When most people think of globalisation, they automatically think of manufacturing jobs. But Thomas Friedman’s The World is Flat is not about manufacturing but about knowledge work, the kind of work web professionals do. I came across a good analogy in Dan Pink’s book A Whole New Mind. The story of John Henry is symbolic of the Industrial Age and how machines could perform manually labor better than humans.
I have a vivid memory of Garry Kazparov playing chess against an IBM supercomputer known as Deep Blue 10 years ago. The world of chess was stunned when Deep Blue defeated Kasparov. Last century machines proved they could replace human manual labor. This century new technologies are proving they can replace the human brain.
Many of my colleagues in higher education feel that the globalisation will not impact them or other knowledge workers. The more I read, the more I disagree. We will be impacted, and sooner than you think.
Your thoughts?
Yes, It is sure to impact higher education, esp when higher education is given a lot of thrust in countries like India and China. Whereas, students of US are getting mired in debt in order to finish their univ studies. Most, threfore, are not pursuing them, or even if they do, because of the lack of thrust in math and sciences in school level, are not going in for technology and math/science courses. In countries like India and China, there are thousands graduating each year in technology, management and math/science courses. So they are able to do the knowledge worker jobs with ease and cheaply too, which is the major reason for outsourcing.
Recently I read a book, which is a rebuttal of Thomas Friedmans’ book, “The World is Flat”. It is a concisely written book, and touches upon points that Friedman largely ignores or lightly touches upon. It is written by Aroncia and Ramdoo, and offers a counterperspective to Friedman’s voluminous book. I urge everyone to read it. There is also a companion book on Globalization, “Extreme Competition” by Peter Fingar and also a 6 min presentation “Shift Happens”.
Check out http://www.mkpress.com/flat
and watch http://www.mkpress.com/flatoverview.html
for an interesting counterperspective on Friedman’s Flat.
Really interesting 6 min wake-up call: Shift Happens! http://www.mkpress.com/ShiftExtreme.html
The companion book: Extreme Competition: Innovation and the Great 21st Century Business Reformation
http://www.mkpress.com/extreme
http://www.mkpress.com/Extreme11minWMV.html
Best Wishes,
–Susan