Articles

November, 2018

For some time now traditional financial institutions have been facing disruptions in their business model as new technologies facilitate major changes in customer perceptions and expectations. How are the banks responding?

November, 2018

Business executives increasingly consider information to be one of their most important competitive weapons, but few organisations have any sense of the value of their Data & Information assets.

November, 2018

One of the first objectives in dealing with the changing global environment must be on preparing the workforce for a virtually unknown world in which they must possess the technical skills to survive in this new world of work. Also, our education system must seek to graduate new entrants into the workplace with attributes which provide critical thinking, global awareness, and digital literacy.

February, 2018

One of the new breed of young, Jamaican business people is Karl Tulloch. In tune with the energy and drive of the generation now emerging to take charge of Jamaica’s future, he is business savvy, articulate and confident.

 

February, 2018

Government remains steadfast that its aspirational goal of five percent growth in four years (“5 in 4”) remains achievable despite underperformance in the first year of the strategy. Much of the optimism is based on expectations in the bauxite/alumina sector, new investments in tourism and BPO and other plans in the pipeline. One acknowledged area of great potential is the construction sector. Against that background, this issue of the magazine features excerpts from four presentations at a recent Business Roundtable on Construction as a Driver for Economic Growth.

February, 2018

Domestic contractors, contrary to what some might want to believe, are not asking for any special favours or to ban foreign contractors. What we ask is to be given an opportunity to carry out our business in a fair way in our country.

February, 2018

Our study conducted by Mona School of Business and Management, (MSBM) in June 2017, revealed that the leaders of local construction firms perceive that public sector delays, Government procurement policy, cost of financing, and company debt burden are among the main impediments to growth of the sector. Along with policy changes, we suggest several strategies, including adoption of Lean Construction techniques to increase efficiency.

February, 2018

It cannot be that the Jamaican construction industry that designed and built the National Stadium, Conference Centre, New Kingston, and the Bank of Jamaica is being told that in order to redevelop Downtown Kingston and construct the new Parliament building, we have to get foreign expertise to build. It is full time to review the policies that we have pursued over the years.

February, 2018

Social Entrepreneurship addresses the failings of the traditional economy through their operations within the social economy. This is evident in some countries like Jamaica, having low economic performance indicators, yet having a high social progress index showing significant improvement in the provision of services that address basic human needs.

February, 2018

This Administration is committed to the economic growth and development of the country. As we seek to advance the growth agenda it is evident that the construction industry has a major role to play in driving the process.

February, 2018

The historical social, cultural, political, diplomatic and economic context of the Jamaica-China relationship provides a critical point of reference that gives texture to the current public discussion about balancing the relationship between both countries.

February, 2018

Against a background of foreign and domestic pressures on the construction industry, this article explores some of the opportunities for the use of low-cost ICTs to enable and enhance what is broadly referred to as "Lean Construction” practices, and looks at the practical experiences of a real-world case study.

February, 2018

Private-Public Partnerships (PPPs) are a vital aspect of the strategic development of the Mona Campus of the University of the West Indies. It engages the private sector in funding tertiary education which is a key element in human and national development. It’s a win-win situation.

 

February, 2018

Social Progress Index 2014 done by Michael Porter et.al shows Jamaica, despite having a PPP GDP per capita of US$7083, with a creditable index of 43 out of 132 countries examined.

May, 2017

All major stakeholders in the Jamaican economy agree that economic growth over the last several decades has been at unacceptably low levels. However, there is little agreement about the reasons for this or what is to be done about it. Against that background, this issue of the magazine features five contributions under the theme, Innovation, Productivity and Competitiveness. These are some of the issues that have to be tackled if the country is to acheive levels of growth that can deliver the human and national development that has eluded us for so long.