君子 Junzi leadership in Singapore: governance and human capital development

• Published in: The Journal of management development Vol. 40; no. 5; pp. 389 - 403
• Main Authors: Le Queux, Stéphane, Kuah, Adrian T.H
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Bradford Emerald Publishing Limited 10.08.2021; Emerald Group Publishing Limited
• Subjects: Cooperation; Corporatism; Councils; Economic growth; Economic Progress; Employers; Employment; Employment Level; GDP; Government (Administrative Body); Gross Domestic Product; Guidelines; Human capital; Labor Force Development; Labor productivity; Labor relations; Labor unions; Leaders; Multinational corporations; Political leadership; Productivity; Success; Technological Advancement; Transformational Leadership; Union leadership; Union Members; Wages; Wages & salaries; Work Environment; Singapore; Leadership; Singapore; Confucius; Human capital development; Governance; Tripartism
• ISSN: 0262-1711; 1758-7492
• DOI: 10.1108/JMD-05-2019-0194

PurposeThis paper provides insights as to how a Confucian-inspired Junzi style of leadership translates into initiatives toward human capital development in Singapore. After reviewing tripartite governance in Singapore, we discuss the character of Confucian leadership: how does this value system inform the moral economy of the Singaporean corporatist model and inherently come to impact upon the conception and significance of human capital.Design/methodology/approachThe case approach was employed using multiple sources of secondary data, supplemented by interviews with high-profile informants in Singapore. Multiple sources led to data triangulation in presenting a mutually consistent set of evidence. The paper also draws from a longitudinal observation of Singapore's industrial relations and human resource development (HRD) policies over the last 10 years since the Global Financial Crisis.FindingsOrganized along two thematic areas: governance and human capital development, this paper proposes and finds that governance in Singapore displays an institutionalized form of Junzi leadership that translates into policymaking toward human capital development.Originality/valueThis paper brings about an Asian perspective of Junzi leadership toward management and governance. The Confucian value system intrinsic to tripartite governance provides an original heuristic lens that helps shed a light on the significance of human capital development in Singapore.