In the book “The World Is Flat” by Thomas L. Friedman, Friedman introduces different stages of globalization. These stages are globalization 1.0, 2.0, and 3.0.
Globalization 1.0 started with Christopher Columbus sailing to the new world in 1492. Soon after Columbus, countries such as Spain, France, Portugal, Britain, and others sailed the sea to expand their empires. This expansion was mainly due to imperialism or religious reasons. To continue globalization 1.0, they sailed to South America, North America, Africa, and India to name a few places and declared those places as rulers. The countries that were expanding were flexing their muscles and demonstrating their ability to grow in land mass. During globalization 1.0, the world shrank from large to medium size.
Globalization 2.0 includes the expansion of companies to a global market. Companies now were able to be multinational and make further expansions into foreign markets. In globalization 2.0, many industries changed rapidly causing an industrial revolution. Within this rapid change, major modifications in agriculture, manufacturing, mining, transportation, and technology aided growth and development in a profound way. During globalization 2.0, telecommunications improved where people didn’t have to rely on the pony express. The telegraph, telephones, personal computers, fiber optics, satellites, computer networks, the internet, and the World Wide Web were invented to streamline communication and improve the speed and reliability of the message. Globalization 2.0 resized the world from medium to small.
Globalization 3.0 moves individuals and companies to an equal playing field. Before the year 2000, most technological improvements were accomplished by western civilizations. Now, companies outsource many of their tasks to India, China, and many others. Companies resources (manpower and capital) are freed up so that these resources can be used in different more beneficial ways; thus, creating a greater need for a global economy. Outsourced tasks get accomplished in an efficient and timely manner and the best part is that a lot of the work is done while sleeping. When offices close here, offices open or are still open in foreign countries. This streamlines the work and makes it more efficient.
Friedman understands and depicts the importance of the fall of the Berlin Wall. The fall of the wall not only freed captive people of the Soviet Union ultimately, but it tipped the scale between capitalist and communist economies and governments. When the wall fell people had to align themselves to the one system left behind. The reason why this event is the most significant is that when the wall fell, people that were captive behind the wall suddenly received a “get-out-of-jail-free card.”
Friedman then describes the importance and significance of the first internet browser to be released, Netscape. Netscape is noteworthy of mentioning because it was the beginning of the World Wide Web as we know it today. The web browser displayed information stored at a far distant location and made it possible that the information was available to everyone who owned that software application. Today, when information is needed or wanted, most times individuals use the World Wide Web through a browser. The web browser came to be the top software application used.
While reading this book I get mixed feelings toward the globalization of companies when they outsource jobs that can be handled in their own country. I personally have called a support line for a company and have been directed to a place in India. To me, nothing could be more frustrating when I need help and either I can’t understand the person on the other end or after the support call, I am more confused about the situation than before the call. I do understand that companies outsource to save money, resources, and manpower (perhaps I would do the same if I were a CEO of a big company); however, sometimes the customer service is better when it’s handled at a closer distance.
No comments:
Post a Comment