Thomas L. Friedman's The World is Flat

Book Overview
Thomas L. Friedman’s chronicles of globalization, derived from advancements in technology and business infrastructures, amalgamate to establish that The World is Flat. The historical accounts go beyond facts, and depict the perspective needed to sustain a competitive advantage as a corporation and as an individual. The World is Flat is a guide to understanding the modern global economy and grasping new founded opportunities.

Friedman’s annotations emanate from his flat world perspective. The anomalous shape is accredited to ten forces. The abrogation of the Berlin Wall and the standardization of software platforms brought value to digitizing information. The emergence of networked computers and internet-based platforms bolstered the internet. Workflow software connected applications, while the computer and internet enable digital media manipulation. Open sourcing made software tools globally available for gratis. The global fiber optic network opened the door to India and outsourcing. China’s membership into the WTO contrived a global economic competition of innovative business models. In addition, global competition fostered innovative global supply chain symphonies, analogous to the masterpiece Wal-Mart composes. The demand for novel business models fostered the creation of UPS’s specialization in the synchronization of global supply chains, driving collaboration between businesses to new heights. Search engines fathered in-forming, and the empowerment of individuals. Lastly, the world was flattened by the empowerment of individuals’ to share information and communicate at high speeds, to anyone and from anywhere. This compilation of forces in conjunction with the redevelopment of doing business and the addition of several billion individuals, from China, India and the former Soviet Union, is defined by Friedman as the triple convergence. The flattening of the world has required communities, businesses and individuals to redefine themselves and their roles in society. This “great sorting-out” and the triple convergence have pounded their mallets to yield a flattened world.

Having depicted the architecture of the modern global economy, Friedman proceeds to explain America’s contribution to it all. This new structure promotes free trade for the greater good of all economies, including the United States’. As individuals, investments in education are critical to maintain a competitive edge within the global labor force pool. Furthermore, an investment must be made to increase America’s scientific and engineering base, to replace an aging population and to compete with well educated and enthusiastic workers abroad. Friedman urges that globalization today should be taken seriously, and respectively be promoted by politicians, that they may direct the general public to success. America is one of many countries realizing the new requirements to doing business. Developing countries, such as Mexico, are finding that they too must accommodate the flattened world or be flattened themselves.

In light of having the world as we know it reduced to two dimensions, Friedman imparts his wisdom on how companies should contend. A business looking to succeed should begin by looking inward to reinvent themselves as a global contender instead of hiding behind walls, waiting for failure. Small companies must act big by being quick to adapt technological advancements and modern business models. On the contrary, large businesses must act small embracing each customer with the needed attention to deliver a desirable product. Regardless of size, organizations must collaborate with one another to establish a greater competitive advantage. A business in today’s global economy must continuously re-examine itself to identify core competencies and to expunge weaknesses. Outsourcing by corporations should be used as a business strategy for growth and advancement, and not to simply save a few dollars by firing employees. Moreover, outsourcing can be used innovatively to create new businesses and lessen gaps between corporations.

Embracing the flattened world and cultivating the possibilities has undeniable adverse affects. As demonstrated by the September 11, 2001 attack, there will always be a group of people who use the modern global infrastructure against itself. In the interest of sustaining and growing global business collaboration, wars must be avoided. Global integration and trade are armaments against war. The imminent threat emerges from terrorist groups with no direct government affiliation, whose actions cannot be surveyed. Respectively, Friedman concludes that the flattened world fuels both creative and destructive imagination. It is the positive imagination which businesses must effectively cultivate to thrive in the flat world.


Contribution to Knowledge
Friedman’s interpretation of the global marketplace is a theoretical perspective and a historical guide of the twenty-first century. He draws from past events to explain the workings of modern businesses and globalization. Founded on deep knowledge of several successful modern organizations, this handbook is fundamental for individuals and businesses desiring success. Consequently, government officials and politicians seeking to foster economic growth will also benefit from Friedman’s clarification of the modern business era.

