Business Culture

JAMAICA

Renata Culcean
IBM 1st Year
 Facts and Statistics

• Location: Caribbean, island in the Caribbean Sea, south of Cuba

• Capital: Kingston

• Population: 2,847,232 (July 2010 est.)

• Ethnic Make-up

Black 90.9%, East Indian 1.3%, white 0.2%, Chinese 0.2%, mixed 7.3%, other

0.1%

• Religions:

Protestant 61.3% Roman Catholic 4%, other including some spiritual cults

34.7%.

• GDP (per capita): $8,400 (2009 est.)

• Language:

English (official), Creole-a combination of English and some African

languages.
 Business Etiquette and Customs
Office hours: Mon-Fri 8:30-17:00

Dress Code

Jamaicans are somewhat formal in the workplace.

• For men:

Conservative shirts and ties are usually expected and most

upper management types wear suits. Depending on the
situation, business casual clothing may be appropriate.

• For women:

Nice dresses, blouses, and jacket will suffice. Most women

usually wear heels.

• Jeans, shorts and sandals are usually not appropriate!

 Meeting and Greeting

• Man greeting Man- Men shake hands when greeting one another and

maintain direct eye contact. Men often pat each other's shoulder or arm

during the greeting process or while conversing.   

• Woman greeting Woman- At a first meeting, women generally shake

hands. Friends and close acquaintances may share a light hug with a kiss

on the cheek.

• Man greeting Woman- At a first meeting a regular handshake will do.

Use the appropriate salutation for the time of day: "good morning",

"good afternoon", or "good evening".

Do not appear overly familiar at the initial greeting!

 Communication Style

• Jamaicans speak very quickly and may become quite animated.  

• "Soon come" is a favorite saying.  Keep in mind it could mean 10

minutes or 2 hours or 2 days!  It's a good idea to be patient.

• Jamaicans can be direct communicators and are not afraid to say what

they think. They expect others to be equally direct. At the same time,

they value tact and sensitivity and dislike overt aggression.

• They value logic and linear thinking.

• It is imperative to show deference and respect to those in positions of

authority.

• When dealing with people at the same level, communication can be

more informal.

• Jamaicans stand very close when conversing.

 Titles & Business Cards

• Titles are very important. Address people by

their honorific title (Mr., Mrs., or Miss) and
their surname until a personal relationship has
developed. Always wait until invited before
using someone's first name. As your
friendship deepens, you may be asked to call
the person by their nickname.

• There is no specific ritual surrounding the

giving of business cards although it is
advisable to treat the card with respect.
 Business Meeting Etiquette

• Appointments are necessary and easy to schedule  they

should be about 2 weeks in advance if travelling from

abroad.

• Confirm the meeting, by telephone, a few days in advance.

• Jamaicans expect punctuality although they are not always

successful at arriving on time themselves.

• Meetings will have a friendly tone even though they can be

somewhat formal.

• Expect some small talk before business is discussed.

• Presentations should be complete and not conceal

potential problems.

Avoid talking about politics, and homosexuality.

 Business Negotiations

• They value relationship building and harmony - it is important to

avoid hard selling, pressure tactics and any sort of conflict or

confrontation.

• Relationships are viewed as more important than rules.

• Business is hierarchical. The person with the most authority makes

decisions Hierarchy is important, although not always

apparent.

• Jamaicans are direct and say what they mean.

• They appreciate brevity and are not impressed by too much detail.

• Bargaining is customary and expected. Do not give your best offer at

the beginning of negotiations!

 Gift Giving

• Gifts are not usually brought to a first meeting.

• Make sure that gifts are nicely wrapped. 
 Thank you for your

attention
Renata Culcean

IBM 1st Year