drivers of globalization

Part 1 A philosopher once observed, “A fish doesn’t know the ocean is blue.” Most of us don’t realize the extent to which we live in a “global village.” Let’s step back and try to achieve that realization.

When your Course Developer was a boy, the only foreign car on the road was the VW Bug, and it was widely ridiculed. It was small, uncomfortable, and at a time when gasoline cost $0.17 per gallon, fuel efficiency was not an issue. Today, most of the cars on the road are built by companies we’d never heard of a half-century ago; Toyota, Hyundai, Audi, and so forth. Back in the day, we’d never heard of tofu, sushi, or moo goo gai pan, and pizza was “a big city thing.” Flying to Europe as a long, bumpy ordeal, with refueling stops in Newfoundland and Ireland. And so forth.

What changes have you seen in your life, that are attributable to globalization? Don’t think strictly in terms of products; review the drivers of globalization covered in the background information, and consider all of them. Pick a major change, and discuss it.

This is not just a trip down memory lane. In this posting, as in other postings, you should shamelessly flaunt your detailed understanding of the material covered in this Module. References aren’t required, but you should at least mention the sources you’re using; i.e., “According to Dye and Stephenson, growth in global markets is a major aspect of globalization. We’ve seen that in the company I work for … “etc.

Part 2

Respond to one of the following two essay assignments: 1.Discuss the core drivers of globalization as identified by Dye & Stephenson (2010), with respect to logistics. Which have the greatest effect on the logistics function? What effect do the others have? Are these effects mainly positive, negative, or a mixture of both? Explain.

Dye, R. & Stephenson, E. (2010). Five forces reshaping the global economy; McKinsey Global Survey results (McKinsey Insights and Publications). Retrieved on 16 March 2015 from http://www.mckinsey.com/insights/globalization/five_forces_reshaping_the_global_economy_mckinsey_global_survey_results

2.Rodrigue (2012) discusses the concept of friction with respect to supply chain management. Compare and contrast the sources of friction experienced by a firm engaged in international logistics, with the sources experienced by a firm operating strictly within the borders of one country.

Rodrigue, J-P. (2012). Supply chain management, logistics changes and the concept of friction. Retrieved on 16 March 2015 from http://people.hofstra.edu/jean-paul_rodrigue/downloads/Chapter%204%20Supply%20Chain%20Management_Rodrigue.pdf

Assignment Expectations •Write a well-constructed essay. Feel free to use tables and bulleted lists, if appropriate. •The readings may not provide specific answers. In that event, will need to “fill in the gaps,” using your understanding of the material presented in the Module, and the background sources. •Style and format must comply with the Writing Style Guide. (TUI Guide, n.d.) This is not an English course; however, errors in spelling, grammar and style will be penalized. •Provide citations and references. Use of APA style is encouraged, but not required. Please see the TUI Writing Guide, or visit the Purdue Online Writing Lab (OWL, 2015). •There is no page requirement. Write what you need to write, neither more nor less.