Module 8

Megan Flinders

Module 8

Personal Computer Education Essay

 

            My relevant story about how computers have been used in my education starts many years ago.  My husband, prior to starting his MBA, purchased a new laptop.  We opted to stay with Windows XP instead of the new Windows 7 due to some unfavorable reviews on the new software.  We had Microsoft 2003 as 2007 hadn’t quite been released.  This Toshiba laptop was perfect.  While my husband used it for class, we also used it as our home computer storing large amounts of music, video, and photos on the hard drive.  Several years later, which happened to be when I decided to go back to school, we decided it would be a good idea to get a desktop computer to go along with the laptop.  The laptop’s memory was about full, Windows XP had since been several times updated to the new Windows 8, the Microsoft Office package we were using was now severely outdated with formats somewhat incompatible for my studies, and our iPad just wouldn’t meet all of my needs.  With all of the factors in place, off we went to buy the home computer. 

As my first week of courses began, I was still using our laptop to check out my courses on the online Canvas system.  Most of my courses were held at the University, however, they also included an online component.  It would be necessary that I had an internet connection at home to be able to perform research for my classes, write papers, and submit everyday assignments.  Study guides and exam prep were also included on the Canvas system which made it a go to program on a daily basis.  And most importantly, most of my assignments were to be submitted online.  Here alone shows how instrumental computers were to be in my education.  To not be able to access Canvas through a working computer and internet connection would be devastating.  Thus the stage was set for the perfect digital failure.

It all began when our new, supposedly up to date computer (which had Microsoft 2013, Windows 8.1, and several bells and whistles) began to throw up all sorts of pop-ups and indications a virus was present.  I was in the middle of trying to save a paper I had just written, which happened to be due that night, when the computer stated my C: drive was corrupted.  I couldn’t save, exit, and continue with Microsoft Word.  I reset my computer and it wouldn’t start back up.  All the while, in my panicked state, I tried to fire up the dusty laptop.  Sorry, after waiting for 10 precious minutes for the dinosaur to turn on, it prompted me that the memory was full.  Therefore, I couldn’t use the laptop.  Since I was too far away from the University, library, or any other source I could think of, I was relegated to try and remember what I had written in my essay and finger peck away on the iPad.  I typed prodigiously until I had somewhat of an assignment completed and turned it in to my teacher.  I think I spent as much time writing an explanation to what had happened, as I did on the paper.  What a horrible experience with the use of technology which has left a lasting impression on me.  I have definitely learned from that experience what I could have done differently and hopefully won’t have to experience something like that again.

Suffice it to say that computers have played, and continue to impact, a huge part of my education.  All of my classes this semester are through the Canvas system.  Without the ability to use a computer from the comfort of my home, or even the convenience of the library, I would be forced to hand write, and physically turn in my assignments.  Computers have increased the efficiency and over experience in getting an education and will continue to do so throughout my college years.

Module 7

Megan Flinders

Module 7

 

Some countries are better at doing certain things, or in economic terms, have a comparative advantage in large part due to their culture.  Friedman references The Wealth and Poverty of Nations in which author David Landes mentions that the values of the country or region (hard work, thrift, honesty, patience and tenacity) are a bigger factor than the climate, natural resources and geography.  While the latter factors also play a part in competitive advantage, countries gain the comparative advantage from these intangible factors.

Friedman goes on to explain how Ireland has these values instilled in the country DNA, and has risen from the scoffing of European countries, to become the second most wealthy nation in the European Union.  The hard work and resiliency of the nation has allowed it to embrace globalization and become an attractive player in the global economy.  Friedman uses the term “glocalize” to describe nations who absorb foreign ideas and best practices and meld them with the country’s own norms and traditions to create an advantage in the flat world.  This is in contrast to many Muslim countries who are stuck on tradition and unwilling to glocalize with other nations.  Not only are these countries closed off to the idea of melding ideas, some actually shun the practice and feel a need to “purge” or eliminate certain nations to do.  In a way, this leads to a more closed mindset which can decrease the potential comparative advantage.  Ultimately when tolerance is the foundation, nations can share best practices and good ideas for the greater good of all.

One additional comparison Friedman uses to illustrate why some countries produce comparative advantage is between Mexico and China.  Simply stated, it is the intangibles China possess which allows it to thrive while Mexico is lost shuffling for answers.  China has found the ability to focus its energies, perform necessary reform, and promote based on a meritocracy.

