Globalization
In his book, The Innovator's Dilemma, Clayton M. Christensen explains how interlocking performance curves characterize disruptive technology in products ranging from early-20th century earthmoving equipment to the latest microchips.
Commanding Heights: The Battle for the World Economy is a superior documentary, produced by PBS, based on the work of Daniel Yergin and Joseph Stanislaw, that examines how the economic philosophy among the highest levels of political leadership of the United States and Great Britain in the early 1980s shifted away from the government controls recommended by John Maynard Keynes and toward the freewheeling world-market economy espoused by Friedrich von Hayek.
In the developing global economy, free-market forces will be allowed to determine the fate of products, centers of production, professions, and societies. The patterns of competition in all four categories will follow Christensen's pattern for disruptive elements that have defined the tempo of change throughout history.
How does one spot a disruptive economic element in its infancy? Listen to what people say. Behind every dismissive remark lies the next dominant comer.
Excerpt: Little Woods (January - 21st Century: Job Disrupted)
Lloyd spoke up. “Come on, Guy. You’ve seen the type of work we get out of Shanghai. Those mopes can’t program a TiVo. You’re telling me they’re going to replace us? Have the execs lost their minds?”
“I thought so too until yesterday.” Guy pressed his palm to his forehead. “But, Shanghai’s taken on some big projects, and they’ve done well. Look, they didn’t have to get as good as us. That’s not the point. They just had to get close enough to where our quality advantage wasn’t worth the extra cost. Hey, we all thought we were irreplaceable, the best in the world.” Guy wagged his finger at each person around the table as he said, “Well, the world caught up to us. We were warned and we didn’t listen. I guess it was natural to live in denial. No more. Some of you will never design another system—not for the kind of money you’re making now. Industry insiders are calling this ‘The Big Slide.’ It goes way beyond Brain Tree. Companies all over America are making this same move. It’s happening fast.”
Excerpt: Little Woods (February - 21st Century: Two for the Show)
An icon in the lower, right corner of Marilyn’s screen told her she had a new email. What does the AA want?
Please attend a mandatory meeting for Geosync associates at 10:30 a.m. in the nineteenth floor auditorium. Starting at 10:15 a.m. incoming calls will route to the Geosync support center in Caracas, Venezuela, to provide uninterrupted support to customers in the absence of our Chicago associates.
I hope nothing too complicated comes up while we’re away, Marilyn thought as she answered a call. “Geosyc hotline, how may I help you? Yes, ma’am, when you see the digital readout error one, two, two, four, it means—”
* * *
[An announcement by Geosync Corporation's CEO David Cutler]
“I know it’s hard for you to believe me now, but when I made those comments I was speaking the truth as I knew it. At that time, we really had no intention of taking this path, but just recently the results of our quality metrics in the Venezuela operation showed dramatic improvement. The outstanding level of service provided by the Chicago office will be viewed as the industry benchmark for years. Caracas wasn’t expected to reach its current level of performance for at least another five years, but they now provide acceptable levels of service at twenty-five percent of the cost of the Chicago operation.
So, while at the end of last quarter we didn’t expect any change in Chicago, Geosync must now seize the cost-savings opportunity that’s before us. Next question, please?” Cutler pointed to another associate.
Excerpt: Little Woods (Blood Moon 1833: Property)
“There are so few whites and so many Neshnabek,” Red Tooth said, beginning an argument that had become as thin as an old pair of trousers. “How many whites live in Chicago…less than the number of Neshnabek in our village alone? Why shouldn’t we receive payment from the whites for their use of our land? Why shouldn’t we stay here to collect it forever?”
Mud Paw felt more comfortable arguing with the younger Red Tooth as he replied, “Their numbers grow while ours decline. Chicago now has more than three hundred and our village, less. Hidden Turtle spoke of a great ceremony that will be held in the next moon. Chicago will be blessed by the white fathers and many more white people will come.”