How Will I Going to Prepare Myself to Compete in This Global Environment
Abstract
The book of Thomas Friedman “The World is Flat” reveals a big difference between ‘development’ and ‘globalization’. Technological progress and political compromises led the world far from what it was half a century ago. He talks about three stages of globalization: Globalization 1.0, Globalization 2.0, and Globalization 3.0. Such modern phenomena as outsourcing and offshoring could not have been possible without the World Wide Web and introduction of network technologies. Today, protectionism is abandoned and countries compete for an opportunity to have business offshore on their territories, while lots of locals work for a foreign company without leaving their Motherland. At the level of an individual, the globalized world has made it possible for people to get information about lots of things and lots of people within seconds and on their own. The future offers extreme conditions for the U.S. people, as they happened to be unprepared for such changes, but taming them will demonstrate the power of the nation once again.
How Will I Going to Prepare Myself to Compete in This Global Environment
The book of Thomas Friedman “The World is Flat” reveals things that previously nobody paid special attention to. People did not make a big difference between ‘development’ and ‘globalization’, however, today, both of these processes change the lives of everyone and the world itself. Technological progress and political compromises led the world far from what it was half a century ago. However, it is necessary to understand what potential challenges and threats this new era brings, and what the consequences for both developed and developing nations are.
It took time for an author to develop the idea and collect enough evidence to write this book. He made an extraordinary journey to Bangalore, India, where he first heard that “the global economic playing field is being leveled, and Americans are not ready.” This made him realize that development had been separated from globalization which had been changing the core economic concepts. He talks about three stages of globalization: Globalization 1.0, Globalization 2.0, and Globalization 3.0. The first stage was characterized by the countries and the governments which were the main protagonists. The second stage introduced multinational corporations as another powerful player that impacted the development of nations. Globalization 3.0 goes to more tiny level and endowed individuals and small groups of people to globalize. The world undergoes convergence that changes life of everybody.
He goes further and explains that such modern phenomena as outsourcing and offshoring could not have been possible without the World Wide Web and introduction of network technologies. They united the world and enabled search for more efficient ways of production and manufacturing. Labor force is no longer obliged to be present in the office, while holding companies are not expected to have their production or other process facilities in the parent country. They are expected to search for advantages, and this is what makes them competitive. Today, protectionism is abandoned and countries compete for an opportunity to have business offshore on their territories, while lots of locals work for a foreign company without leaving their Motherland.
At the level of an individual, the globalized world has made it possible for people to get information about lots of things and lots of people within seconds and on their own. Search engines grow at the same pace as search inquiries grow, and they experience tremendous increase. People look for information about everything and can get advice or feedback from various people across the globe. They no longer need to wait for letters, if they use instant messaging. They can easily send files, share opinions, find friends and travel easily. Such globalization fastens development in the developing countries (Yale University).
At the same time, I believe that the new globalized world is a perfect environment for new talents, new abilities and skills. Competition grows higher, but people have many more options regarding their workplace and lifestyle. Personally, I would try to reach perfection in my profession, but at the same time I would add “a different set of skills that reflect changing economic demands” (“U.S. Students Need 21st Century Skills to Compete in a Global Economy”). I should offer to potential employers more than an average graduate does in order to persuade them that I am worthy to be paid more than an outsourced employee, because I will bring new value. The future offers extreme conditions for the U.S. people, as they happened to be unprepared for such changes, but taming them will demonstrate the power of the nation once again.
Works Cited
Yale University. “The World is Flat.” Online Video Clip. YouTube. You Tube, 29 Apr. 2009.
U.S. Students Need 21st Century Skills to Compete in a Global Economy. P21: Partnership for 21st Century Learning. P21, 10 Oct, 2007. http://www.p21.org/news-events/press-releases/369-us-students-need-21st-century-skills-to-compete-in-a-global-economy