Self-directed consumers are those that drive companies to offer products and services customized to their needs.  They feel that if Company X is not offering such a service they desire, they will find another company that does.  An example referenced is in the financial industry where consumers want one stop shopping for these services.  It can also be seen in many companies and innovative products which continue to develop after taking surveys, launching pilot products and programs, and making adjustments based on consumer feedback.

I believe I am a self-directed consumer in a way because I have a good idea of the service and products I want.  However, I also enjoy companies, such as Apple, who bring innovative products to me.  I think there is a delicate balance between being reactive and waiting for customers to tell you what they what, and being innovate and proactive and telling consumers what they want while giving the reasons they will want it.  Ultimately people don’t know they need or want or can’t live without (e.g. smartphones now versus phones 15 years ago) until somebody creates the products and shows them.

When speaking of globalization, it is not meant to reference Americanization.  Friedman discusses how this might have been the general feel or consensus early on the flattening process simply because America was the first mover in the market.  Most American factories, products, brands and so forth paved the way in globalization.  However, we have discussed through the text this concept of individual empowerment through electronic means and platforms and the flattening world.  Now people everyone can upload content, ideas, and innovation from across the globe.  This means more and different perspectives, and cultural impact instead of simply an Americanization of the globe.  Americanization is still a powerful force, but globalization offers a platform for individuals from all nations to share cultural norms and practices as never before. 

 

Module 6

Megan Flinders

Module 6

 

Free trade is the notion that countries and economies as part of the global economy will thrive if each focuses on producing products that align with their core competencies.  It also enlists the concept that without barriers and tariffs, free trade would be able to flow without limit and end in a win-win for all parties involved.

The concept of free trade has encountered some opposition in recent years due to the explosion of offshoring and outsourcing.  Friedman himself mentions that even he, who still believes in the concept of free trade to the fullest, was a bit unnerved when he visited Bangalore and saw how many educated people were vying for the same jobs.  He couldn’t help but wonder how this increased competition in an ever increasingly flat world would affect himself, his children, and Americans as a whole.

I think the concept is important.  I also believe that more than just the back office or service level jobs will be continually outsourced if the pool of talent and skills sets are found similar in these regions at a fraction of the cost.  Americans will have to continue to focus on better education, continuous improvement, and innovation as to not lose the jobs and careers that allow for financial freedom in our capitalistic society.  Therefore, I too am not necessarily in favor of protectionism, or government enforced barriers, but in ever increasing personal value to stand out from the crowd. 

I also believe we have seen the anti-outsourcing movement to some degree with companies promoting the buy local, or buy American slogans.  I think this will continue to be a selling point and marketing strategy for some industries such as auto and manufacturing.  Some companies openly agree that there is a low cost alternative found abroad, but drive home the point that buying foreign may result in lesser quality, or hurting the national economy.  So while the government may not official come in enacting barriers or walls of some sort to globalization, companies themselves are doing so by new marketing techniques.

When discussing the idea of a “new middler” the illustration about homework resonated with me.  Friedman mentions that no longer must we do our homework, but we must do the right kind of homework.  This is due to the fact of the ever changing landscape where companies are changing whole workplace models.  So in order to take advantage and stay ahead of the competition, you have to study the right topics and focus on the right skill sets to gain or maintain a competitive advantage.  You have to be the “go to” employee and expert in your field.  Your value skyrockets due to your skill set, intellectual capital, and overall intangible value to your company which they cannot afford to outsource, automate, or digitize.

Friedman goes on to form three broad categories of “untouchables”.  These are people who are truly specialized, those who are localized or anchored, and those from the “old middle” jobs.  He then lists the skills and personality traits involved; namely great collaborators and orchestrators, great synthesizers, great explainers, great leveragers, great adapters, the green people, passionate personalizers, math lovers, and great localizers.  Each in their own way has a goal to decrease the change of losing their job to outsourcing or the negative effect of stagnated wages.

CQ + PQ > IQ is the formula Friedman uses to identify those who will stand out in the crowded masses of employment seekers.  CQ, the curiosity quotient, plus PQ, the passion quotient, are greater than IQ.  Simply put, those who have passion and curiosity are more likely to succeed in the flattened world because information is endless and now more available than ever.  If you have a passion to be creative and innovate, you can find the tools and know how to succeed.  Therefore, these skills are potentially more valuable than simply having a high IQ but no passion or curiosity.  As more and more of the global workforce becomes globalized, your passion to succeed and curiosity in ways to innovate and improve processes becomes ever more important.

