Globalization and Business Opportunities

Thomas Friedman’s The World Is Flat 3.0 proposes as the title tells, that due to globalization the world is “flat”. This refers to the global economic playing field being leveled by technological innovations and free flow of various components. Friedman’s major argument is the notion that globalization has progressed to a phase where it is spearheaded by individuals, rather than companies or nation-states. Friedman suggests that companies and nation-states are only secondary agents, and emphasizes deregulation by them and almost implies that these institutions are irrelevant, unnecessary and mere hindrances. Friedman’s suggestions of the world becoming tiny and flat, and globalization being led by individuals rely on his proposition of the 4 keys. The term “flat” doesn’t refer to lack of terms of trade or complete global equality but to a platform from where to spring. This platform is based on these four keys, which are the creation of PC, allowing people to create content and dispatch it, the Netscape-browser bringing the Internet alive and to every home, inter-compatibleness letting people connect, and lastly creation of multiple devices making connecting easier and cheaper, and thus available to many. This platform leads to his economic thesis of value being created horizontally rather than vertically, which will eventually change everything. The motto Friedman keeps using regarding to this is, “Whatever can be done, will be done”. The only question that remains is who will do it. This means large projects don’t necessarily have to be done in great institutions where upper-level has it’s mind set and passes the idea to the producers on lower levels. Instead, individual creation is crucial. Individuals have all the tools of making viable ideas successful and in the lack of regulations can connect globally to create value chains that allow global success and creation of value. This requires largely open societies, which would empower and enable these...