Wow. I love the way Friedman writes sometimes. He is so eloquent and yet so direct. His mirror-image comparison of these two dates is startling, to say the least. It perfectly describes the eerie similarities but vast differences between the fall of the Berlin Wall, which opened up the door to start the collaboration that would become the flattening of the world, and the September 11 terrorist attacks that threatened to destroy all that we had worked for.
Friedman starts out with the comparison story between David Neeleman, cofounder of JetBlue, and Osama bin Laden, co-founder of the greatest American tragedy. They each had big ideas brought on by strong imaginations, they both took advantage of the current technologies to implement their plans. One created airlines, another created mass panic.
Friedman stresses in this chapter that America is the country of imagination, the "dream machine" that the rest of the world, whether they want to or not, relies on. This country must try not to dwell on the negative events like 9/11. They must try to take advantage of events like 11/9, do good with the technology that we have been given, and make the new, flat world a better place to live.
WHOO, that was a good book.
Friday, December 7, 2007
Chapter 14: The Dell Theory of Conflict Prevention--Old Time Versus Just-in-Time
Wow, I really liked that chapter. Friedman's logic in his "theory" was a little funny, and he recognizes this, but it was still interesting. His theory is that any two countries that are both involved in strong global supply chains such as Dell's will never go to war with each other. Although this statement is a bit farfetched, the ideas behind the statement were sound. Basically, the importance of these supply chains to the well-being of the people of a country will deter, but not prohibit, that country's government from seeking conflict with another country. This theory is actually an update on a previous theory of Friedman's shared in his other book, The Lexus and the Olive Tree, called the McDonald's Theory of Conflict Prevention. This theory made me laugh when I read it, but it still made sense to me. I find it amazing that increases in technology, which help to build better supply chains such as Dell's, can actually deter war. It's nice to see some good once in a while.
But then there is the dark side of such increases in collaboration, as Friedman describes in the second part of this chapter, subtitled "Infosys Versus al-Qaeda." In this part, Friedman explains that as companies can use the technology of the flat world platform to collaborate with one another, set up supply chains and improve thier business, terrorists such as al-Qaeda can use the flat world platform to collaborate with one another and other terrorist groups, set up supply chains of weapons and bombs, and make life horrifying for the countries and groups that they attack. And due to the fact that we cannot control their use of the internet to spread their terrorist message, this kind of activity will likely continue.
But then there is the dark side of such increases in collaboration, as Friedman describes in the second part of this chapter, subtitled "Infosys Versus al-Qaeda." In this part, Friedman explains that as companies can use the technology of the flat world platform to collaborate with one another, set up supply chains and improve thier business, terrorists such as al-Qaeda can use the flat world platform to collaborate with one another and other terrorist groups, set up supply chains of weapons and bombs, and make life horrifying for the countries and groups that they attack. And due to the fact that we cannot control their use of the internet to spread their terrorist message, this kind of activity will likely continue.
Chapter 13: Globalization of the Local--The Cultural Revolution Is About to Begin
What is globalization of the local? According to this chapter, it is another way of looking at globalization that contrasts the traditional view of Americanization. While Americanization is our culture taking over and slowly eroding the cultures of the world, globalization of the local is the people of the world taking advantage of globalization and the flat world platform to make thier cultures more accessible to all, including both foreigners and their own people in foreign lands. This enables those people who have left their homelands for various reasons to enjoy, to some degree, their native culture. This can serve only to strengthen those cultures. Freidman says it best: "[Globalization] is about the creation of a global platform for multiple forms of sharing work, knowledge, and entertainment."
The purpose of this chapter is not to say that globalization is without it's faults, and Friedman takes time to point this out. Americanization does exist, and globalization can be abused in ways that are questionable at best, but it's not all bad. It does have it's good side, and Friedman points out that "our job is not to trash this platform but to get the best out of it and to prevent the worst." Amen, brother.
The purpose of this chapter is not to say that globalization is without it's faults, and Friedman takes time to point this out. Americanization does exist, and globalization can be abused in ways that are questionable at best, but it's not all bad. It does have it's good side, and Friedman points out that "our job is not to trash this platform but to get the best out of it and to prevent the worst." Amen, brother.
Chapter 12: The Unflat World-- No Guns or Cell Phones Allowed
Friedman is trying to confuse me! He's admitting (quite comically, in fact) that the world is not flat. However, he's not saying that he's been lying this whole time (in which case I would stop reading now). He's basically acknowleding the fact that the world is not flat, but flattening, but there are many regions of the world that he says are unflat, because of one circumstance or another. There are people who are too sick due to a lack of healthcare. There are people who are too disempowered (or half-flat) due to a lack of a government responsible enough to notice them and help them. And there are people who are too frustrated by pressures of the flattening world to enjoy it, and it is these people, according to Friedman, who spawn the likes of Osama bin Laden and al Quaeda.
