Globalization

=Globalization and Cultural Diversity= = =

**From the ITGS Guide:**
Globalization means the diminishing importance of geographic, political, economic and cultural boundaries. IT has played a major role in reducing these boundaries. For example, any dramatic event anywhere in the world can be broadcast almost instantly by television or on the Internet. However, there is a fear that easier communication can become a source of cultural homogeneity. The new global village provides a worldwide cultural awareness, but may lead to less diversity.

**Task 1: Outsourcing**
The terms "outsourcing", "offshoring", or “nearshoring” are often used to refer to the movement of jobs from regions with high labor costs, such as the U.S., Western Europe, and Japan, to countries with relatively low labor costs, such as India, China, and the Philippines. Already commonplace in the manufacturing sector, outsourcing has recently spread to the service and high-tech industries, effecting workers who are traditionally among the most highly-paid and highly-skilled in their home countries. In fact, U.S. market research firm Forrester Research, predicts that by 2015, 3.3 million U.S. service jobs, totaling $136 billion in wages, will move offshore, fueled by advances in digitization, the Internet, and high-speed networks.
 * Questions:**
 * In what other ways has technology changed the way people do business with each other?
 * What impact will the globalization of business have on developing countries?
 * What job skills are necessary for the 21st Century?

Link to student comments

**Task 2:** **Globalisation and education**
There are a number of different online tutoring organisations developing that offer students anywhere in the world, at any time, access to help with their studies. This is part of the globalization of education. The prevalence of online courses and virtual university degrees that require no physical attendance on a campus ground also contribute to the ‘flattening’ of the world.
 * Questions:**
 * Discuss (give advantages and disadvantages) and evaluate (describe giving examples) the development of offshore tutoring in terms of globalisation and cultural diversity. Give examples.
 * Do you think the world is flat? Research the theory of Thomas Friedman in relation to the flattening world of education. Discuss.

Link to student comments

The World is Flat: Concepts and Resources for ITGS on this wiki Baase, S. (2003). [|A Gift of Fire]. Pearson Education Inc. See Index for key terms Beekman, G. (2006). [|Computer Confluence]. Seventh edition. Prentice Hall. Chapter 11: Computers at Work, School and Home, (see pg.436-438 in particular). Also see resources found on CD for Ch.11. http://del.icio.us/julielindsay/tutor http://del.icio.us/julielindsay/ITGSarticle http://del.icio.us/julielindsay/globalization http://del.icio.us/julielindsay/offshoring http://del.icio.us/julielindsay/flatworld http://del.icio.us/julielindsay/flatclassroom http://123elearning.blogspot.com/2006/09/flat-world-example-tutors-without.html rss url="http://www.google.com/news?hl=en&ned=us&q=globalization&ie=UTF-8&output=rss" title="Google News Search: Globalization" number="4" description="true" date="true" length="100" rss url="http://www.google.com/news?hl=en&ned=us&ie=UTF-8&q=outsourcing&output=rss" title="Google News Search: Outsourcing" number="4" description="true" date="true" length="100" rss url="http://www.google.com/news?hl=en&ned=us&ie=UTF-8&q=globalization+and+education&output=rss" title="Google News Search: Globalization and education" number="4" description="true" date="true" length="100"
 * Resources**