Module 5

Megan Flinders
Module 5

Triple Convergence is the culmination of the flattened, global playing field which allowed many more individuals to pitch in on process improvement and efficiencies, the subsequent result of horizontal value creation instead of vertical means, and the previously untapped resources of individuals from China, India and the former Soviet Union.  In the book, Friedman divides Triple Convergence up into three categories to fully define his mode of thinking.
The first convergence was the availability of resources (hardware, software, individual empowerment) that simply allowed more people to voice their opinions to improve processes.  Friedman gives the example of Southwest and their online booking and check-in process which is meant to illustrate how customers are no longer dependent on people and systems for each step of the process.  Once who has access to a PC which is connected to the web can now technically do a lot of work, in this case for the airline, in booking, checking-in and printing boarding passes (or now having the pass on their phone).  This ultimately saves consumers time and reduces overhead.  The end results, improved efficiencies and happier parties on both sides!
The second convergence can be summed up on one word, “horizontalization”.  Simply put, many of the flatteners have been around for some time.  But when you are introducing revolutionary ideas, it takes time to bring all aspects of the movement into play.  The production piece is only a part.  Often consumers also have to change habits and mindsets.  As more and more people and business become involved, however, these new trends become the new norms.
The last, or third convergence, was basically the broadening of the playing field which allowed billions of more people to join in on the globalization of process change and improvement.  The goal is to have the best and brightest making systems and products which everyone can use.  With the proper tools for communication and collaboration in place, we continue to see massive improvements across all sectors.
Friedman fully admits that in the story of India and Indiana, it is hard to determine who the exploiter is really and who is being exploited.  He mentions that it could be the Indian Engineers who are exploiting the people of Indiana by revamping their governmental unemployment system for cheap.  Or it could be the Indian engineers themselves who are being exploited for being paid less for the specific contract.  It could also be the Indian’s in general are being exploited by the big firms for which they are paid relatively well in terms of the standard of living in India
I believe that the latter is true.  The companies that outsource for the sole purpose of lowering wages are the true exploiters.  It is one thing to build factories in low cost areas or have people working remotely as part of the broader, global footprint with an aim to reduce overhead costs.  It is another to hire and train those individuals, and then transplant them to the new location on a lower pay scale.  Companies are focused on the bottom line, and will often pay their employees what they “need” to pay them to stay.
Intellectual property is the sum of resources, ideas, and know-how related to a product or process.  The idea is very important for companies because they want to keep all of the financial benefits of innovation.  Once these “top secret” ideas become common knowledge, products can easily be duplicated for cheap and the intellectual property is far less valuable.  On the flip side, however, intellectual property is also the catalyst behind faster and more efficient innovation.  Barriers of entry, of walls to information need to be set at a proper level to allow for global innovation, but also allow companies to gain profits and reap the rewards of their efforts.

Module 4

Megan Flinders

Module 4

 

Can You Hear Me Now?

 

                For this assignment I researched cybersecurity jobs and interviewed my husband who works in the field (he is responsible for helping clients at his work who run into issues with all sorts of fraud and identity theft related incidents).  I also chose this specific topic due to the several recent stories in the news about big companies with cybersecurity incidents including Target and Home Depot.  What I found in reading several articles on the topic was a central theme of people being defrauded.  Sometimes companies had system vulnerabilities or weaknesses that went unnoticed for long periods of time, and many customer’s information was unintentionally shared.  Other times individuals did not know the party with which they were communicating was in fact the fraudster.  In the end, Verizon’s catchy theme of “Can you hear me now?” all of the sudden had a new meaning to me.  With whom are we really communicating, and are these the parties with which we want to share our confidential information?

                In my research I came across several types of cyber security jobs.  The jobs ranged from Security Analysts and Engineers who asses the vulnerabilities of software, hardware, and networks and engage in forensic analysis to detect security incidents (which is what my husband deals with), to those of Cryptanalysts and Cryptographers who analyze and break malicious code to determine the intent of the program or build programs which use complex algorithms to encrypt information.  There are also Chief Information Officers who are responsible for the entire Information Security operation all the way down to very specialized analysts who work directly with specific systems or issues.

