Enhancing the sustainability DNA of Singapore’s Gardens by the Bay through induction training

• Main Authors: MENKHOFF, Thomas, CHEONG, Kevin
• Format: text
• Language: English
• Published: Institutional Knowledge at Singapore Management University 2022
• Subjects: Environmental Sustainability; Employee Training; Organizational Values; AI and Machine Learning; Teaching Methods; Onboarding; Asian Studies; Organizational Behavior and Theory; Sustainability
• Online Access: https://ink.library.smu.edu.sg/cases_coll_all/411; https://smu.sharepoint.com/sites/admin/CMP/cases/SMU-21-BATCH%20%5BPDF-Pic%5D/SMU-21-0048%20%5BGardens%20by%20the%20Bay%5D/SMU-21-0048%20%5BGardens%20by%20the%20Bay%5D.pdf?CT=1647246202493&OR=ItemsView
• Institution: Singapore Management University

As Singapore’s national garden and tourist attraction, Gardens by the Bay (GB) had succeeded in developing the necessary physical infrastructure to showcase innovative sustainability initiatives to visitors. As it embarked on the next phase of its sustainability journey, GB sought to enhance its sustainability DNA. It recognised that every new and existing employee has an important role to play, and now faces the challenge of how to further engage staff and get them on board this journey through effective induction training. This case examines the challenges of integrating Singapore’s new Green Plan into GB’s sustainability agenda with special reference to its induction training approach. The United Nations Sustainability Development Goals and the environmental, social and governance parameters can serve as a guide for integrating relevant sustainability content into the induction curriculum. Like other for-profit and non-profit organisations combating climate change, GB must determine how best to impart respective competencies to its internal stakeholders. Through the case, students will learn to appreciate sustainability-related challenges and develop induction training solutions that can be applied by GB’s human resource team in support of the overall mission and vision of the organisation. The case can be used in both undergraduate- and graduate-level courses on sustainability management, business management, environmental management and human resource management. After working through the case and assignment questions, students will be able to do the following: assess how sustainability considerations impact garden attractions, explain how registered charities can obtain benefits from imparting sustainability know-how and know-why via induction training, develop strategic options for blending both online instruction and classroom induction training, and know how to evaluate the effectiveness of induction training.