In a commentary, SMU Associate Professor of Accounting Holly Yang opined that Singapore’s emphasis on measurement and meritocracy, while instrumental to its economic success, may also discourage innovation by prioritising what can be measured over what cannot. She noted that truly transformative ideas often emerge from environments that embrace ambiguity, experimentation, and uncertainty. Drawing on her experience with students, Assoc Prof Yang observed that many struggle not with ability, but with navigating uncertainty after years in systems focused on clear metrics and outcomes. She added that an overreliance on measurement can increase stress and anxiety, while crowding out qualities such as curiosity, creativity, resilience, empathy, and intrinsic motivation.