I also came across all sorts of fraud that occurs due to the vast network of computers and information.  We have been reading and discussing in “The World is Flat” all of the different ways globalization has flattened information barriers and increased the connectivity of people.  Most of the discussion revolves around the positives of information sharing and popular technological enhancements such as online libraries for music, photo libraries, and mass storage.  However, with all of the positives come some negatives.  There are those people who not only want to share productive forms of information and entertainment, but those who wish to spread viruses, malware and other harmful, and mostly unwanted products.  This is where cybersecurity comes to the forefront.

                Most companies have an IT department that focuses on the security of their company’s network.  My husband described in my interview the fact that this goes above and beyond simply anti-virus software and computer firewalls.  He mentioned that his work often goes through testing scenarios to detect certain vulnerabilities in their systems and to also fortify the policies and procedures to protect their employees and clients from acts of fraud.  The difficult part, he said, not only keeping up with the new trends and hacking attempts, but trying to be one step ahead.  He mentioned that his work has dedicated teams that focus on all areas of cybersecurity prevention and remediation.

                Several resources are available for everyday people to educate themselves on the different forms of fraud and how to protect oneself from becoming a victim.  OnGuardeOnline.gov is a site my husband directed me to that aims to educate about cybersecurity.  It lists ways to avoid scams, protect your kids online, and securing your computer to name a few.  I think for most people my age and younger, most of this stuff is pretty inherent.  My parent’s generation may not be quite as savvy though, so these broad-based tips would help them greatly.  I did, however, find information and articles that were even helpful to me in explaining how to properly secure a network and computer.  After all, the last thing I want is to be giving my credit card number or other personal information to a fraudster through a phishing scheme or virus of some sort.

                In the end, cybersecurity is only going to continue to increase in importance as more people and their devices become interconnected through our ever flattening world.  It is vital to stay up to date on the latest prevention techniques and to be sure our information is secure with all those whom we are communicating.

Module 3

There are those words in the English language which create immediate reactions; one of those is outsourcing.  A somewhat related, yet I would argue less frequently used term, is offshoring.  Friedman describes outsourcing as, “taking some specific, but limited, function that your company was doing in-house – such as research, call centers, or accounts receivable – and having another company perform that exact same function for you and then reintegrating their work back into your overall operation.  Offshoring, by contrast, is when a company takes one of its factories that it is operating in Canton, Ohio, and moves the whole factory offshore to Canton, China.  There it produces the same product in the very same way, only with cheaper labor, lower taxes, subsidized energy, and lower health-care costs.” (Friedman, 2007, pp. 137-138) China joining the WTO took the world to a whole new level of offshoring just as Y2K boosted India’s prospects of outsourcing and made the country a relevant and dynamic player in the global workplace.

While reading the text, I gained a greater appreciation of the concept of offshoring when Friedman described China’s demographic of over 160 cities with a population over 1 million.  This concept alone allows companies to offshore factories and manufacturing as never before due to the sheer size of its workforce.  It is no wonder it seems that a large majority of products are “made in China”.

A great illustration from the book outlines the fact that companies must alter their vision and forget about competing with China and treating them as the enemy.  Instead, you should give a good internal look at your business model to determine which part of the business you would like to do in China, which part you would like to sell to China, and which part you want to buy from China. This just shows how flat the world has truly become since as China becomes a more important player due to offshoring, other similar countries emerge as potential offshoring destinations.

Another flattening topic introduced is that of logistical efficiencies.  A supply chain is the mechanism used to allow products to flow downstream from a manufacturer/supplier to customer.  Wal-Mart has used their supply chain to their advantage by driving a hard bargain with manufacturers, but also by creating a super-efficient process and technological web with the companies whose product they sale, and in turn with their own stores which are spread across the nation. In effect, Wal-Mart does not create any products.  However, they are such a dominant force in the retail world because of their expansive reach (in terms of store locations, products offered, and low costs) and overall efficiencies in technology (which allows them to quickly forecast and restock stores to ensure customer demand is fulfilled).  As noted in the text, the goal of an efficient supply chain is to be the overall lowest cost.  Not always, however, can you find a low cost leader that offers high quality products, delivery, and customer service in every facet.  So while price is important, the overall efficiency and low cost leader is what Wal-Mart has done to gain its competitive advantage.

