TWIF+Chapter+4

Chapter 4: "The Great Sorting Out" Summary and Analysis
 * The World is Flat**

Friedman explains with several examples in this chapter how the globalization of commerce has been simplified and expanded by technology, and then in turn explains how this has "flattened" out our world by switching gears from a previously vertical, and rather hierarchical, chain of command to a horizontal, and therefore "flat", model of a connected and collaborative world. This has blurred the previously bold lines that represented national borders. Instead of competing, companies are now merging with international businesses, making it difficult to identify competitors, allegiances, and instead leaving many thing to be "sorted out". This is all creating immense and rapid change that Friedman warns will not all result in positive outcomes: "Anthropologists and historians tell us that rapid social change is highly destabilizing" (pg. 238). However, what happens when that destabilization is happening across the globe and not only in one nation? What negatives could result? Some of the concerns he raises include:
 * the increased benefits for global businesses, but the possible negative effects on individual nations (i.e., U.S.) due to outsourcing
 * the lossof nationalistic views, ideas, and traditions, including ideas such as "social cohesion, religious faith, an national pride" (pg. 236)
 * increased international communication, which is mostly positive, but also leads way to quicker broadcast of false information (i.e. John Siegenthaler, Sr. situation)
 * the increase of outsourcing as creating higher levels of competitiveness among individuals who must now compete against others for the same position in other countries (though in the end companies will win here because they are able to find and hire the best "brains" in the world, at lower cost: "We have grown addicted to our high salaries, and now we are really going to have to earn them" (pg. 246)
 * the elimination of the 9 to 5 workday to the fact that technology enables us to contact anyone with any instructions, problems, and needs at any time. ("You are always in. Therefore, you are always on" (pg. 249) )
 * The depersonalization of business due to technology, where the numbers are the first in line and the relationship between companies comes in a distant second.

I agree that these are vast and important concerns that must be addressed. My biggest concern is actually the last point he raises concerning the loss of human contact and interpersonal relations due to the drastic increase in technology-based communication. I am already seeing these effects in my students and even in my own personal life. I have friends with which I only communicate via some electronic method, usually text messaging. I have students that work much the same way. Speaking and interpersonal skills are weaker than ever because they do not seem necessary any longer. This concerns me because I still do believe that technology, being a 'machine', can fail. What is left with the power is out? How do we communicate when the phone lines are down? When the computer crashes? Students do not know how to look up information in a library, but they have all mastered the art of "googling". I think, as teachers, it is important that we balance what we teach. We MUST prepare students for the future, however, we must also remember to teach the basics and not always depend on technology to do it for us. I also agree with Friedman's points about how the internet has made everyone an expert. However, there has also been left much room for 'pseudo-experts'. Many people are finding that with all this available information, they cannot distinguish fact form fiction. In example I turn to Wikipedia. I do not allow my students to use Wikipedia as a reference tool because there is so much false information that is included on that site! Without editors, researchers, etc., to check the validity of information posted, so much of that which is online is questionable. -- Lizbeth B. Victorero

The World is Flat Chapter 4 Chapter 4: The Great Sorting Out In this chapter, Friedman explains how the change from a vertical (command and control) to a horizontal (connect and collaborate) world is going to leave society facing a lot of change at once. These changes will have an effect on how corporations identify themselves in the world and also how individuals identify themselves in society. There is mention of how the flattening process was foreseen by Karl Marx and Frierich Engels in //The Communist Manifesto,// which was published in 1848. Friedman predicts that, “Traditional nation-states, governments, corporations, and news organizations will have to work together with emergent networks and virtual communities and companies to gradually hammer out some new norms, new boundaries, for operating in the flat world. It will all be part of the great sorting out…” (pg. 239)

He gives some examples of things that must be “sorted out” in this process including: · The relationship between different groups of workers (Who benefits from outsourcing work in the case of Indiana vs. India?) · The relationship between companies and the communities in which they operate (The case of IBM and Lenavo- where is a global business based out of?) · The relationship between the boss and his workers in the new “horizontal” workplace (The example of Colin Powell doing more of his own work due to the internet and new technology.) · The idea of individuals having Multiple Identity Disorder (The case of Wal-Mart vs. Costco: Do we want to sacrifice everyday low prices in order to provide better benefits for the employees? This causes an identity crisis between a shopper, a worker, and a citizen. As shoppers and investors, we like Wal-Mart, but as employees and citizens, we do not.) · The dilemma of “who owns what?” (Who owns these new flat technologies such as your email password? We need to adapt patent and intellectual property laws.) · The demise of human contact on the phone and in sales (Does “trimming the fat” out of business give life less taste and texture?) Friedman sums up this chapter with saying, “The larger point is this: Whether we are talking about management science or political science, manufacturing or research and development, many, many players and processes are going to have to come to grips with “horizontalization.” And it is going to take a lot of sorting out.” (pg. 242)

In this chapter, Friedman incorporates a lot of real life examples from the business world with his ideas. This makes his ideas about the new flat world seem more believable. This chapter ties in with the Daniel Pink book, “A Whole New Mind,” in that it is going to take a lot of creative thinkers in the 21st century to sort out the problems brought about by the horizontalization. This means that as teachers we need to teach students how to find creative solutions to problems and place even more emphasis on problem-solving skills in the classroom. I do, however, disagree with Friedman that all of the changes brought about by the new flat world will need to be sorted out at once. Oftentimes, the world is ready for changes and can adapt and conform as needed.

Kate DeLuca