Module 3

            The world is still flattening. It is hard to believe that all of these different influences played a part in creating a more balanced world.

            The first part of this section deals with offshoring. Offshoring is a great deal different that outsourcing. When companies outsource it just means that they take on aspect of their company and send it overseas to have another company take care of it. When companies offshore it means they actually take part of their company, like a factory or a warehouse, and send it overseas to be run in another country. By spreading companies to other countries it has created a more equal playing field for companies to grow globally. I understand the offshoring is important to businesses because then companies often times can afford things that the otherwise wouldn’t be able to here in the United States, which allows form improvement of products. Although offshoring has its advantages I think that often times there are disadvantages as well. Companies often times get a “good deal” so some things use the quality that they could have and it also takes jobs away from people in the United States. It would be great if we could find a way to keep things affordable and keep them more local.

            Thomas L. Friedman was able to witness Wal-Mart’s supply chaining first hand. As he called it is was like a Wal-Mart river flowing boxes and boxes down conveyor belts to waiting truck, after waiting truck. Wal-Mart uses scanners that as items are being bought they are already being scanned and boxed to be sent back to the store, so that they can make sure that they aren’t out of stock of the items. It actually really set in that supply chaining is a big deal when Friedman said “Wal-Mart is the biggest retail company in the world, and it does not make a single thing.” Wal-Mart has just created a very successful supply chain management. Supply chaining has allowed companies to find the best deal out there and sell it in their store for the lowest price. Since they don’t have to rely on their own manufacturing companies like Wal-Mart can search all over the world for the lowest price and then ship it to their store. I am personally grateful for the development of supply chaining because I know that I can find great deals at nearby stores because the companies are doing the work in finding cheaper products.

            The last topic was about In-forming. Which deals with search engines, which I am sure almost every person uses something like Google, Yahoo or other search engines every time they are on the internet. Google has allowed us to look up topics or types of businesses right from home. We can immediately find out all about the company from a click of a button. I think that google has really helped businesses become better known, since you can look up businesses locally or globally. Google allows you to find that small specialized business when you have a specific need. Search engines, like Google, aren’t always good for businesses since other companies can pay to be at the top of the search as a way of advertising and most people don’t look beyond the first page of their search. I think that Google has been a great resource for large companies and quite possibly a hindrance for small companies.

            As I continue to read this book it is astonishing to me how many of these factors actually play a big role in my day to day life. I didn’t realize that all of these “flatteners” actually effected my own personal life, as I realize these things it makes me realize more and more that just as Friedman says, “the world is flat”.