December 17, 2009

Globalization is the Next Stage of Work

In my book, Trademark 2.0, I completely missed the next step in the natural progression of work. I wrote about the obvious transformation from an agricultural economy to an industry economy. Those observations continued to the transformation to a technology based economy. Where I messed up was assuming globalization was a component or symptom of this transformation when in fact it was the fourth rung on the ladder. In the prior three we looked toward technical changes to modify how work was done. Globalization will eventually show that it too was driven by technology change but the ramifications are far from being felt. Today, Americans are blaming big business and our government for causing this recession but underpinning this is the transformation where work is getting done faster and cheaper in other places around the world. Alain Minc commented:

With the free circulation of capital and technologies, competition will be unbearable with the Chinese, who are fortified by their capitalist chromosome, by their productivity, and their capital and who can work as efficiently as we, for thirty times less.

With this new global economy questions emerge to who should be in control, who should lead, who is responsible for ensuring our place and many other question emerge. For a country born on democracy, it's interesting to see so many looking to the government for that lead when in fact it's us that must lead this next transformation. Unfortunately, our life styles are killing our drive to succeed. I read a funny quote that China has more honor students then we have students. We are clearly getting out gunned in this next war for talent. Globalization is a great thing but for those left behind the road will indeed be a challenge. Just as those who stayed behind in the factory, we may soon be left behind the rest of the world.

Posted by Todd at December 17, 2009 8:10 AM

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