Globalization and Global Mindset Reflection Paper Example

Over the first few years, there have been arguments by various scholars on whether and how the world flat or non-flat. Thomas Friedman is the first author to write a book on a flat world. He argues that globalization began in the 19th century with countries as the primary agents (Friedman, 2008). According to him, countries started becoming globalized during the industrial age. During this time the geographical borders were decreasing, and countries became closer to one another in trade, aid, and immigration. The second phase of globalization according to Friedman was in mid and late 20th century where companies acted as the agents for globalization. Companies realized the benefits of operating and conducting businesses across geographical borders. Organizations could outsource, export and invest in new geographic locations enabling the flow of goods and people from one geographic area to another. The last phase of globalization, and which we are living today is where individuals act as the agents to globalization. According to Friedman, this phase of globalization began in the 21st century with the development and growth of internet and computer technology (Friedman, 2008). Today individuals are competing internationally with other people across the world. The third phase of globalization not only broke the international geographical borders and made the world like small village it also flattened the world. Friedman says that a flat world means that there are no longer obstacles preventing individuals from interacting, communicating and collaborating socially and in business on a global level. The internet through fiber optic cables has enabled people across the world to access any information at any time and from anywhere in the world. In his explanation, Friedman outlines what he terms as the "10 flatteners" and also explains how education should be reformed to meet the needs, opportunities, and challenges of a flat world.

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Friedman's idea of a flat world faces significant criticism from various scholars one of whom being Pankaj Ghemawat who says that the world is not flat. Ghemawat provides data and statistics to show that people exaggerate the percentage of principal agents of measuring globalization. He presents us with rates of phone calls, immigration, export and direct foreign investments that happened in 2010 across international borders. According to his statistics, all these measures of globalization have percentages which are less that 10 percent (Ghemawat, 2007). The figures are far way below what people estimate them to be. He, therefore, says that the world is not flat and it is far away on its way to being flattened as Friedman argues.

After listening to the argument presented by the two scholars, I would like to believe that today the world is highly globalized than ever before. I would say that we live in a flat world. Due to advancement in information and communication technology every individual has a level playing ground for both commercial and non-commercial purposes (Sieff, 2012). People can work, provide services, outsource, consult, access information and learn from anywhere and at any time. However, I agree with Ghemawat that may affect the level of globalization may not be as high as people make it seem. Nevertheless, this may be the case because people are afraid to take the opportunities and face the challenges that come with going global, re-inventing themselves and being agents of globalization in the 21st century (Jomo & Baudot, 2007).

A flat world provides many opportunities as well as challenges in the global business. This reflection paper uses the global mindset-social, spiritual, intellectual and psychological capitals (S.S.I.P Capitals) and Ghemawat's cultural, administrative, geographical and economic distances (C.A.G.E) to explain the opportunities and challenges of the global business world. The following are my eight leading personal proposals on how I can enhance my social, spiritual, intellectual and psychological capitals in a globalized business world.

Social capital

For one to successfully conduct business globally, he or she should have a global mindset. This phrase means thinking in broad global/international perspectives as opposed to local/national perspective (Friedman & Amazon.com (Firm), 2007). One should see the opportunities that the world presents to him/her now and in future and come up with a plan on how to achieve the strategic plan to reinvent him/ herself to meet local and global demand. For me to enhance the social capital of the global business world, do the following.

Form global networks and collaboration- this is critical for me to understand the needs and demands of people in different parts of the world. I would need to have an excellent network so that I can know in which places I can invest and with whom I need to collaborate to ensure the success of my business. The internet and social media platforms like Twitter, Skype, Google Plus and Linkedin provide me with the means through which to implement this proposal (Javidan, 2013).

Design my products to appeal to people from different parts of the world. People from various regions of the world have different cultural, religious and social values. What succeeds in one part of the world may not succeed in another. Ghemawat points out those cultural distances such as language, ethnicity, religion, traditions, values, social norms and work systems present a challenge to globalization (In Tihanyi, In Pedersen, In Devinney & In Banalieva, 2015). I would need to deal with challenges to enhance the social capital in the globalized business world. For example adjusting the size, packaging, design and adapt to the region's labor laws and values.

