Author: coolerinsights

How Tightly Should You Manage Your Team?

December 5, 2011 Blog no comments


Should you control your subordinate’s every move? (courtesy of River Empowerment)

There are two major schools of thought in leadership and management.

The first approach is the older “Command and Control” style. Here, an authoritative leader uses a clearly domineering way of getting things done. Charging ahead like a bull, he/she will steamroll over anything – or anybody – who gets in his or her way. Instructions given are clear, specific and often unidirectional. Its “my way or the highway”.


World’s First Transformers Ride Opens in Singapore

December 3, 2011 Blog 1 comment

TRANSFORMERS The Ride
EVAC, a new autobot created specially for the attraction

It’s a night of 3D thrills and spills as Transformers The Ride made its global premiere at Universal Studios Singapore.

Rumoured to cost more than S$100 million and to take more than four years to plan and build, Transformers The Ride is probably one of the world’s most expensive theme park attraction. It is also the world’s first theme park based on the popular robot franchise from Hasbro, with the next opening in Universal Studios Hollywood in 2012.


Society 2.0, Social Tools and Gamification

December 1, 2011 Blog 1 comment


Preetam Rai of Global Voices Online (courtesy of GovCamp Singapore)

In an ideal Web 2.0 enabled world populated by active and engaged citizens, the public would be engaged, empowered and encouraged to use social technologies and digital tools to build a better society. As the government does not have a monopoly on ideas, it would be critical for citizens to help themselves so to speak.

What then are some of the developments in this area, and how can one take that tentative first step forward? Well, there are lots of food for thought from three sessions which I recently attended at the second Govcamp Singapore.


Conversational Capital: The Secret to Buzz-worthy Products

November 29, 2011 Book Reviews, Social Influence no comments

By now, many of you would have heard of buzz and viral marketing, experiential marketing, and the art of conversational marketing.

Some of you may have also learned about three of the most important marketing ideas in the 2010s (and 2020s): creating a Purple Cow, pushing an idea over the Tipping Point, and the almost religious need to use social media in marketing.


SPF’s First Facebook Arrest – Crowdsleuthing in Action

November 26, 2011 Blog 2 comments

Congratulations to our boys and girls in blue for making the first Facebook arrest!

According to the Singapore Police Force’s (SPF) media release, this development came on 11 Nov 2011 (an auspicious 11/11/11!) when a “public-spirited person called 999 and informed that he could identify a loanshark suspect from a photo posted on the Police Facebook Page since July 2009. The action led to the arrest of two 19 year old suspects for involvement in loanshark harassment activities in the Bukit Merah area.


Imagine Wearing Your Customer’s Shoes

November 24, 2011 Blog no comments

Shopping Centres in Bangkok
Consider what your customers will look, smell, touch and feel – from the start to end of your experience

Let’s try this thought exercise for a few minutes.

Imagine that you’re a customer of your own company’s business. This could be anything of course, depending on what your company do. During this time, you should don the hat of your prospective customer, be he or she a swinging single, working parent, active ager, awkward teen, or urban professional.


Insights from GovCamp Singapore

November 22, 2011 Business and Management 1 comment

Should one protect privacy but ban anonymity on the web? Are citizens able to “DIY” to form their own self helping communities? Do we have adequate access to data that can improve our lives?

These are the sort of questions which arose from the recent GovCamp Singapore, organised by Microsoft with the support of various institutions like IDA, NUS and ISS. As I look back at the various sessions I’ve attended, here are some lessons that I’ve learnt.


Dinosaurs Live! at Singapore Science Centre

November 19, 2011 Blog 3 comments

Dinosaurs-Live!
Tina and Ethan posing next to an animatronic Apatosaurus

“Roar, Growl, Hiss, Grr, Screech and Scream!”

Welcome to the world of the fabulous dinosaurs (also known as the “terrible lizards”) at Dinosaurs-Live!, a recently opened exhibition at the Singapore Science Centre.  Happening from now til 26 Feb 2012, the exhibition showcases almost 50 life-sized dinosaurs, reptiles and other prehistoric creatures brought realistically back to life by awesome animatronics.


Who Should You Really Target

November 16, 2011 Blog no comments


Courtesy of Lost & Found Online Marketing

One of the most important chapters in the book of marketing is customer segmentation and targeting. You need to know who you’re reaching and how you’re making your product or service relevant to their needs, wants or desires. Without a keen understanding of your target segment, everything else may fall apart.

The challenge however is this. How do you know who they really are?