Journal of International DBA Studies - GGU

Emerging Practical Research on Leadership, Corporate Governance, Digital Technologies, and AI

Abigail Modino, Joaquin Gonzalez, Nicole Jackson — Mon, 12 Jan 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Transformational Leadership and Employee Performance in Singaporean SMEs

Guo Qiang Tan — Fri, 07 Nov 2025 00:00:00 +0000

In Singapore, like many countries, economic vitality hinges on the profitability of small and medium enterprises (SMEs). The key to their success lies in the link between leadership style and employee performance. Despite extensive research on the impact of leadership on employee performance, there is a gap in understanding how transformational leadership specifically influences employee performance within Singaporean SMEs. This study addresses that gap, aiming to provide empirical insights crucial for the local context. A correlational research design is employed to investigate relationships among the variables. A questionnaire, administered via Qualtrics XM to 200 participants, collected data on demographics and four tenets of transformational leadership using a five-point rating scale. Structured Equation Modelling techniques were employed using Smart-PLS version 4 for the analysis of the collected data. The conceptual model demonstrated strong construct validity and reliability. The findings reveal two significant relationships: intellectual stimulation (H4) and individualized consideration (H5) within transformational leadership positively affect employee performance in Singaporean SMEs. This suggests that leaders’ encouragement to be innovative and cater to the followers’ needs are more likely to foster higher performance in the organization.

Triadic Leadership in Remote Teams: A Qualitative Case Study of a Sustainability Initiative in L’Oréal China

Hao L. Bai — Wed, 05 Nov 2025 00:00:00 +0000

As sustainability initiatives expand across global organizations, effective leadership is increasingly vital for managing remote, cross-regional teams. This study examines how servant, transformational, and adaptive leadership styles helped a remote team deal with problems in a real project. Using a qualitative case study of L’Oréal China’s Biotherm “Empty Bottle Refill” project, the paper explores how leadership responses mitigated information gaps, trust deficits, psychological disengagement, and coordination inefficiencies. Data were gathered through project documents, semi-structured interviews (six interviews, 50–60 minutes each), and internal communications, and analyzed using thematic coding. Findings include three main propositions: (1) servant leadership fosters psychological safety and team cohesion in remote, cross-functional projects; (2) transformational leadership strengthens mission alignment and stimulates local innovation; and (3) adaptive leadership enables fast, localized experimentation and iterative learning. These styles functioned as a mutually reinforcing leadership system tailored to distributed, sustainability-focused initiatives. The study contributes a pragmatic triadic leadership framework and offers concrete recommendations for managers designing remote projects that must balance trust, purpose, and agility across regions and functions.

The Impact of Corporate Governance on Financial Performance: An Analysis of Small-Cap Companies Listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange

Patrick Wong — Thu, 01 Jan 2026 00:00:00 +0000

This paper examines the impact of selected corporate governance mechanisms on the financial performance of small-cap firms listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange. Small-cap firms face different realities than large companies in terms of financial constraints, concentrated ownership, and heavy compliance demands. As related to the above, this study focuses on three chosen mechanisms, namely: board independence, Chair/CEO duality, and audit committee activity. A mixed-methods research methodology was adopted for this study. The quantitative component involved a simple regression analysis on a sample of 100 firms spanning from 2018 to 2023. Financial metrics of return on assets (ROA) and return on equity (ROE) were used as financial performance measures. The qualitative approach adopted semi-structured interviews with 14 directors and governance professionals. The transcripts were analyzed using phenomenological techniques to capture lived experience of the participants. The empirical results show that higher board independence has little and, at times, a negative impact on financial performance, suggesting inefficiency and a largely symbolic role on the part of independent directors. When the Chair and CEO roles are combined, both ROA and ROE decline, highlighting the risks of concentrated authority. More frequent audit committee meetings do not by themselves lead to better results, rather it is the quality of the meetings that matter more. Participants’ responses echo a similar conclusion in that box‑ticking compliance and limited resources are the persistent hurdles.