One particular illustration in Wal-Mart’s case is its visibility into each store’s particular needs.  For example, if one particular store is overstocked, Wal-Mart can quickly have excess product orders redirected to stores that may be short on stock.  This ensures the company is not losing the product forecasting battle which often results in sales on excess products.  Wal-Mart in turn allows its suppliers to view how their products are selling through its central databases, all in an effort to have hyper-efficient, just-in-time, inventories and supply chains.

Google is another company that has revolutionized the playing field for businesses.  Google has flattened the information barrier by allowing anyone with an internet connection to search for and find the same overall research information on any given topic.  Google has affected business by allowing the process of “informing.”  Anyone can create the know-how to run a business, outsource, and have an efficient supply chain (through connectivity with globally established companies as Friedman describes in UPS’ case) by simply “googling” the information.  People want, and have, all the information they can digest at their fingertips.  No longer are people spending time searching for the material.  On the contrary, the information is readily available and business owners large and small can focus on ideas and innovation instead of utilizing resources on the information finding.

Module 2

As we continue the discussion of globalization and find examples of a flattening world, we are introduced to the idea of workflow software. Once the playing field was leveled in terms of the accessibility of the internet and connectivity of computers and systems (through physical infrastructure such as fiber optic cables and standardized systems), workflow software standardized the software applications enabling all systems to speak to each other in an efficient manner.  The result was seamless workflows which allowed companies to not focus on the pipes per se, but on the innovation of new products that would make markets more efficient.  The standard of access became the same, but companies still had to produce and innovate to create a compelling product and competitive advantage, all the while aiming to entice customers to use their product over the competition.

An example of the use of workflow software would be the use of the mobile wallet; or more specifically, ISIS.  The electronic payment system in the standard bearer for retail companies, and credit/debit cards are a primary source of transactions.  The mobile wallet has enhanced the speed and potential security of the payment system by allowing consumers to retain their source of funds on the phone.  The workflow software includes the tap technology and card reader that is now in many restaurants and has even spilled over the vending machines.  Payments and quick and efficient for both parties.

Friedman goes on to explain that innovation and software can come to market from a variety of sources, but some may be more effective than others, even when they challenge the status quo.  Open source, or community developed software, is when communities of people collaborate and develop source code (software) that is then uploaded to the web and often made free for downloadable use.  This type of software is important because it continues the idea of flattening the competitive landscape and cuts out the middle man.  It changes the landscape by allowing more people to voice their opinions and share creative ideas and innovation through collaboration and “peer review”. 

Community developed software is basically a more efficient way to streamline software on a broader scale by bypassing the historical hierarchical processes and organizations.  Ultimately the brainpower of a community of thousands of geeks who simply want to create universally functional products is better than a large company’s IT group trying to create a product to sell.  We have seen a mass movement in the past decade of IT companies and their engineers actually joining these groups as they have seen the power of individuals who simply seek to create the best products.  The community forums are not so much about being compensated, but about sharing their ideas and seeing them take off.  Ultimately whoever has the best idea can submit source code which is reviewed by their peers for any bugs before being implemented.  Companies have taken the free code and established proprietary and innovative products based off what the community has built, but ultimately original credit is given to the forum and the idea sharing process continues.

The last major topic discussed is the concept of reaping the highest profits and efficiencies while paying the lowest cost.  The practice known as outsourcing is the cost saving practice of delegating certain functions to lower cost locations.  Outsourcing is important because it connects and flattens the world as never before.  No longer is it required to be physically present in one location to complete tasks.  For example, many back-office type functions that need not be present in high cost locations can be shipped to lower cost centers, such as India.  The key is to find a highly educated and competent work force which can perform these functions without error for a fraction of the cost.  An additional benefit is the time zone effect which allows most of this work to “follow the sun”, meaning it can be completed oversees during the day when the main centers (U.S.) are sleeping.

In summary, workflow software, open source software, and outsourcing are additional proofs of how the world has continued to be flattened. You no longer have to by an Ivy League grad employed by a large corporation to have your ideas input in the programs and products we use every day.  On the contrary, you can be a part-time “geek” who simply shares ideas to the global community from your home computer.  Indeed the world has been flattened and minority voices are now at the forefront of innovation.