Flatworld

Yes, we should be looking brutally honest at our strengths and weaknesses like

China

does. The companies that honestly look at their weaknesses are the ones that can the most improvements. When looking at your company as harsh as possible you may see things differently than you would before; like something very small at the time that cause make a significant difference. Finding your company’s strengths and applying and utilizing them will also be better for the company. It is just like competitive advantage in economics. Why do more things then you can when you have the advantage in another area. Finding these strengths and weaknesses throughout the company helps as well, when you find employees that are holding the team time you might need to let them go. And vice versa if someone is doing a very good job they may deserve a raise, or they have an option to leave the company

PRM

CH 13

 

I think it is amazing that anyone from anywhere around the world can access any kind of information on the web. They can also fins out what is currently going on based on radios and news stations. Also being able to stay connected to loved ones and friends around the world through e-mails and podcasts are also very beneficial.
Its amazing to be able to learn more and more about other cultures without even having to travel far, technology has improved greatly over these last decades and we should appreciate it.

PRM

Ch 9 change-flatism

Friedman gives many examples of things that need to change to challenge flatism: Leadership,cushioning, social activism and parenting. I think the most important parts are leadership and parenting. With the election coming up this is an area we really need to consider. We need someone who is a good leader with all the qualities that the position upholds. Education is a huge part of this section, children are the future to a country and they need to be molded into individuals who are smart and work hard for what they want. Technology plays a role in this because as it increases people become more and more lazy. Parents today really need to do a better job raising their children. They need to not let them watch so much television, and play video games. They need to get outside and exercise while using their imagination.
The tension between the force of globalization and localization are characterized by egree of low-cost interconnectivity, the degree of individual empowerment.

PRM

untouchable ch6

Untouchables to Friedman are those whose jobs cannot be outsourced. He then splits them up into four categories; special, specialized, anchored, and adaptable. He also gives 9 ways to become untochable. These are These are orchestrations, synthesizers, explainers, adapters, green people, leverages, having passion, loving math and being a localizer. Friedman explains if a person follows the nine points, then this person will not have to worry about being replaced or lose a job.
A course in business writing can help preserve these jobs. Since there is always someone trying to take them, being able to write in business situations can improve job satisfaction. This goes along with being able to communicate efficiently and effectively.

 

ch6 PRM

Chapter 11

While reading chapter 11, Friedman discuss "How Companies Cope." He talks about how different companies are willing to change their ideas and experiences for the consumer. Take for instance the company Starbucks, more consumers like soy milk than regular milk. Companies change their ingredients and their choice of product. Its not all about the company. If you have customers and consumers, you the company has to be willing to adapt to those changes to have better relations with them. If not, they will shop elsewhere. Companies have now been putting on their receipts surveys where you can possible win $1000.00. People do these surveys to maybe win a few bucks, but this helps the producer or company better themselves so the person comes back. You don't care what the survey is about, you just want a shot of that $1000 bucks not knowing that you are helping a company with their relationship with you. It's guinness for the company!

BKJ

Chapter 9

In this chapter, Friedman talks about how Americans need to step up to the plate. We shouldn't just sit back and watch the rest of the world take the credit for the things we are devopling and innovating and then sending our thoughts and ideas to other countries. We as Americans need to change the strateiges we have faced and find a way to overcome them. Friedman discusses that we should not do the things that we used to do, we must be willing to change and adapt to the changes that are to come. We need to get motivated and ready to help our future children into finding new ideas to help improve the United States.

BKJ

Chapter 7

In chapter 7, Friedman talks about the importance of self-learning and ways on how to learn. He offers advice on how to expand your education and professional future. He talks about building the right-brain skills. I personally am a left brain person, but I am always opened to new ideas. These right brain skills help people so that machines and technology cannot be duplicated. This also explores different views to a higher learning. His example to this was music. If we all do our part and find ways to do things ourselves instead of machines, I think in the long wrong we will all be just fine.

BKJ

Comment. To chapter 12

I could not get it to let me post a comment so I am going to do it this way. I agree with  the last post about golbalization.They put into simple words and are absolutely correct.

TDT

Chapter 12 - Local Globalization

Friedman brought up some interesting points by explaining that the world once feared that America would spread its commercial culture around the world and destroy an established country's culture. It could be said that "Americanization" was one of the first instances of a "flatter world." This fear extends farther than just America now. Many commercial organizations are starting to bring individual culture into a country. It can be done with products and services alike. However, all of these cultural influences just further explains and verifies Friedman's argument that the world is flattening.

KES

Chapter 12

At the beginning of chapter 12, Friedman talks about the fall of the Berlin wall and that the worry around the world was "globalization means americanization". Which is somewhat true because americans were the first to pounce onto the flattening of the world. "Many people around the world argued that unless we took serious steps to strengthen cultures and to protect the environment the juggernaut of globalization as Americanization could, in just a few decades, wipe out the cultural, ecological, and zoological diversity that took millions of years tof human, palnt and animal evolution to produce." what i don't understand is that america is made up of of every different culture so by americanization i think that they have it mixed up with modernization.

KO