A Study on the Impact of Equity Pledges by Controlling Shareholders of Listed Firms in China on Corporate Social Responsibility

Qi Peng, Biqiong Zhang — Tue, 30 Dec 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Using equity pledge financing has gradually become one of the most important shareholders' low-cost alternatives to corporate bond financing. At first glance, "The better the social performance of the controlling shareholder, the higher their pledge ratio" may seem counterintuitive. Is this a general phenomenon or an isolated case? What are the reasons behind it? What are the economic consequences? This paper attempts to answer these three questions by studying the impact of controlling shareholders' equity pledges on corporate social responsibility (CSR). By empirically analyzing CSR reports of listed companies from Hexun from 2010 to 2020, the study concludes that the pledge of controlling shareholders' equity is negatively correlated with CSR performance. Mechanism analysis shows that financing constraints reduce CSR obligations, while the pledge of equity still plays a significant negative role in CSR after considering financing constraints, indicating partial mediation. It also concludes that agency costs are significantly effective in reducing CSR obligations; after considering agency costs, the pledge of equity continues to have a negative impact on CSR, indicating partial mediation.

AI-Augmented Learning Pathways: Ethical and Organisational Implications for Engineering Professionals in Singapore

Albert Lee K H — Wed, 05 Nov 2025 00:00:00 +0000

How is AI-augmented learning reshaping professional pathways for engineers in Singapore, a nation advancing its Smart Nation agenda? This article takes a conceptual approach in responding to this question, drawing on organizational learning, identity theory and AI ethics to frame AI as more than a technical tool. Findings highlight three key dynamics. First, AI is reshaping professional learning and knowledge acquisition. Second, ethical tensions emerge around accountability, bias and human oversight. Third, engineers are moving into hybrid techno-managerial roles that require digital fluency and identity adaptation. Organizational responses such as capability building, ethical governance and targeted upskilling are central to managing these transitions. “The implications extend to policy, education and practice. It concludes with a conceptual framework for AI-augmented learning which underscores the need for ethical literacy,” professional adaptability and inclusive workforce strategies.

Can Transformers Transform WCO Data Model Interoperability?

Jimmy Kwong — Thu, 01 Jan 2026 00:00:00 +0000

“Interoperability” is never merely a slogan - but the very practical feature in all inter-organizational IT solutions and regardless of whether AI is involved. Public sectors, such as customs administrations and their partners, must exchange the same facts with the same definition across declarations, manifests, guarantees, and post-clearance audits. The World Customs Organization (WCO) Data Model (DM) is a common dictionary for that work, published via the eHandbook and the DM App. However, day-to-day implementation still struggles with semantic heterogeneity, version drift, code-list changes, and the need for auditable decisions. This study specifies a single, governed design that addresses these realities together through a transformer-assisted mapping pipeline that retrieves candidate DM elements from authoritative text; re-ranks them with a cross-encoder for precision; enforces hard constraints on data types, cardinalities, and code lists; and routes uncertain cases for human review. The artifact is evaluated ex-ante using design-science method requirements, traceability standards for conformance to WCO Data Model Standards, alignment of risk-control registers with public-sector AI expectations, and scenario walkthroughs. A separate impact section compares life before and after adoption. This study also explains why transformers are a fit for language‑centric schema alignment, while being clear about their limitations along with the safeguards needed. Examples used in this study are from publicly available sources only; no proprietary data was utilized.

