This document outlines a critical issues matrix for a Labour Market Reform Commission's Technology, Innovation and Productivity Committee. The matrix identifies key issues related to human capital, technology, innovation, productivity, competitiveness, and their relation to small and medium enterprises, government policies, and national development. Issues addressed include fostering creativity, technology adoption, research and development, workforce skills, productivity measurement, and creating an environment that promotes competitiveness. The goal is to inform the committee's work in developing strategies and policies to advance technology, innovation and productivity in Jamaica.
Critical Issues Matrix - TIP Committee LMRC 22jun15
1. June 26, 2015 Labour Market Reform Commission: Technology, Innovation and Productivity Committee
Critical Issues Matrix
Page 1 of 5
Human Capital – ‘H’ SME – ‘S’ Government – ‘G’ National – ‘N’
General – ‘G’ Role of leadership in realising
transformational outcomes
Role and practice of collective
action including roles of unions,
networks, associations in advancing
the collective
Cooperation and positive group-
level behaviour
Role of large enterprises in the
development of sustainable value
chains and supply chains for SME’s
Technology – ‘T’ Fostering and promoting training
and education opportunities in
technology
development/use/application (e.g.
internship)
Adequacy of human capital to
support technological
development within Jamaica.
Capacity to create, transmit and
absorption of knowledge, whether
sourced domestically or through
technology transfers from
overseas.
Technology, adaptation of right tools
Enablers & Inhibitors of adoption of
technology
Technology as a simulant to MSME
growth & development
Adoption & Diffusion of
technology in providing
government services
Government’s role in
promoting technology
development
National Campaign in
advancement in technology
National culture of technology;
application of technology
towards efficiency at the
national level
2. June 26, 2015 Labour Market Reform Commission: Technology, Innovation and Productivity Committee
Critical Issues Matrix
Page 2 of 5
Innovation – ‘I’ Fostering creativity/Driver of
innovation
Impact of Human Capital on
Innovative processes
Partnership with academic institutions
Promoting & Fostering R&D in SMEs
Formation of incubators
MSME and Innovation for socio-
economic development
Government ‘s role in
promoting an innovative centric
society
Effectiveness of strategies to
promote the STEM agenda
National supporting systems in
the promotion of innovative-
centric environment.
Productivity – ‘P’ Role & Effect of Training
How to maximize worker output
Factors affecting labour productivity
(e.g. better working conditions and
work environment; motivation;
financially, non-financially &positive
incentives; incentive wage policies;
job security)
Human Capital a CSF in productivity
gains towards socio-economic
development
Capital productivity (ICT and Non-
ICT)
Total factor productivity and its
drivers
SME Cluster and Network
Development/ Development of
Clusters and Networks of SMEs
MSMEs role in national productivity
Developing a measurement culture and
using it for internal and external
benchmarking
How firms can benefit from sharing
information
Mastery: Training in Technical and soft
skills
Autonomy: The climate/room to
innovate and create
Purpose: Understanding self, the big
picture and how one fits into the puzzle
Effect of government policies
on productivity
How to influence
implementation of productivity
friendly policies
Autonomy: Effective
government policies to
facilitate autonomy in learning
and working
Purpose: Integrating Career
Education, understanding of
self (psychometric assessment
into School system to promote
purpose and understanding of
self). Additionally, provide
sensitization on sectors and
contribution to nation building
and everyday life
Evaluation of the impact of
culture on productivity
Potential impact of STEM
initiatives on productivity
Importance of productivity on
national development.
Benchmarking productivity
perception in response to mass
productivity campaigns
(Treatment)
National intervention to sensitize
the psychology of work and
development.
National communication /
persuasion to take focus away
for negativity and direct it
towards innovation, purpose,
mastery
3. June 26, 2015 Labour Market Reform Commission: Technology, Innovation and Productivity Committee
Critical Issues Matrix
Page 3 of 5
Designing practical interventions to
improve work climate to promote
drive and facilitate uninhibited high
performance that is not controlled by
external rewards (Creating and
implementing interventions to
promote “autonomy, mastery and
purpose”)
Mental model change and behaviour
change
Developing the data culture and use
of data in decision making
Change in culture and orientation-
change in personal mental models
and interpersonal ways of relating
between leaders and employees.
Reason for current cultures and
climate (to address causes of sub-
optimaility effectively)
Orientation of expatriates to local
culture
Resilience towards productivity and
dealing with the negative elements
such as culture of informalism
Use of standards and process
management
Compare results with planned activities
Mastery: making training more
practical…..taking care of the
soft skills, emotional
intelligence (barrier to
communication) so maximum
learning can take place.
Additionally, assessing learning
needs and focus strengthening
weaknesses as oppose to
adding to strengths
Include as part of the national
campaign
4. June 26, 2015 Labour Market Reform Commission: Technology, Innovation and Productivity Committee
Critical Issues Matrix
Page 4 of 5
Best practices for improving human
resource capacity
Reducing power distance between
managers and employees
Building trust and open
communication
Reducing defensiveness and building
emotional health in the workplace in
order to increase employee
engagement
Differences between private and
public institutions in people
empowerment, knowledge
management and technological
application
Cross-institutional collaboration to
conduct action research and to
influence the design of degree
programmes
Competitiveness – ‘C’ Creativity as a tool for
competitiveness
Human Capital as critical component
to global competitiveness.
Effect of product quality factors on
competitiveness
Factors that affect product quality
Creating an environment that
fosters competitiveness
Government role in promoting a
global competitiveness agenda
National competitiveness as a
critical success factor (CSF) for
economic growth.
5. June 26, 2015 Labour Market Reform Commission: Technology, Innovation and Productivity Committee
Critical Issues Matrix
Page 5 of 5
Health, education and training
Inequality in the distribution of
assets and income;
SMEs and national competitiveness
Business sophistication
Innovation
Effectiveness and efficiency of
Institutions
Labour market efficiency
Infrastructure
Capital market efficiency
Public education to change
perceptions as well as
communicating changed to
change perceptions.
The efficacy of the national
financial system and its
effectiveness in the allocation of
resources;
The existence and quality of
national institutions that impact
business productivity and
competitiveness;