World Is Flat Responses

Question:

1. The first chapter in The World Is Flat recalls the voyage of Columbus, colonization, and industrialization. Are the motivations behind twenty-first-century globalization much different from the ones recorded throughout history?

Yesenia:

I do not think their is much difference between now and the given that Thomas Friedman, the author, talks about a journey he had of globalization that started in India and expanded across the rest of Asia. The motivation is similar because the goal was for new resources, investments, and communication. Columbus’ journey was in search for silk and gold in India. It would be considered the same motivation today since travelers go to different places around to world to discover and explore the countries they have never been to.

Luis:

The voyage of Columbus had three goals, Gold Glory and God. Today the motivations are different, we still have the same” gold” but glory and god have switched.  In history we had the Vikings who pillaged, but today Corporations do the same.  Instead of hunting down for gold it’s talent. We are hunting down the most talented and cheapest ready service available. In the sense that we are searching for fortune yes; but no more god or glory.  With globalization comes the massive influx of information which makes the talent hard to seek just as Columbus had trouble with finding India, so is talent and cheap work.  Columbus wanted a new connected to world to exploit, that’s what globalization has allowed a chain of raw goods( talent) and someone to exploit them( corporations).

2. Thomas L. Friedman discusses the many occupations that can now be outsourced or off shored, including his own job as a journalist. Could many American be done by someone in another country? Could many Americans do their job better from home, as the JetBlue telephone agents do? Would you feel comfortable knowing that your taxes had been prepared by an overseas accountant, oryour CAT scan read by an overseas radiologist? (Chapter One)

Yesenia:

I believe that many American job are able to be done by someone in a different country. The jobs however may not be important significant ones that would make a huge impact on our economy. I would not feel comfortable about y information being overseas because I get the idea that anyone can have access to it or I am incapable of protecting it because of the distance.

Luis:

I view this question and Friedman’s idea in a global perspective scope. There will always be someone who is better than you, it’s natural. Different schools prepare for you different things, it’s a matter of how things are going to be accomplished.  The United States although the primary country with top companies, is lagging in preparation of talent in the job field, especially with IT training.  Depending on the job, it could or couldn’t be outdone, it just depends on the companies policies and how much money they’re willing to pay. Many people could do their jobs well at home depending on what people do, if it allows to be done at home through technology then this works perfectly in terms of productivity, so many factors would be eliminated allowing the utmost productivity.  As long as my results were accurate I wouldn’t mind my cat scan or taxes be done by someone outside the country, if its faster and saves money then I’d do it. At the end of the day it works out better and more simple.