Practice-Led Case Study of Workforce Transformation through National AI Prompt Design Challenges in Singapore and the Philippines

Kevin Shepherdson, Celine Chew, Seema Purohit — Sat, 13 Dec 2025 00:00:00 +0000

The rapid rise of generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) has intensified the need to reskill non-technical professionals, who make up the majority of the workforce yet are often left out of AI development initiatives. This practice-led study investigates whether nontechnical knowledge workers can, through structured bootcamps and time-bound competitions, transition from AI consumers to AI creators within hours. Using the Generative AI Capability Framework (comprising knowledge, skills, tools, processes, and culture), the study analyzed nearly 1,100 participants in the National AI Prompt Design Challenges held in Singapore (2024) and the Philippines (2025). Participants received training in large language model fundamentals, prompt engineering, Chain-of-Thought prompting and responsible AI safeguards before building applications on the no-code Capabara platform. Findings show rapid capability gains in knowledge, skills and tool use, particularly among students who demonstrated creativity and agility, while professionals contributed domain grounding but faced execution and integration challenges. Persistent gaps in workflow embedding and responsible AI practices highlight process and culture as the weakest dimensions. Cross-country comparisons revealed Singapore’s maturity in governance but risk aversion, contrasted with the Philippines’ grassroots creativity but weaker safeguards. The study contributes empirical evidence to theories of digital workforce transformation, offering practical insights for educators, organizations and policymakers on designing inclusive capability-building strategies that balance innovation with responsibility.

Policy Support Pathways for Emerging Technologies in the U.S. and the Synergy Mechanism with Financial Capital

Runbin Liu — Sat, 06 Dec 2025 00:00:00 +0000

This study investigates the policy support pathways of emerging technologies in the United States and how it works synergistically with financial capital. Promising technologies such as artificial intelligence, quantum computing, clean energy environment, and biotech are central to the economic growth, competitiveness of nations, and solve global challenges like climate change. Nevertheless, their growth is rather impeded by costly research and development (R/D) costs, prolonged periods of commercialization, and technological riskiness. To curb such impediments, U.S has constructed a policy framework that is complex and financial capital, including venture capital, public-privileged affiliations, institutional plans as well as corporate financing. The systematic examination of policy documents, industry reports, case studies and empirical data source identifies four main policy support streams, namely legislative and strategic direction, fiscal and financial incentive, R&D infrastructure and collaborative networks as well as market creation and regulatory alignment. It also examines the interaction of these pathways with financial capital, via the mechanisms of risk reduction, information signaling, resource mobilization and market expansion. The study points to the significance of integrating policy formulation to achieve the highest efficiency of synergy to resolve the tension between short-term liquidity demand levels of capital and long-term technological discoveries. Through these dynamics, the study will offer evidence-based information to policymakers, investors, and technology builders on building a stronger and more innovative ecosystem of new technologies.

Attracting Private Investment in Public Infrastructure

Serge Ijabo Ngarambe — Thu, 01 Jan 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Public budgets and concessional aid are insufficient to deliver transport, energy, water and digital systems required in developing countries. This study examines how governments can mobilize private investment in public infrastructure by combining credible institutions, fit‑for‑purpose instruments, and risk sharing. Using Rwanda as an embedded case and benchmarking six exemplars (specifically Luxembourg, United States, Singapore, South Korea, Sweden, and Canada), the study uses mixed methods: qualitative analysis of laws, PPP guidance and project documents, alongside quantitative indicators of private participation in infrastructure and bond issuance. Findings converge upon three pillars: codified rules to reduce transaction costs; investable instruments (PPPs, infrastructure/green bonds and pooled vehicles) to widen the investor base; and de‑risking to unlock early markets when capped, disclosed, and time‑bound. A complementary contribution proposes a Retail Infrastructure Mobilization Model (RIMM) that adapts retail bond financing for infrastructure needs through ring‑fenced proceeds, independent oversight, milestone reporting, and consumer protection, enabling citizens and diaspora to co‑invest in service needs in tiers of USD 1,000–10,000 (or local equivalents). For Rwanda, a sequenced pathway is proposed: 1) standardizing PPP practice, 2) publishing a rolling pipeline, 3) piloting instruments including a Rwanda Retail Infrastructure Bond. and 4) tapering support as markets deepen.