1. Singapore Tradenet
A Tale of One City

2. Suggested Study Questions
1. What was Lee Kuan Yew’s vision for Singapore? What challenges did he face in achieving this vision?
2. Describe the trade documentation process before and after the implementation TradeNet. Who were the major stakeholders involved in the process redesign?
3. Evaluate the process used to implement TradeNet. Would you consider the implementation “successful” If so, what factors contributed to its success? If not, what factors contributed to its failure?
4. What effect will Tradenet have on countries inside and/or outside the Pacific Rim?
Dr. Chen, Singapore TradeNet
TM -2

3. Why TradeNet case?
The case presents the story behind the development of an industrywide information technology (IT) platform to facilitate trade documentation processing. The (TradeNet) system is essential for Singapore to maintain its position as a key port in the region.
Dr. Chen, Singapore TradeNet
TM -3

4. Goals of the TradeNet Project
The original goal
Redesign of the trade process to
The transformation of the country’s
Strategy and infrastructure
EDI
eventually led to the development of TradeNet
Dr. Chen, Singapore TradeNet
TM -4

5. TradeNet involves the partnership of a unique assortment of government agencies, bureaus, statutory boards, private agencies, and private companies involved in all aspects of the shipment of goods.
The apparent success of the effort invites a review of the factors that contributed to the initiative and its implementations.
The case provides an inter-organizational perspective to the theme of IT-enabled organizational changes and an example of IT-enabled business process redesign.
Dr. Chen, Singapore TradeNet
TM -5

6. Lee Kuan Yew’s Vision for Singapore
Challenges and opportunities that Singapore faced from its birth as an independent city-state to 1989.
Lee’s methods (leadership style) for moving the country forward (committed, involved)
Paul Nutt’s four tactics of leadership styles
edict, persuasion, participation, and active intervention
most frequently used
most successful
How important of trade to Singapore’s success (and why?)
Dr. Chen, Singapore TradeNet
TM -6

7. TradeNet Implementation
Discuss the process by which the country transformed its trade process to increase its competitiveness.
1. Establishing direction and developing the infrastructure
vision, infrastructure
embark on initiatives to identify opportunities (RFI, RFP)
2. Clarifying the focus for change and establishing the transition organization
no single organization could accomplish the trade process redesign independently (partnership)
social infrastructure change
Dr. Chen, Singapore TradeNet
TM -7

8. TradeNet Implementation (cont.)
five critical success factors:
gain commitment of all interested parties
agreement to agree
each representative was an influential leader
redesign was a larger (interorganizational) BPR
personnel movement are easier and quick (job rotations)
3. Redesigning the trade process
prototype: Trade Dial-Up (Merchants Air Cargo Inc.)
existing process and new BPR
Five critical success factors:
1. gain commitment of all interested parties
2. agreement to agree
- cascading commitment based on the nature of the agreement between the stakeholders
3.each representative was an influential leader of a large group of stakeholders
- scope of he involvement of interested parties
4. redesign was a larger (interorganizational) BPR
- breadth and depth
- as opposed to the individual pieces of the process controlled by each organization
5. personnel movement are easier and quick (job rotations)
- than would be possible in much larger countries: relationship, relocation, geographic, cultural changes & JOB ROTATIONfS N
Dr. Chen, Singapore TradeNet
TM -8

9. TradeNet Implementation (cont.)
4. Technical design and implementation (levels of risk)
project size
project structure
experience with the technology (outsouricng and technology transfer)
any evidence of the benefits
5. An interesting approach to profit (liberal approach)
extensive use of the statutory boards
the government looked at capital and operations quite differently (effectiveness vs. efficiency)
Dr. Chen, Singapore TradeNet
TM -9

10. Beyond TradeNet Impact of TradeNet on other countries:
Inside the Pacific Rim
Taiwan
Japan
Hong Kong (TradeLink -- still in studying phase in 1991)
Outside the Pacific Rim
Holland
Norway
U.S.A.
The “second act”
economic dynamism
quality of life
national identity
global reach
Dr. Chen, Singapore TradeNet
TM -10

11. Beyond TradeNet (cont.)
TradeNet and SNS have become key building blocks of a bolder and more comprehensive vision for information infrastructure development in Singapore.
EDI and value-added network services are seen as critical components for achieving the sophisticated infrastructure needed to support Singapore’s position as a global city.

12. Lessons for the Design of the Information Age Organization
Small size (state-county) vs. large size country
Eastern vs. western organization
collaborative and participative, yet top-down
The organizational design challenge of the 1990s (TN-5)

13. Conclusions
We have an opportunity to analyzing the characteristics of an information age organization and the role of IT in supporting it.
Understand the issues of:
interorganizational and global organization design
information infrastructure
the longitudinal implementation of comprehensive, systemic organization change

14. Figure: Hierarchy of Leadership Tools
Vision
Mission,
Principles,
and Values
Goals / Objectives
Strategies
Plans
Tactics
Hierarchy of Leadership Tools
Figure: Hierarchy of Leadership Tools

15. Figure Stages of Information-Systems Strategic Planning
Vision
Mission
Policies
Goals
Time
Horizon
Metrics
Values
Objectives
Time
Horizon
Metrics
Values
Strategies
Tactics
Figure Stages of Information-Systems Strategic Planning