering Central Banks for a Changing World - The mandate of central banks today is rapidly evolving, especially in emerging markets. The Asia School of Business is rising to the challenge of equipping central bankers with relevant, applicable knowledge to adapt to a fast-changing world - through a first-of-its-kind Master of Central Banking Program, Central Banking Research Center,… ...
  • Culture is Key Reason Digital Transformation Fails - In the second of three articles, Prof. Padurean at Asia School of Business explains why digital transformation is easy, people transformation is not ...
  • Why So Many Business Digital Transformations Fail - In the first of three articles on why digital transformations fail, Prof. Padurean at Asia School of Business lists the questions businesses must consider ...
  • Making International Law Part of Your Global Strategy - In this day and age, every business has the potential to be a global business. But how can business leaders guard against international legal risk? And how can they unlock untapped global business potential? With a robust understanding of international law, leaders can identify hidden threats and leverage opportunities when… ...
  • Poised for Leadership: How Women Can Thrive at the Workplace - Gillian Ng, Senior Director of Corporate Governance at ASB Iclif, recently sat down with South China Morning Post to discuss how women can continue to leverage their existing skill sets and be more visible in the workplace. ...
  • Emerging Leadership During Times of Crisis and Change - There are no hard and fast rules in these times of hard and fast changes. Sustainable, inspiring and powerful leadership really boils down to solid, unwavering fundamentals anchored in: a purpose that continuously energizes you, a belief in the power of people, and personal values that act as both a… ...
  • The Changing Face of Corporate Governance in an Uncertain World - From determining how to best preserve cash to reviewing plans for keeping employees safe, the pandemic has upended the way boards have made routine decisions. Yet the core principles of integrity, ethical behavior, transparency, and respecting the rights of all stakeholders remain the same. ...
  • women at asia school of business Building an Inclusive Future, One Leading Woman at A Time - Since Day 1 at ASB, we have challenged convention and chartered paths no other school has gone before. The 2021 theme for IWD, #choosetochallenge, resonates strongly with our ethos, as well as our number one value of Respect for People. In embracing strength in diversity in an ever-increasing connected world,… ...
  • Survey: How Customer-Centric Are Malaysian Brands? - What is customer centricity and how do we organize it? What does this all mean for Malaysian companies? To get a deeper understanding on how firms perform, Asia School of Business (ASB) and Vase.ai have recently partnered together to run a Malaysian Customer Centricity Study. ...
  • Why Business Must Understand the Political Landscape in Frontier Markets to Succeed - From government regulation to societal movements and protests, political dynamics affects businesses on many dimensions. As foreign direct investment increases worldwide, so do political-related risks. ASB's Prof Renato Lima de Oliveira breaks down why it is essential for today's business leader to understand the political landscape, especially in frontier markets,… ...
  • Big Tech Offers Promise but Also Poses Risks for the Financial Sector - Prof Hans Genberg explains in a recent ADB Institute publication that digital transformation is changing how and by whom financial services are provided, bringing benefits to consumers in the form of expanded and simplified access to financial services. However, this transformation is also affecting the financial services industry in ways… ...
  • Redefining Leadership in the Covid-19 Era - As the world faces challenges at a scale unlike any we have seen before, we've seen new styles of leadership rise to prominence while outmoded methods come under criticism and scrutiny. Is it time for a new type of leader? Muhammad Sabri Rawi, Senior Lecturer at ASB's Iclif Executive Education… ...
  • The Top 10 Smart Skills of the Future: The Skills of the Future are SMART and SHARP! - Faculty Director of ASB's award-winning Action Learning Program, Prof. Loredana Padurean, believes that it's Smart and Sharp skills that help her students succeed in diverse, global, and challenging business environments. Read on to find out what the Top 10 Smart Skills are. ...
  • Marketing in a Post-Pandemic World: Brand Transformation in the Digital Age - As more customer eyeballs move online due to Covid-19, the war for attention is intensifying. But branding in the Digital Age goes beyond employing new media channels. There are more fundamental strategic considerations to think of. To empower companies to navigate the challenges of branding and marketing themselves in a… ...
  • Freedom Within the Framework: The Competitive Advantage in a Changing World - Are freedom and discipline at odds with each other? In today’s modern workplaces, Dr. Thun Thamrongnawasawat, Professor of Practice at ASB, explains why both are necessary, and how they can help organizations thrive in the face of uncertainty. ...
