Globalization

Globalization

How have the recent advances in Internet-based communications helped to close the digital divide that has existed between advanced and emerging nations?

The significant advancements in internet-based communications is making it easier, faster, and less costly to move data around the world. E-mails are an indispensable tool that managers use to stay in contact with international operations and to respond quickly to important matters. Videoconferencing allows managers in different locations to meet in virtual face-to-face meetings. When they use e-mailing as a primary source of communication, people can get e-mails at anytime on different technology. People can receive e-mails on their phone, computers and tablets, when people could only get e-mails on their computers. Videoconferencing allows them to get acquainted with whom they are doing business with, so that way, they know exactly who so and so is. It also allows them to see what is going on behind the scenes at specific location.

How has the “flat world” in terms of technology affected globalization efforts by western companies? Part of globalization is the increasing adoption of some form of free market economic system, as well as a democratic political system, as these are the systems that have proven to work best in enabling easy transfer of goods, money and jobs around the world. But these systems cannot be put on like a new suit of clothes. To work well, an economic or political system must be rooted in the culture and psychology of the nation that uses them. And that takes time.

At its deepest level, globalization is the gradual process of the world shrinking as people of different nations, cultures and religions come to know more about each other. Part of this process is that many Western ideas and modes of living are gradually seeping into the fabric of the world.

At the same time, everyone on earth has to adjust to Western information technology, for no nation can...