Move forward with technological innovation – Eyre

PRESIDENT AND Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Fujitsu Caribbean, Mer vyn Eyre, has cautioned leadership at both national and enterprise levels against putting the brakes on technological innovation, stating that any such action will only result in “irrelevance” in today’s fastpaced economy.

Speaking with The Gleaner yesterday at the Private Sector Organisation of Jamaica’s (PSOJ’s) second Social Media Business Conference at the Jamaica Pegasus Hotel in New Kingston, the information technology expert sought to quell concerns that advances in the field are “robbing jobs”, arguing that the disruption being caused by technology is actually creating more new jobs than it is eliminating old ones.

“There is a responsibility from leadership to recognise that what we should be doing is investing in skills for these new jobs, and that will become the basis and balance out the concerns that persons have. Many different types of new roles are being created, and so, we cannot stop. That is not an option,” Eyre reasoned.

“In a world that is defined by innovation, if you’re to stop innovating, then you stop existing.”

Jennifer McDonald, newly appointed CEO of the PSOJ, concurred with Eyre, explaining that the technological sector is growing rapidly, and that with this growth come more employment opportunities.

“The thinking is that technology is going to take over the work from humans, and persons are asking, ‘Shouldn’t Government and businesses try to provide jobs for citizens?’ The answer is yes, but different types of jobs. So, I don’t think there’s anything to fear. It’s just that we’ll have to be tooled to take on different tasks,” said McDonald.

syranno.baines@gleanerjm.com