The World Is Flat: A Summary of Thomas Friedman’s Analysis of Globalization
Thomas
Friedman is an American journalist, author and columnist who write a
Twice-weekly column for The New York Times. He wrote the book “The World is
Flat” a Brief History of the Twenty-First Century where he analyzes globalization,
Primarily in the early 21st century.////////Friedman defines ten
“flatteners” that he sees as leveling the global playing field. The
First five of the 10 flattening forces the author identifies provided the first
Thrusts to an increase in globalization.
The first one is “The Collapse
Of the Berlin Wall” on 11/9/8 when the Berlin Wall came down and allowed
People from the other side of the wall to join the economic mainstream. Also
Symbolized the “fall” of communism, and the impact that Windows
Powered PCs had on the ability of individuals to create their own content and
Connect to one another. The second flattener is “Netscape” on 8/9/95. Netscape
Went public making the Internet accessible to everyone.The computer and
Connectivity became more useful for millions. Thirdly, “Workflow
Software”
And the ability of machines to talk to other machines with no humans involved,
As stated by Friedman. The development of standard software that enabled better
Workflow within organizations and between organizations and created a global
Platform for multiple forms of collaboration. The fourth flattener is “Uploading”,communities were
Uploading and collaborating on online projects.The collaboration of freelance
Programmers and engineers in chat room-like settings to produce shared
Software.The fifth one is “Outsourcing” that allowed
Companies to split service and manufacturing activities into components which
Can be subcontracted and performed in the most efficient, cost-effective way.
The last five of the 10 flattening forces the author identifies are situations
That have taken the flattening process further. The number six is “Offshoring”, the internal
Relocation of a company‘s manufacturing or other processes to a foreign land to
Take advantage of less costly operations there. “Supply-chaining” is the seventh one, Friedman
Uses Wal-Mart as
The best example of a company using technology to streamline item sales,
Distribution, and shipping comparing retail supply chain to a river. The number
Eight is “Insourcing” where Friedman uses UPS
As a prime example for insourcing, in which the company’s employees perform
Services – beyond shipping – for another company. The number nine is “Informing”
Where Friedman states that the growth of search engines is tremendous, where
Google and other search engines and Wikipedia are the prime example. Lastly,
The ten flattener is “The Steroids” where Friedman pointed them as Wireless, Voice
Over Internet, and file sharing. He said that all analog content can be
Digitized and therefore shaped, manipulated and transmitted, at anytime,
Anywhere by anyone.////////With his inimitable ability to translate complex
Foreign policy and economic issues, Friedman explains how the flattening of the
world happened at the dawn of the twenty-first century; what it means to
Countries, companies, communities, and individuals; and how governments and
Societies can, and must, adapt. This flattened world made so many more people
Potential collaborators, connectors and competitors.This “flattening”
Of the globe requires us to run faster in order to stay in place. Corporations
Should search for the lowest, cheapest labor, lowest cost labor, produce there,
Ship here, sell in America. To survive the flattening process, tomorrow’s
Workers will need to be creative, well-rounded individuals. Society will
Benefit from the flattened world; however, it will need to find or develop what
The author terms, “the new middle class.” The author notes the U.S.
Needs a stronger and more supportive immigration system if it wants a national
Pool of people from which to hire. Developing countries will also need to
Improve infrastructure, education, and governance to develop a framework for
innovation and collaboration. As Chris Anderson states in his article “Atoms
Are the New Bits” now-a-days anyone who has a good idea has the ability to
Create their own business and their own “supply-chain” from their own garage as
A young entrepreneur you have access to talented people around the world to
Work together and develop products.//////Finally, with all those impacts in our
society, many of us will need to emulate the U.S. And make tolerance the norm,
Because, as the author notes, when tolerance is the norm, trust is bred, and
Trust is the foundation of innovation and entrepreneurship. That being said, we
Need to stay focused and continue to provide for business/political reform (as
The world continues to change), be innovative, creative and competitive. We
Need to become educated and remove the complacency that exists with regards to
Being unaffected by the flat world and unaffected in our careers, and having
The instant gratification factor. The ability to be able to be exposed to new
Emerging technologies, be able collaborate globally with companies (first
Jobs/careers), education, and experience different scenarios at the global
Level shall provide for a full prosperous future. However, with the flat world
We need to be more competitive due that fact they are competing globally for
Jobs, and in business. In both education and at work we need to mentor them,
Develop them, to be the ‘best of the best’.