Technology and globalization in Friedman's "The World Is Flat"

¶ … World is Flat" is taken from a metaphorical point-of-view to highlight the development and advancement of technology in the world. The author, Thomas Friedman, asserts that the world has become flatter because technology together with other factors has turned the world into a smaller place. The author describes the manner in which technology has made the world become more competitive and elucidates what is necessary to compete in this new world that is deemed flat. For instance, Friedman offers a description of how manufacturing firms have relocated the location of their plants to international areas to make the most of cheaper labor and raw materials.

This is towards objective of coming up with products that are cost-effective and more competitive in the marketplace. This particular aspect of outsourcing has disseminated into the service industry also. Friedman describes various instances where tax returns of companies in the United States are accounted for, in India. Another instance is how drive-through orders for food companies such as McDonald's can be administered by a call center that is situated miles away from the location where services are actually rendered.

The technological growth has restructured the flow of business and the manner in which the world operates. Technology has made it possible for business to join forces and work in partnership across the globe. At the outset, Friedman believed that the world is round, similar to the general view.

However, his perspective and frame of mind changed after his visit to India, and he began to believe that the world is flat. Friedman, together with his crew, realized the great progress and advancement India has had in terms of technology. Friedman considered it to be fascinating and at the same time terrifying to perceive the manner in which businesses had become extremely competitive in India. Friedman made comparisons of the levels of competition between India and the United States with respect to business.

One of the main aspects that Friedman and his crew perceived was that regardless of the limitation that Indian business faced with regard to different areas, they had far more advanced staffs. Friedman points out the manner in which the workforces in India are well-trained and more educated and knowledgeable compared to the workforces in the United States with regard to work ethics. In addition, the drive and determination that is existent amongst the Indians is far more compared to that in the United States, and this in turn has espoused a business system that is much more successful (Friedman, 2005).

Drivers of Change

Technology

One of the key aspects discussed in the book are the technological factors that make the world flat. In particular, Friedman mentions about triple convergence, which are, according to him, the actual three factors that caused the flattening of the world. This encompasses the relationship between business factors and technology. The first convergence is centered on ten flatteners which come together to create a completely new platform. The author states that web-enabled platform improved manifold partnerships worldwide.

Consequently, this augmented the extent of businesses and industries to pool resources and work in partnership in diverse capacities. Furthermore, this will be of benefit in bringing about cheaper labor and raw materials and in turn greater production of products and merchandises. Overall, this will be helpful in reducing the cost of production. This meshed collaboration has made it possible to have collaborations of companies, universities and even industries, irrespective distance, time, language and even geographical barriers. One good example is the products of Costco where majority of the merchandises are retailed in cheap and reasonable prices while they are stored in huge containers. The second convergence encompasses the development of a huge force of leaders, visionaries, business specialists, business seminaries, inventers, IT experts, CEOs, and workforces. It accentuates the manner in which businesses would epitomize themselves centered on the abilities, practices, and business moral code that generate a majority of the ten flatteners. These flatteners are the business factors and technology factors that bring about globalization. They show the manner in which the world is becoming smaller as corporations from different places in the world are becoming more competitive in order to reach at the top of the marketplace. Reaching and maintaining leadership position in the market makes the company and business look good and demonstrates how they have the capacity of being reliable. The third convergence discussed in the book by Friedman is the formation of horizontal alliance and the practices of value creation as well as habits that could exploit and make the most of this new, flatter playing field. The author discusses the individuals who have not cooperated and competed with others, and particularly talks about the Cold War period. At that time, the aspects of consignment and trading were restricted to allied nations only. The author in the book has discussed this in relation to the manner in which the communication across the world was not undertaken as intensively as at the present moment. Since then, joining forces and working in partnership has become the norm, making it easy to partner and be successful through cooperation. Through this third convergence, more players have been able to enter into the market and have the capacity to compete and join forces in a collaborative manner. Friedman is keen on pointing out that the future of globalization for any entity or individual will have a greater possibility once they have a realization of the flattening of the world (Griesdom, 2007).

Comparing with India

Friedman makes a comparison of students in the United States and those in India. The students from the latter spend more time honing their education as well as skill sets in order to excel at a faster rate. This has a great significance and particularly for the future as it can hinder the success of the nation and companies in a flat world. Friedman asserts that there are certain workers required in the flat world.

This includes proper synthesizers who can create value by combining dissimilar parts into an assimilated whole, planned around customer needs and demands. It also encompasses explainers and collaborators who provide proper horizontal interaction, provide translation services of a global corporation to the local consumers in the market.

Sustainability

Another aspect is incorporating green individuals who will facilitate different aspects of sustainability and renewability of the company, energy and the environment. Another requirement of competing and existing in the flat world is being the right action by the nation. Friedman offers the example of America not acting the right way.

The United States has a free market economy that is flexible and has plenty of competition between different states and universities. This has become an issue for the nation because the nation has not either experienced the action of economic protectionists who wish to set up walls to sustain jobs in or safe keepers of national security who desire to keep workers out. Friedman shows that the nation has the capacity to handle anything but is not taking steps in the right direction. If the nation decides to train its youngsters properly, nothing is out of bounds for the United States in the flat world (Friedman, 2005).

Seven Rules

Friedman also discusses how individuals, corporations, and nations ought to prepare to survive in this flattening world. In order to survive the flattening of the world, it is important for companies to grow, develop, and expand their operations in order to be noticed and not become obsolete. Friedman points out seven rules for survival. To start with, he points out that when the world becomes flat, the company should stop being protectionist.

