Module 7

When asking the question of why some countries or regions are better at doing some things than others, there are many things to consider. Friedman focuses on the cultural and economic reasons for this. Some cultures emphasize different things such as education or work ethic. The compensation expected from certain cultures is different which can change how cheaply products can be made. Outsourcing is a possibility in large part because of the expected compensation of the people in other countries. Some other reasons that certain countries are better at doing things could be geographical. Some things only grow in certain countries giving those countries a monopoly on products made from those crops.

Self-directed consumers are consumers who do some of the work for the company they are buying from. When I think about a self-directed consumer I think of online shopping. When a person shops at Walmart.com they do part of the work that is usually done by Walmart employees. Instead of a manager going online to order things for the store the consumer directly sends their order to Walmart which can then be shipped right to their door. The best part of this for a big company is that they can then give control to a customer while at the same time having to pay employees less. Another positive to having customers order directly is that they can provide many more products than can fit in their stores. If a customer goes into a store looking for a pair of shoes there is only so many shoes that will fit in the shoe section. This is not a problem online where you can display all of your shoes in every color and style and the customer can choose the shoes that best fit their tastes. I am definitely a self-directed consumer because I am extremely lazy and would rather shop online than go to a store.

The question of whether or not globalization means Americanization is a complex one. Globalization according to Friedman is the spread of communication, the advancement in travel and international shipping, and the widespread use of the internet. These things helped globalize the world and even the playing field for everybody everywhere. Americanization on the other hand is the influence America has had on the rest of the world. I think people think about Globalization and Americanization as the same thing because up to this time America has used Globalization the best. American companies have used Globalization to set themselves up around the world which in turn influences those places.

Module 6

Free trade is trade between countries without restrictions such as tariffs or taxes. Free trade helps provide lower prices and better quality goods and services. Free trade allows individuals to specialize in areas of interest even if there is little need for their specialty in the country they live. This breeds competition amongst those who work in the same field and helps motivate a creative atmosphere. Free trade is generally thought of as a positive thing in theory. The negatives associated with free trade have come from those who believe “American jobs” are being shipped overseas when they should remain here in the states. I think free trade is important because the world is not a fair place and free trade helps to even out the imbalance. People born in countries with little or no education should not be forced to be manual laborers. The person who can do a job best should be able to do that job without regard to where they live.

The term “New Middler” refers to what a person needs to do now to be mediocre compared to what people in the past had to do. Some of the skills  Friedman talks about to become a new middler are: adaptability, the ability to collaborate, the ability to explain complex ideas and people skills. These skills in the past may have taken someone to the top of their field but with the advancement the world has seen recently these skills are necessary to stay competitive.

Friedman discusses the formula CQ + PQ > IQ. CQ stands for “Curiosity Quotient”. PQ stands for “Passion Quotient”. Basically Friedman believes that a person who is passionately curious will do a better job than someone who may be smarter but has little passion for the job. A person who is passionately curious, even if they are not quite as smart , will work harder and be more invested than someone who is merely doing a job because they are smart enough to do it. An example that comes to my mind of CQ +PQ > IQ is not so much about separate people but about one person and different subjects. My son is in eighth grade and hates homework. Most things he needs to complete his homework are available on the internet and all he needs to do is search for them yet he spends hours sitting staring at his homework complaining that he can’t do it. Then about a week ago he was invited to a party but was never given the address. He spent fifteen minutes calling, texting and messaging everyone he knew until he had the address. Then when the address wouldn’t come up on his phones GPS he googled a map of the area on my computer and found the address and printed it off. With his homework he has the IQ but no passion while with the party he had the passion and worked hard to overcome his lack of information.

Module 5

Triple convergence refers to the three types of convergence Thomas L. Friedman presents in his book. The first type of convergence is the creation of a global platform. This convergence created an even playing field for everyone regardless of time or geographic boundaries. This came about using the ten world flatteners written about in the book. The second type of convergence Friedman labeled as “Horizontalisation”. This type of convergence changed the chain of command from vertical to horizontal. This allowed different groups inside and outside of companies to work together. The final type of convergence created a world in which individuals could compete from anywhere for work. This convergence allows people all over the globe to access information needed to complete a job.

Friedman next discusses exploitation using a story about India and Indiana. In it Indiana was seeking a contract to upgrade computers and systems that process state unemployment claims. Indiana received several offers from companies however an American branch of an Indian firm won through a steal of a deal with $8.1 million less than any other bids, this allowed for the state to cut tax costs, help those Indiana department workers with future work, and provide Indian workers present labor. The state originally signed the contract but shortly canceled it providing money for what work they had already done. The conflict was that by outsourcing the work to help unemployment they were giving away jobs that could have helped unemployment. As to who was exploited and who was exploiting I am not sure. I think Indiana should have taken more time thinking about the problems they would cause by outsourcing the work.

Intellectual property is defined as “a work or invention that is the result of creativity, such as a manuscript or a design, to which one has rights and for which one may apply for a patent, copyright, trademark, etc.” (Google). Intellectual property is important because a persons creativity should be protected from being stolen.