  • Best Business Practices for Covid-19 - What should businesses and employees do when someone at work tests positive for Covid-19? And how can this be done without risking further business losses? MIT and ASB professor Kevin Crow discusses these issues and more with BFM: The Business Station. ...
  • Understanding the Digital Currency Landscape in Asia and Beyond - Central bank digital currency (CBDC) is a hot topic in today's digitally-driven world, especially seen through the lens of Covid-19. To help central banks think about the opportunities and risks presented by sovereign digital currencies, Professors Munro and Ong at the Asia School of Business are now teaching custom-built courses… ...
  • The Leadership Energy Journey - “How do I overcome burn-out? Will power corrupt? Why do I always face resistance? What is the difference between leadership and management? How will I excel at both? Where am I on my leadership journey?... These are, of course, complex questions with complicated answers. Seeing and understanding the journey that… ...
  • What Moves Bond Markets in Emerging Economies? - A mature understanding of bond markets’ movement is critical for those who desire futures as central bankers, regulators, financiers or economists. The Asia School of Business’ MCB program offers innovative courses on how bond markets function, led by bond market specialist Prof. Eli Remolona, who has spent more than 30… ...
  • The 4-CAPS+ Leadership Model - Having been a leadership coach and consultant over the years, I have had many opportunities to be a part of organizational changes. In 2008, I was brought into a major family-turned-professional business to transform a top-down leadership model into a more decentralized approach. ...
  • photo-1377055 Retirement solutions should harness investment science and technology to shockproof plans - Humankind has made huge strides in technology. Big data and data analytics, artificial intelligence, machine learning and deep learning are being used in various daily applications and industries. But when it comes to retirement schemes, we appear to be stuck in the past. ...
  • Overcoming the Innovation Stigma, Here’s How to Do It…1 Overcoming the Innovation Stigma: Here’s How to Do It… - To be an innovator, you must constantly be asking the question: “What doesn’t make sense?”. Mine was: “Why is innovation such a stigmatized word? Considering how important innovation is to the growth, or survival, of organisations, why do most employees I have met are so turned off by being an… ...
  • Space Noodle Space Noodle - “Another one!” A man in clothes mottled with stains yelled above the congregation. His hand clutched a wrinkled bill as if his life depended on it. “One for us too. Please! …” A gaunt lady fought to keep their place in line. Clung tight to her legs was an undersized… ...
  • How do I Want to be Remembered How do I Want to be Remembered? - The 21st Century is an era of the brain. One of the Nobel Prizes given in 2014 was to a group of three scientists—Dr. John O’Keefe, Dr. May-Britt Moser, and Dr. Edvard I. Moser— for their discoveries of cells that constitute a positioning system in the brain. As someone who… ...
  • Managing by Freedom Within A Framework1 Managing by Freedom Within A Framework - “Dr Tan, I’m really fascinated by the Freedom Within A Framework idea.” Olivia, a manager who recently attended our Iclif programme shared with me. We were having a follow-up reflection conversation. “But the problem is, I don’t know how to put it into practice.” She continued: “I manage 15 people.… ...
  • Innovating Inside-Out, Why It’s Important to Join the Movement Innovating Inside-Out: Why It’s Important to Join the Movement - Along with appreciating how innovation has changed in the 21st Century, the Innovating Inside-Out programme aims to challenge the top-down and outside-in organisational approaches to innovation. We ignite and grow the inner innovator DNA of employees from within. Participants will be liberated by the ease of innovating and will adopt… ...
  • Get Your Employees a Think Buddy to Capture Innovation1 Get Your Employees a Think Buddy to Capture Innovation - What happened the last time you had a crazy idea? Who did you talk to? What did they say? Here are some possible responses depending on who you chose to share with. You: “I have a crazy idea” Team: “Why don’t YOU do it?” Boss: “What is your implementation plan?”… ...
  • Want to Innovate Faster Focus on the Cream not the Cone1 Want to Innovate Faster? Focus on the Cream not the Cone - Focus on The Cream Not The Cone (FoCre) means to forgo the conventional model of Talent Acquiring and move towards Idea Harvesting when it comes to innovation. We have tried the former for decades with continued challenges, as reviewed later in this piece. FoCre requires, however, an organizational paradigm shift… ...
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