the+world+is+flat+3.0

The World is Flat 3.0 - Every time I indent it, it just takes the indentation away when I save it.

Matthew Pimenta Mrs. Moeller AP Macro December 11th, 2008 The World is Flat Review When you call a company for technical support, it is highly likely that you will be answered by a voice sporting a neutralized Indian accent coming from halfway around the globe. This is an assertion of the multiple Pulitzer Prize winning author Thomas L. Friedman in his international bestseller "The World is Flat." In his groundbreaking commentary, Friedman analyzes and delves into the effects of globalization, a leveling tool that is quickly flattening the world into a communication powerhouse conducive to the efficiency of a dynamic business world. Undersea cables, innovative software, internet, and the capabilities of almost instantaneous messaging media such as mobile phones and e-mail have, among many other things, redefined and flattened the globe into a level playing field for many countries to prosper in an international economy. In the book, Friedman heavily relies on his vast knowledge of the Middle Eastern world, specifically his experiences in India's techno-acropolis, Bangalor (the Indian equivalent of Silicon Valley). When he traveled there on the premise of filming a documentary for Discovery Times, he found a technological mecca that was previously unbeknownst to him. Friedman asserted that he, amongst many other Americans, had been 'sleeping' during this revolution of international capabilities; a revolution enabled by the most recent of three eras of globalization. He describes these aforementioned eras of globalization as time periods in which the world shrunk as a result of technological and communication advances, each occurring in an ever-shorter lapse of time. The first era of globalization, coined Globalization 1.0 and lasting from 1492 to the 1800s, was driven by countries determined to claim colonial land-holdings and assert their indispensability and power as creatively as possible in the limited global economy available to them. Globalization 2.0 occurred from the 1800s to 2000 (excluding the intermittent World Wars and the Great Depression), but instead was primarily facilitated by multinational companies striving for stakes in the perpetually shrinking world. Finally, Globalization 3.0, our current era, has opened up the global economy to individuals in countries that were previously excluded such as India, Bangkok, China, and most of the Asian continent. This new opportunity has effectively 'flattened' the world's economy, hence the title of the book: "The World is Flat." In the first era of globalization, Columbus set sail under the assumption of the world being round. However, it was only in Globalization 3.0 that his theory was proven wrong. Friedman describes the social climate of India as one whose purpose is focused on self-development. The young working class is determined to climb the social ladder into the stratosphere of the upper middle class, and the best way to accomplish that goal is to become a help-center telephone operator for a multinational corporation, a prestigious and enviable profession. The advantage to becoming a telephone operator at a help hotline is its working hours. The typical workday for an Indian telephone operator begins at 6:00 P.M. Bangalor time, which is when the Western world is waking up. The evening work hours enable the young Indians to attend college classes during the day to advance to greater positions in the workforce. They relish the opportunity to better themselves and will do anything to ensure their advancement to the next rung on the social ladder. The telephone operator profession is a perfect catalyst for their ambitious lifestyle because it provides health benefits and insurance for their entire family as well as a stable, concrete source of income. The benefits of multinational companies' investments in outsourced work are mutual. The corporations are able to send their grunt work to other countries like India and pay a fifth of the price they normally would for an American doing the same work. The American worker does not suffer from this trade-off, however. He or she is able to focus on the more specialized and more personal encounters like business encounters over dinner. Friedman backs up his iconoclastic claim of the world being flat with specific examples detailing which factors were involved in the flattening process. Ten of the main flatteners are outlined below: 1. Berlin Wall - The elimination of the Berlin Wall was important because it effectively meant that the Cold War was over. The Cold War was a war of secret treaties, embargoes, and political ramifications to every decision. When it was over, the global climate warmed up enough to being open to international trade, resulting in a more level and universal playing field. 2. Internet for Dummies - The internet being accessible and easy to use for the layman was revolutionary. Software like Netscape and AOL opened up the possibilities to every day people to share, upload, and view multimedia data from anywhere in the world. Pictures, messages, video, and audio could be transferred online almost instantaneously, which held endless opportunities for companies looking to improve their efficiency. Now anyone with a computer and a connection could access, alter, and send information around the world at the click of a button. 3. Efficient Anti-Middle-Man Software - Many intelligent programmers saw the changes that were taking place and decided to create software to expedite the transfer of information from computer to computer without the need for human input. Information sharing solutions such as networking and transfers enabled companies and individuals to access what they needed to quickly and efficiently, without worrying about Jan in filing losing their important documents. 4. The Power of Open Source - With the implementation of the internet, anyone could share information, intellectual property, and creations with others around the world. With the popularity of blogging and other such free-post websites, the people had the power to do what they wanted. Programmers could develop software to sell to companies or just help out the common man, but either way they were free to distribute over the medium of the internet. 5. Outsourcing - Outsourcing is a powerful force that companies are trying to manage to maximize their efficiency. With the ability to send work to other countries (such as India) and only pay a fifth of the price for the same amount of work, multinational companies save millions while having their higher-paid workers focus on more personal tasks. One concern of economics is the study of choices given sufficient amounts of incentive. The incentive for companies to provide goods and services more cheaply is clearly a great one. Most people of the free world will take any opportunity to improve their state of living, provided the payoff is worth the sacrifice. Because companies can spend less money on its employees, they have more resources to produce their good or service. 6. Off-shoring - Off-shoring goes hand-in-hand with outsourcing. Off-shoring is when companies produce their good in a factory in another country to cut down on costs. The standard of living in America and the Western World is very high, and as such the workers are typically paid a higher wage than countries with a lower standard of living. Therefore, to cut down on costs and save resources, many multi-national companies find it profitable to produce their good in another country. This of course provides the residents in that country with a job in a multinational corporation - often a win-win situation. Goods are provided to the more affluent countries at a lower price and the inhabitants of less affluent regions have a way to earn income and support their families. 7. Chain Companies - With the advent of technologies conducive to efficient and smooth time and resource management, companies have been able to expand to the point of opening multiple store locations to maximize profits. These companies are able to use technology to manage and observe their resources and raise profit. 8. Insourcing - Insourcing is effectively the opposite of outsourcing and occurs when companies open up separate facilities to manage operations necessary to the company's survival. It takes a smaller part of a certain process in creating or providing a good or service and opens up another area for it to be done rather than detract from the main production process. 9. Information Superhighway - Friedman stresses the importance of information sharing. The amount of information available at the touch of a computer is unprecedented, and now that anyone can be informed about virtually any subject, the possibilities of knowledge and ultimately success are endless. 10. The Steroids of Globalization 3.0 - Portable information storing and sharing devices have revolutionized the corporate and every day worlds by placing the power of information sharing and management in the hands of the people. With the rise of cellular phones and PDAs, individuals are able to share and access information instantly from any location. This revolution of personal power has skyrocketed the potential for corporate relations and business efficiency.

1439 words. (1439 - 1250 = 189 words, which is a full 189 words over what we needed to write. Extra Credit? I think so.)