The inference from this rule is that corporations can continue being competitive by specializing in whatever they do with emphasis on vision, creative disposition, innovative and inventive. In addition, it is also necessary for the corporation to create something that is distinctive. Another rule is that the small will come to the big.

This implies that it is the right time to make the most of the tools that are accessible with cooperation and partnership with different corporations. The third rule is that the big will come to the small. This means that the large corporation will study and learn how to thrive in the flattening world from all others. This will be by acting small and enabling the consumers to act big. One of the other rules mentioned by Friedman is outsourcing of jobs- A practice needed to become more cost effective by having cheaper raw materials and labor.

By having these elements, it makes it possible for the companies to grow and employ more individuals. The implication is the alterations the corporation needs to make in pursuit of its main aims and goals. Friedman talks about forming a frame of mind that working class society is seemingly irreplaceable. In particular, this is a stressful element as technology can ultimately replace human beings.

The author discusses the manner in which individuals in the flat world are becoming irreplaceable. In the book, Friedman outlines this element as being an individual who cannot be automated, digitized or outsourced elsewhere. In the new flat world, this individual can be classified into three groups. The first one is a special individual, for instance, a celebrity. Secondly, the other group includes the individuals who are anchored and localized.

This encompasses integrating professionals such as lawyers and nurses. On the other hand, Friedman asserts that the middle-level jobs in the past caused the individuals to face pressure owing to fear of replacement (Friedman, 2005).

Developing Skills

Freidman puts forward placing emphasis on educational endeavors on four sets of skills to assist young individuals prepare for the amplified level of competition they will face in the future. These include learning how to learn, cultivating passion and curiosity, enhancing interpersonal skills and also improving their creative capabilities. Owing to the vast amount of knowledge and information that is incessantly being generated, it is imperative for individuals to be continual learners.

If not, they end up being at risk and menace and may soon become outdated and obsolete in the marketplace. Friedman comes to the conclusion that the combination of curiosity and desire are of greater significance compared to intelligence. Regardless of how large or how insignificant the world becomes, individuals are still human beings and have to have the capacity to function and work together to achieve things that are both great and small.

In a world that is flat, people skills could end up becoming more significant in comparison to computer skills. In addition, abstract problem solving is a skill set that cannot be easily imitated and copied and the individuals who possess it will have more chances of being hired, compared to those individuals that do not.

In addition, Friedman offers the suggestion that undertaking work that one loves will obviously facilitate and enable the exhibition of more creative aspect of an individual's personality. The passion of an individual for a certain work set can be taken to imply a higher quality and have more meaning and therefore generates a product that is differentiated compared to others.

In the book, for example, Friedman offers a stimulating instance of Abraham George who ended up making a fortune in America and thereafter went back to India. In its cultural aspect, India has a caste system where the lower caste, outcasts, is destined to a lifetime of poverty and unfamiliarity. Abraham founded a school for youngsters in this lowermost caste, and the outcome is reassuring.

Friedman interrogated numerous children at the school and questioned them what they aspired and wished to become when they grew up. In response, the children mentioned different professions such as doctors, astronauts, artists and others. This evidently shows that the children can be taught to imagine and aspire for a better, brighter future (Friedman, 2005).

Preparing for Competitiveness

One of the implications made by Friedman that is pertinent for financial engineers and developers is the conception of affixing, focus, and flexibility to endure improved competition. Affixing implies that remaining in proximate communication and interaction or immediacy to their clients. In particular, this accentuates the significance of face-to-face and direct meetings, even if it requires a substantial expenditure, time, and travel. Friedman points out that numerous firms are already successful in this aspect.

Nonetheless, one of the aspects taken into consideration makes the firm uniquely different from the competition. Other aspects include the expert, unique services or knowledge needed by clients that other companies cannot provide. By taking these aspects into account, a business can enhance its capacity to continue being competitive in the marketplace. Friedman is also keen on pointing out that each and every individual requires and needs a sense of substantiation and positive feedback.

These two things are very important for any business, particularly for companies that undertake financial planning. Not only the workers, but the clients also seek such rewards. The consumers want to make certain that they are undertaking the right actions, and they require constructive feedback and guarantee in making decisions (Caldwell, 2007).

In conclusion, in tune with changing time and advancement of technology, corporations have to incorporate the upcoming trends and preferences into their structures and systems. This is to ensure that the company is up-to-date and has the capacity to be in competition regardless of the changes in the marketplace.

Friedman realizes that the world has become flat owing to the advancement in technology in the world. In turn, the business world has become more competitive. Friedman together with his crew on his visit to India noticed the level of competition and the advancement of training of the workforces compared to the United States. Friedman indicated that India is able to operate in a more effective manner despite the limitations that the nation faces in different areas. This is because the employees in India are much more educated and trained, compared to those in the United States.

In order to be successful, it is important for the company to adapt, continue learning and being ahead of all other companies in the market. Individuals and corporations have to learn and increase their knowledge level through expansion to have the proper mindset. The acquired skills will enable the company being balanced out in the flat world and come up with ways of being more knowledgeable. adaptation to new changes, helps companies to overcome any challenge.

The era of collaboration is fundamental and it will enable corporations to endure other competition and assist the corporations to survive and exist. If a company does not become adaptable to the changes in the market and become open-minded, then the corporation will start losing soon and may eventually become obsolete (Lee, n.d).