Chapter 11: How Companies Cope
So, we've learned how America is behind, but still has the resources to cope in the flat world. Then we learned what developing countries can do to take advantage of the flat world platform and rise up. This chapter is exactly what it's title says: it describes what companies need to do in order to cope in the flat world. Friedman suggests they follow seven distinct rules, some of which he had touched on earlier in the book. These rules vary from a general introspection to find your true core competency, to taking advantage of new technologies to a.) make your big company act small, or b.) make your small company act big, to using outsourcing correctly and efficiently to not only cut costs, but to increase your market share and, perhaps, help out a poor country of people in the process.
It was a pretty good chapter, but I once again found it hard to get through. I don't really have much to comment on this chapter, either. It was pretty clear-cut and straightforward, saying the same thing Friedman has been saying all throughout this book: "The world is taking advantage of new technologies to collaborate more and it is making the world flatter. Learn what you can to hop on this trend before you get left behind."
It was a pretty good chapter, but I once again found it hard to get through. I don't really have much to comment on this chapter, either. It was pretty clear-cut and straightforward, saying the same thing Friedman has been saying all throughout this book: "The world is taking advantage of new technologies to collaborate more and it is making the world flatter. Learn what you can to hop on this trend before you get left behind."
Chapter 10: The Virgin of Guadalupe
This chapter wasn't nearly as...uh, titillating as the last one. While it still interested me to read about what developing countries needed to do to survive in the flat world, I found it harder to get interested in others' issues. Although it was very cool to learn just how hard it is to do business in some of these other countries. (Remind me never to try to start a business in Haiti, yikes!)
Friedman attributes some of these countries struggles in the new flat world to the need for 2 main things, what he calls the "reform wholesale" and the "reform retail." The reform wholesale is the basic underlying need of "broad macroeconomic reform." Opening up trade barriers is a big part of this type of reform. Reform retail is the next level up from that, and it entails upgrading the country's governance, infrastructure, and education systems. You can't do this without reform wholesale, however. Friedman also attributes the apparent inablility of some countries to take care of these reforms to culture and "intangibles", the former of which seems to be a very touchy subject. I don't care how touchy it is, it's the truth. There are just some people in this world (and some countries full of people) whose cultures simply clash with progressive thinking. Friedman talks about the difference between those cultures who are tolerant of others, and those who are not--what he calls the ability to "glocalize." If Muslim culture in the Middle East teaches their children to be intolerant of other cultures, then that kind of thinking will continue to hinder thier people's progress. It's sad, but it's true. Friedman does recognize that cultures, "a product of the context", can change. Hopefully, these developing countries can get on track, realize where they are in the context of the world, and say, "Wow, we're behind." It will take a LONG time, but I think they can do it.
Friedman attributes some of these countries struggles in the new flat world to the need for 2 main things, what he calls the "reform wholesale" and the "reform retail." The reform wholesale is the basic underlying need of "broad macroeconomic reform." Opening up trade barriers is a big part of this type of reform. Reform retail is the next level up from that, and it entails upgrading the country's governance, infrastructure, and education systems. You can't do this without reform wholesale, however. Friedman also attributes the apparent inablility of some countries to take care of these reforms to culture and "intangibles", the former of which seems to be a very touchy subject. I don't care how touchy it is, it's the truth. There are just some people in this world (and some countries full of people) whose cultures simply clash with progressive thinking. Friedman talks about the difference between those cultures who are tolerant of others, and those who are not--what he calls the ability to "glocalize." If Muslim culture in the Middle East teaches their children to be intolerant of other cultures, then that kind of thinking will continue to hinder thier people's progress. It's sad, but it's true. Friedman does recognize that cultures, "a product of the context", can change. Hopefully, these developing countries can get on track, realize where they are in the context of the world, and say, "Wow, we're behind." It will take a LONG time, but I think they can do it.
Thursday, December 6, 2007
Chapter 9: This Is Not a Test
Agh! It just keeps going! When I picked up this book and looked at it's massive 571 page width(more for the paperback version, I hear), I really worried. I should have started reading this book earlier, though, because it really is good. This chapter and the last have really opened my eyes to the direction the world is going, and has actually helped me to understand a lot of what Molly has been teaching this semester. What was the point of this class? The point of this class was to help us grasp the concept that the world is changing, and changing FAST. It's all funny and haha now that we had no clue what SecondLife was, but what is going to happen when that "Really?!" moment hits us when we're managers of a company? How do we justify allowing ourselves to get left behind in the world when we're responsible for a little more than just ourselves?
