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The degree to which the extensive business networks of ethnic Chinese in Asia succeed because of ethnic characteristics, or simply because of the sound application of good business practice, is a key question of great current concern to those interested in business, management and economic development in Asia. This book brings together a range of leading experts who present original new research findings and important new thinking on this vital subject. Based on rich empirical research data and a multidisciplinary explanatory framework, this book assesses the role, characteristics and challeng

Industry 4.0 encompasses adopting opportunities from end-to-end digitalisation with connected computers and increasingly autonomous automation systems equipped with intelligent machine learning algorithms that control the robotics without much input from humans. Smart manufacturing technologies (a part of the smart industry, an extension of Industry 4.0 initiatives and implementation) involve automating various processes. It aims to connect various units in real-time while enhancing profitability by reducing costs, increasing labour productivity, and improving overall efficiency. The impetus for our paper is the assumption that the adoption of smart manufacturing technologies such as advanced robotics, cyber-physical systems, or the Internet of Things (IoT) continues to be a challenge for Small and Medium Enterprise (SME) manufacturing firms in Singapore. Industry 4.0 adoption issues include significant capital investment, developing technical skills, recruiting new talent, re-skilling of the workforce, training needs, top management support, etc. But the traditional manufacturing model is fast evolving. Ultimately, adopting the right enabling technologies in a phased manner with proper planning remains a critical factor for the success of Industry 4.0 initiatives. This paper contributes to the minimal Asian management literature about Industry 4.0 matters in SMEs by interviewing eight key experts who are very knowledgeable about the subject matter. The qualitative study sheds light on the drivers and barriers to better understand current business dynamics, potential issues, focus areas, and initiatives to smoothen this implementation, to help catapult local manufacturers to the next level. A structured questionnaire was designed based on the current body of knowledge to conduct qualitative semi-structured interviews with key specialists and decision-makers across Government agencies, Institutes of Higher Learnings (IHL's), suppliers/providers of Industry 4.0 technology, business associations, and the SME sector. The analysis of the interviews suggests that factors or drivers such as technology push by the Government with robust funding and training support, skilled labour shortages including imported labour dependence, productivity and efficiency issues, the pressure to innovate business models due to increased competition, and the impact of Covid-19 are propelling SMEs to adopt Industry 4.0. Some of the barriers include high investment costs and return on investment concerns, capability concerns, mindset issues, and lack of ecosystem concerns. The extent to which local SMEs are ready for Industry 4.0 will be further examined during the 2nd phase of the research project.

This article intends to analyse recent structural patterns, development problems and the reasons for rehabilitation of the urban private economy in the People's Republic of China since 1978. The authors start from the thesis that the so-called "private sector" in China is not comparable with its "out"-differentiated counterpart in Western industrial countries, but is interlaced, in a complex way, with informal, partly illegitimate activities, interpersonal relation-networks ("guanxi") or economic transactions of state/collective factories. The article illustrates the subordinate situation of the individual labourers in terms of their political regulation by (sometimes restrictive) licence procedures, taxes and fees; resource supply problems (material, commodities); precarious financial situation, capital procurement and credit opportunities; self organization; poor chances of social participation; recruitment and their dependence on state organs and local bureaucracy. Although some of the "getihu" (who are not only confined to small pedlars and merchants, but also include larger industrial companies, leased factories.) have now become extremely prosperous, the majority of them have to combine self-exploitation, family resources and informal transactions, to compensate the permanent insecurity which itself derives from the exclusion from the state planning and supply system, the social security system and the ambivalence of state and local cadre politics towards the private economy.

Against the background of a rapidly changing business environment, the article examines the organisational change management behavior of the owner-managers of small and medium-sized enterprises in Singapore. The analysis of survey data is aimed at ascertain whether there are any differences between Chinese and English-educated small (Chinese) businessmen in terms of Change Management (CM), a dichotomy which is of great historical and politico-cultural significance in Singapore. The survey data show that there are indeed differences between the subgroups (e.g. with regard to the initiation of a more participatory people management style) but these variations turned out to be far less pronounced than expected. Access to information appears to be a key antecedent of the various change management approaches used by both groups. Chinese-educated businessmen in particular seem to be somewhat disadvantaged in this respect as the modern management literature is largely published in English.