Module 11 Discussion
Summary
According to Friedman (2006), ‘The World is Flat’ Means ‘the Global competitive playing field is being leveled’ It is now possible for more people than ever to collaborate and compete in real time with more other people on more different kinds of work from more different corners of the planet and on an equal footing than at any previous time in the history of the world’ (p. 8). In chapter 12, he uses an example of Dell and how it deals with suppliers in many parts of the country. Dell has stores in many countries in world wide. Independency is the key point being illustrated in this example where each country depends on each other for supply of products and services. Thomas from this theory, where countries showed dependency came up with a ‘Dell Theory of Conflict Management’. He points out in this chapter that no two countries which depend on each other, can afford to fight each other. Countries that should fight against each other according to Friedman (2005) are those that have achieved sustainable economic levels and they can sustain themselves. The further points out ‘No two countries that are both part of a leading global supply chain, like Dell’s, will ever fight a war against each other as long as they are both part of the same global supply chain (P. 421).’ On the digital divide many adults in US do not use high speed internet access. The high number of citizens uses mobile phone to access internet services. Smartphones are equally accessed by Latinos and African American just like other American citizens. Bias against women in science is a trend that is evident at the work place. There has been a change in the number of boys and girls doing mathematics and science courses. The gap has significantly reduced. In universities female students are getting degrees in science and engineering courses, but the job market is still discriminating them. There are many changes in the perspective of women in science several web sites and researches show that women have the desire and the ability to excel in science and engineering. The change of attitude towards female that they cannot achieve or lead in a science field should change.
Question 1: Bill Gates's foundation
Bill Gates’s Foundation was launched in 1995 with an aim of funding health initiatives globally. Currently is being rated as the largest charitable foundation in terms of funding. Have an active role in the fund is the best way. I believe that many foundations are not directly forced by the sponsors. Bill Gates’s foundation is not only offering technological support to the foundation, but also getting a full time role is significant. Focusing on charity enables the Microsoft founder to tackle the issues of negative publicity that he is not giving out to charity. The foundation becomes a key social responsibility of the corporation to offer. Bill Gates in an interview he asserted ‘I believe that with immense wealth comes enormous responsibility, a responsibility to give back to society and a responsibility to see that those resources are put to work in the best possible way to help those most in need.’ (Personal communication, June 16, 2006).
Question 2: Roots of the public-health crisis in the Third World
According to research studies, there is a crisis in public health in third world. Infectious diseases each year kill over 14 million people worldwide where 90% are from third world countries. With 14 million being infected with HIV/AIDS annually 90% of the infected are from third world too. Tuberculosis and malaria are killing millions of people annually in the third world countries. Other diseases little known that can be prevented are killing hundreds of thousands of people in the third world. Therefore, this is a serious crisis in the public health sector (Philip, 2004). The cause of the public-health crisis in the Third World is the lack of incentive for governments to fund research and development. Fight to sessional disease faces a challenge of inadequate development and distribution of drugs. The main killing diseases such as malaria and tuberculosis in the third world countries are under-funded. Researchers do not get the returns they invest in research in the third world countries. Question 4 Michael Dell's theory of conflict prevention
Theories (McDonald and Dell) state: ‘No two countries that are both part of a significant global supply chain, like Dell [Computer, will ever fight a war against each other as long as they are both part of the same global supply chain. Because people embedded in significant global supply chains do not want to fight old-time wars anymore. They want to make just-in-time deliveries of goods and services ‘ And enjoy the rising standards of living that come’’ (Thomas, p.442) I agree with this theory that many countries have used to resolve their differences. With the merging of technology, competitors have more ways to share the technological advancement. A company stands to lose if it enters into war with the competitors. They both have markets that depend on one another. Question 5 optimistic strategists
This is a group of individuals who have confidence in their past performance and project eh best in the future. The strategists always think bout how they will continue to perform better with their abilities. For the optimist strategy to win the participants or individuals carrying out the mission should not think about failure. Anxiety and uncertainty is one factor that optimistic strategists do not know how to handle. They perform poorly under such cases. The dream for the world is to make it better than they found it. They face each day with the hope of making it in life. They did not dwell in the past failures but work to better the situation.
References
Philip Stevens,(2004). Diseases of Poverty and the 10/90 Gap.
Robert E. Black et al., (2003). Where and Why are 10 Million Children Dying Every
Friedman, T. L. (2005). The world is flat: A brief history of the twenty-first century. New York: Farrar, Straus and Giroux.
World Health Organization (WHO), The World Medicines Situation 61 (2004) retrieved from, http://www.searo.who.int/LinkFiles/Reports_World_Medicines_Situation.pdf