Friedman notes 5 "action areas" that he says America needs to embrace to avoid falling behind. These action areas will help us embrace the "compassionate flatism" that will allow us to survive in the flat world. The first area , Leadership, was a very good read. It suggested that we need someone, anyone, in a powerful enough position (GOVERNMENT, MAYBE) to help the country see the flat world. I completely agree, because before I read this book, I was one of the ignorant. Yea, I knew that it was happening, I use Google, I use the Internet. But what I didn't know was that I was taking all of it for granted, and not seeing what these technologies were really doing behind my back. Unfortunately, all of America cannot buy and read this book (although they should). And the people that have read it, believe it, and are passionate enough to speak out for change, while noble, will not be heard. It will be like trying to move a fat, old, lazy dog, unless you have the right incentive, all the pushing and calling in the world won't move it. We need that bone, that incentive, a president like JFK, that will get us off our lazy asses and get us into gear. A change this big is going to need to start with our government. Let's just pray that the right people get elected.
The second and third areas are muscle building and cushioning, respectively. Muscle building does not mean that we have to go work out. It means that we need to increase our country's muscle by increasing our strengths--our skills and ourr knowledge. Cushioning is keeping a small distance from the coldness of a frictionless, flat world through programs such as wage insurance. Friedman calls for programs like this to be implemented to help the many people who will be displaced by the new flat world.
The fourth area, social activism, is basically a call for companies and consumers to support good corporate behavior. It gives examples of large companies that have used thier power as customers to force the members of thier supply chains to make socially responsible decisions. Wow, more companies should do that... And finally, the fifth area, parenting, I've pretty much already talked about in previous posts. Do your kids right. Teach them well, and don't be overprotective. Discipline them. Make them learn. Do your part as a parent and make sure that they will have the skill set to make it in the flat world. Even if that means you can't always be the "nice parent." It all starts with the parents. I didn't go to the best high school. But I still made it to where I am today, and it's because of my parents. They pushed me from a young age to read and instilled in me a love of learning. That and my mom puts subliminal thoughts in my head, I swear...
Mom: "You'll probably end up getting your master's, I can see that happening."
Me (in middle school): "Ha! No way, four years of college and I'm done. Why would I stay any longer?"
Crap. I hate it when she's right.
Friedman notes 5 "action areas" that he says America needs to embrace to avoid falling behind. These action areas will help us embrace the "compassionate flatism" that will allow us to survive in the flat world. The first area , Leadership, was a very good read. It suggested that we need someone, anyone, in a powerful enough position (GOVERNMENT, MAYBE) to help the country see the flat world. I completely agree, because before I read this book, I was one of the ignorant. Yea, I knew that it was happening, I use Google, I use the Internet. But what I didn't know was that I was taking all of it for granted, and not seeing what these technologies were really doing behind my back. Unfortunately, all of America cannot buy and read this book (although they should). And the people that have read it, believe it, and are passionate enough to speak out for change, while noble, will not be heard. It will be like trying to move a fat, old, lazy dog, unless you have the right incentive, all the pushing and calling in the world won't move it. We need that bone, that incentive, a president like JFK, that will get us off our lazy asses and get us into gear. A change this big is going to need to start with our government. Let's just pray that the right people get elected.
The second and third areas are muscle building and cushioning, respectively. Muscle building does not mean that we have to go work out. It means that we need to increase our country's muscle by increasing our strengths--our skills and ourr knowledge. Cushioning is keeping a small distance from the coldness of a frictionless, flat world through programs such as wage insurance. Friedman calls for programs like this to be implemented to help the many people who will be displaced by the new flat world.
The fourth area, social activism, is basically a call for companies and consumers to support good corporate behavior. It gives examples of large companies that have used thier power as customers to force the members of thier supply chains to make socially responsible decisions. Wow, more companies should do that... And finally, the fifth area, parenting, I've pretty much already talked about in previous posts. Do your kids right. Teach them well, and don't be overprotective. Discipline them. Make them learn. Do your part as a parent and make sure that they will have the skill set to make it in the flat world. Even if that means you can't always be the "nice parent." It all starts with the parents. I didn't go to the best high school. But I still made it to where I am today, and it's because of my parents. They pushed me from a young age to read and instilled in me a love of learning. That and my mom puts subliminal thoughts in my head, I swear...
Mom: "You'll probably end up getting your master's, I can see that happening."
Me (in middle school): "Ha! No way, four years of college and I'm done. Why would I stay any longer?"
Crap. I hate it when she's right.
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