Globalization Transforms Global Commerce

Changing Forces in U.S. Business Unequivocally, the primary force for change facing U.S. organizations is globalization. This fact is not only clearly demonstrable in the current landscape of U.S. business practices in which multinational corporations are the most powerful, but perhaps even more convincingly so in the history of this country. In the 1960's, the trend towards outsourcing work from America began as this country initiated the process of going from a global producer to a global consumer.

It was not until the 1970's, however, that the effects of this movement became palpable. As the 1970's transitioned into the 1980's, America had greatly reduced its status as a global producer in some of its industries for which it was most noted (automobiles manufacturing and natural resources). The effect was that many positions and key functions in organizational business processes became outsourced to overseas locations.

This tendency coincided with the numerous closing of manufacturing plants and the transition of jobs which were once American to foreign suppliers of the same work. In the wake of this evolution of the U.S. from a producer to a consumer, some of the most tangible factors of globalization reared themselves. Multinational companies in the U.S. easily determined that the price of labor was cheaper in foreign countries in which these organizations did not have to contend with potentially costly labor unions and benefits for their employees.

Additionally, resources for work processes such as raw materials could be procured less expensively than they could domestically. The reality is that this movement continues today with the onslaught of technological advances such as the internet and mobile connectivity, so that it is easier -- and most advantageous -- to conduct business in other countries while still maintaining a presence domestically as well. The result is that globalization has greatly shaped the way business is done in America.

The post of the student that is reviewed in this document is particularly interesting. Some of his or her points are poignant. However, this post is plagued by some fairly simple (and common errors). The student does not cite his references with proper APA format, for instance. Additionally, the student appears to have miscalculated his or her forces at one point in the posting; the student states that a particular source has listed "six forces" of change, and then only lists five of them.

Still, there are other points that the student makes that are fairly incisive. For instance, one could successfully argue that the three forces for change listed in the textbook are too broad. Technology -- which is not one of those three forces yet is one of the ones that this student has identified -- is certainly an agent of change, and would likely be classified in the textbook factors for change under innovation.

Still, technology is so prevalent in contemporary times that one could argue that it rightfully deserves its own category as a force for change. The crux of the student's article,.