Friday, March 13, 2020
Good morning Class.
For the past week we have been closely monitoring our potential trip to the “Pearl of the Antilles” Cuba.
As you also know, I have been communicating with you on a regular basis, attempting to explain some of the complexities involved in making any decision, but after much analysis, and with an abundance of caution, leadership has decided to postpone the trip. I am also in agreement and please allow me to explain a bit further.
As mentioned before, the trip had two components based upon health, quarantine and repatriation. Please review my previous announcements. One component was from the US side, the other from the Cuban side. Both presented distinct, yet similar perspectives.
Without elaborating the finer details, one critical factor that was highlighted from the US side was the Chancellor’s message wherein all travel was restricted to only essential travel. He further elaborated: “Essential travel is defined as travel that is required and cannot be postponed in order to preserve the safety of a patient or research subject; or results of research activity.” It is very difficult to make the case that travel to Cuba is essential.
From the Cuban side, there were other factors that came into play as well. For those of you that have been in my international management class, you recognize that not all institutions or organizations view risk through the same lenses. That is, that a country’s risk taking propensity will be manifested through the various institutions and organizations that compose that nation state. Thus while some of our partners in Cuba were willing to accept the perceived “infected Americans”, others were less willing. Thus a careful review of who was willing to continue with the program and who was not had to be analyzed. And as such we lost some key components. That essentially locked the decision to postpone.
What has become obvious, is the unique perception of risk within a globalized context. What has also been clear is the need for every international manager to establish a new set of skills based upon the concept of working, collaborating and learning virtually.
I know that the program office will be reaching out to you shortly to work out some of the many administrative details associated with this decision and how they apply to each of you.
I thank you for your anticipated understanding and remain hopeful that many, if not all of you ,will be able to join me on a Cuba Residential in the future.
As always, should you have any questions or wish more details please do not hesitate to contact me directly.
Be Well.
WHR