Recently I read The World is Flat by Thomas L. Friedman, quite a long book, but definitely worth the time! I love reading when all my emotions and thoughts are eloquently expressed and validated... and that's what this book did for me. I want to briefly (and I mean briefly because I will not be able to touch on the intricacies and nuances that Friedman delves into) describe the flatteners that got us to where we are today.
Flatteners - Events and other technology that has made it so someone on the other side of the globe can compete who was not able to be compete before.
>Berlin Wall Falling: This was the defining moment when countries were becoming more open to sharing ideas with the fall of communism.
>Connectivity: The internet, personal computer, the web browser, .com boom and bust, and fiber optic cables prepared the ground work for the tools that allowed for connecting.
>Work Flow Software: The standardization tools that allowed companies to communicate more effectively and efficiently from department to department as opposed to having different software in each department.
>Uploading: Adding your own content to the web and through community based software creation and solutions.
>Outsourcing: Influenced by Y2K, America depended on India for the large amount of work that needed to be done. And so companies learned it was more cost effective to utilize the software engineers abroad than at home.
>Offshoring: In order to stay competitive companies moved entire manufacturing plants and their companies to other countries where labor and benefits were much cheaper. China was at the center of this movement.
>Supply-Chaining: Stores now know when an item leaves the store and when the products need to be restocked. This influenced the need to have many suppliers all over the world to stay competitive in case one supplier was unable to meet the demand.
>Insourcing: Not only does UPS make deliveries they also store and package the products for companies. Now small companies who may not have the ability to compete with the large companies actually do compete. "That's Logistics" is there marketing motto.
>Informing: The ability to use a search engine to find answers to anything.
>The Steroids: Digital, mobile, personal and virtual - Computers chips have gotten smaller and smaller allowing for more mobile devices. We are also able to file share, make phone calls over the internet, instant message and video conferencing. These tools allow us to research anything anytime and eliminate travel to the library or other places to communicate information.
What are your thoughts? If you read the book, what am I missing? What do you agree or disagree with?
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