Intellectual capital

1. Invest in acquiring more knowledge to understand and take advantage of the global business. This involves using the internet to get information on where to get raw materials from different parts of the world and outsource them to make something that will be needed elsewhere. Friedman listed informing and outsourcing as being among the ten flatteners. One needs to equip himself with the right information and synthesize it to understand what he can offer to the global markets.

2. Invest in continuous learning. Friedman says that it is critical for learners to learn how to learn' in a flat world. According to him having a lot of knowledge is essential but it is not everything. In a flat world, everything we know today may become outdated in a few years. Therefore, it is only a person with curiosity and desire to learn how to learn' will become successful in the global business world (Friedman, 2008). I need to know how to watch trends and interpret what they imply in the flat world and see the global business opportunities and challenges they present to me (Darling-Hammond & Rothman, 2015).

Psychological Capital

Successful business leaders should have a global perspective to enable them to influence individuals, organizations, groups and systems. A global mindset starts from the mind and extends into the society enabling one to identify and understand similarities and differences in different parts of the world and positioning oneself in a way that can take advantage of the opportunities the world presents and minimize challenges encountered. To enhance my spiritual capital in the global business community, I will implement the following personal proposals.

Have a passion for diversity- Friedman points out that no child learns better that one with passion and curiosity for adventure (Friedman & Amazon.com (Firm), 2007). I have to develop an interest in exploring what happens in the other parts of the world. I also will need to develop an interest in diversity and living and interacting with people from other areas of the world. These interests will help me connect with the needs and demands of people in the different parts of the world. Successful businesses are ones that identify a need and focus on satisfying that need. However, the flat world faces limiting challenges related to time zones, physical distance, and communication barrier transportation. These barriers present challenges to my efforts of advancing spiritual capital in the global business (Ghemawat, 2007).

I wish to develop self-confidence for me to become successful in the global business market. There are so many opportunities in the flat world and only those who develop self-confidence will have the ability to seize them. It is not easy to compete globally and emerge out successful. As a result, individuals like me, who am interested in running global businesses need to be energetic, self-confident and witty enough to survive in tough situations. One has to learn how to find out how to get comfortable in a rough situation in regards to taking one's business

to global markets.

1. Familiarize myself with spiritual and religious practices of different countries across the globe where I would work, invest or export my goods and services. Religious beliefs and practices impact on individuals, community's and group's communication, values, relationships and perception of products and services.

2. I also have a personal proposal to work towards improving my credibility. The world has become flattened such that people across the world seek services from all over. For instance, Friedman says, he was puzzled to find out that hundreds of firms in the United States were outsourcing tax return services from consultants from India (Friedman & Amazon.com (Firm), 2007). One thing that will make people and organization succeed in this era of globalization is credibility and good reputation. Despite the cultural and spiritual/ religious difference, individuals with high credibility, reputation, and good negotiation skills will be able to get business deals and win contracts in other cultures and countries.

In summary, the world we live today is flat. Advancement in technology has opened many business opportunities for those willing to pay the cost through developing the right attitude and acquiring the proper education. Individuals today continue to reinvent themselves to become competitive and become global business leaders. Friedman says that only a few highly specialized professionals like surgeons and engineer as well as people required to offer face-to-face services like nannies are untouchable' in the globalized world of today. However, the majority of the other professionals like managers and consultants among others they have to consistently learn synthesize and reinvent to become globally competitive (Darling-Hammond, 2010). However, this will not be easy as they will have to deal on a daily basis with constraints proposed by Ghemawat's C.A.G.E distance framework (Fung, Fung & Wind, 2007).

References

Darling-Hammond, L. (2010). The flat world and education: How America's commitment to equity will determine our future. New York: Teachers College Press.

Darling-Hammond, L., & Rothman, R. (2015). Teaching in the flat world: Learning from high-performing systems.

Friedman, T. L. (2008). The world is flat: A brief history of the twenty-first century. Vancouver: Douglas & McIntyre.

Friedman, T. L., & Amazon.com (Firm). (2007). The world is flat: A brief history of the twenty-first century. New York: Picador/Farrar, Straus, and Giroux.

Fung, K., Fung, W. & Wind, R.(2007). Competing in a Flat World: Building Enterprises for a Borderless World: Pearson Prentice Hall

Ghemawat, P. (2007). Redefining global strategy: Crossing borders in a world where differences still matter.

In Tihanyi, L., In Pedersen, T., In Devinney, T. M., & In Banalieva, E. (2015). Emerging economies and multinational enterprises.

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