Francis Wade has been selected to present the results of the groundbreaking study, “The Trinidadian Executive in Jamaica,” at the upcoming HRMATT conference to be held on October 9-11th, in Port of Spain, Trinidad.
The study, completed in 2006, included direct interviews with over 30 Trinidadian executives working in Jamaica, and focused on the cultural differences they found while holding leadership positions. As the press has reported on several occasions, some have encountered difficulties, experiencing wild-cat strikes and threats of industrial action. Headlines were made about the way Trinidadian businessmen conduct themselves in Jamaica.
A great deal has been made of the notion that Jamaicans dislike Trinidadians as a people. Some have said that it dates back to the days of the West Indian Federation in 1961, when Jamaica withdrew from the alliance, causing its immediate collapse.
Others point to the fact that Jamaica is a violent country with one of the highest murder rates in the world. From a Trinidadian point of view, Jamaicans are often described as “aggressive” or “backward” and that this behaviour carries over into the workplace. From a Jamaican perspective, some say that Trinidadians are difficult to trust, and often rely on a level of informality that they find insulting, hence the moniker ‘Tricki-dadians.”
The results of the study shed some light on the confusion and misunderstanding that exists between the two cultures. However, the study shows that when these dynamics play out in the workplace, Trinidadian executives can be both aware and careful, in order to gain the trust needed to operate effectively and profitably.
New: Francis Wade will be featured on Trinidad’sTV6 Morning Edition show at 6:30am, on the topic of the upcoming HRMATT conference.
Also, the above press release was covered in the Trinidad Express and the Jamaica Observer.
To receive a copy of the report “The Trinidadian Executive in Jamaica,” send email to [email protected] and reply to the confirmation email by clicking on the appropriate link.