Each present and future member of any workforce is connected to Friedman’s flat world, and will benefit from understanding that world. Only through the comprehension of the big picture can the details be grasped. Similarly, only by understanding modern globalization, business infrastructures, and technology can an individual understand the importance of outsourcing, offshoring, trade, and global peace. Furthermore, an individual can understand their part in the modern world and the required steps to keeping up with an evolving labor force. The World is Flat provides this necessary knowledge in a concise and entertaining package.

Corporations seeking to maintain ground or to gain a competitive advantage must recognize and accept the global playing field before throwing out the first pitch. Organizations conducting business within national boarders are no exception. These players are still affected by global suppliers and competitors and must realize their part in the global economy. Consequently, all organizations, big or small, global or not, must be aware of their environments and the subsequent effects. Friedman’s work is a great starting point for obtaining the awareness of the big picture.

As Friedman explains in his work, it is crucial for government officials and politicians to go beyond understanding the architecture of the business world, and to disseminate that information to the general public. Through the alignment of the general public’s comprehension of the global marketplace, a stronger national economy can be cultivated. The World is Flat serves as an overall informational source, examples included, for leaders to educate their people.

Friedman’s personalized-writing escorts readers from understanding how the world came to be flat and America’s connection, to the position of companies in the flat world, the importance of global peace and cultivating positive imagination. The concrete examples amplify the author’s perspective while increasing the reader’s knowledge of the global marketplace. While catering to the information needs of individual workers, businesses, and politicians in America, The World is Flat offers valuable lessons to all who opens its covers.


Strengths and Weaknesses
Thomas L. Friedman’s experience as a writer and social connections are the rock on which The World is Flat is built on. The book as a whole presents great strengths. The author uses well know businesses to draw examples, going behind the scenes to uncover new facets foreign to the common reader. This deep knowledge and constant enlightenment makes the guide entertaining and educational. Moreover, Friedman draws from his own experiences, inviting the reader to discover the flat world as he did. Each individual story is linked, reinforcing the author’s perspective of an overall flat world. An additional strength of the book comes from Friedman’s ability to put his view of the flattened world into perspective for individuals, companies, and country officials. He takes his knowledge an extra step, guiding the reader towards success.

While Friedman’s work is entertaining and well organized the book does have a few drawbacks. The grandeur of historical accounts and overlapping concepts at times make the reading overwhelming and repetitive. The strong factual foundation for the first half of the book in contrast to the perspective saturated second half, divides the book into two distinct pieces. Additionally, the later half does not build upon itself. The inconsistency and sporadicalness make the book challenging to finish. Lastly, the continuous restatement that “the world is flat” is annoyingly redundant. Nonetheless, the overall strengths of the book far outweigh the weaknesses.


Objections and Factual Errors
Given the broad and mostly general accounts of historical events there leaves little room for inaccuracy and factual errors. Friedman’s work is primarily based on personal interpretations and understandings which consequently cannot be factually wrong. While they do leave room for apposition, no such a conclusion was drawn from this reader. Friedman’s ability to connect events and reinforce his views with a multitude of examples validates his arguments. In addition, the authors seemingly biased view of the world as flat (figuratively speaking of course) is diminished with his concluding acknowledgement and explanation that the world is not actually flat. Overall the book represented known historical events and argued effectively flattening of objections or factual errors.


Authors Interpretations
A majority of the historical accounts the author exemplifies I recalled from my past, and yet I was astonished to learn the true significance behind each instance. Friedman’s unification of ideas, illustrated in the vision of the flat world, harmonizes with the world as it is today and is validated through his examples and personal experiences. Friedman completes his theory as a legitimate perspective by including what I deemed the un-flatteners. The work encompasses a complete interpretation which is factually fortified.


Summary Statement
The innovation of business models and the synchronization of global supply chains are indisputably setting the stage for the modern world. This shift may have taken place while we were sleeping, including Friedman, yet The World is Flat holds the explanation, waiting to be read. As an individual finishing graduate school, my direct connections to the global marketplace are unclear. Friedman’s flat world perspective brings together recent history and business developments to depict my role as an individual. Moreover, his perspective clarifies the state of the global economy to reveal a path to success for current and emerging businesses. Overall Friedman’s work was captivating and stimulating. The World is Flat is a unique and informative guide for individuals and businesses seeking success in today’s global marketplace.