Globalization has proved to be an incredible phenomenon within communications,

education, and especially business. As Bill Clinton has stated, people across borders
have developed an increasing reliance upon one another, and like a marriage,
globalization forms ties intended to remain intact for quite some time into the future.
Globalization is not something that can be slowed or stopped, as it is practically a force
of nature that has extending beyond matter of economcs and even infiltrated areas of
sensitivity such as culture and policy. Therefore, it is imperative that rising professionals
take the time out to reflect upon a personal definition of globalization, he impact of
globalization, opportunities yeilding from globalization, and the potential for influencing
the positive effects of globalization in a personal and professional setting.

Globalization is a social force of nature eliminating eliminating international boundaries

as a hindrance to managing any economic exchanges for goods, services, and processes.
The breakdown of international barriers is a result of the worldwide development of
capitalism, the inexorable integration of global markets, innovative methods of
communication and transportation, and new technologies. The emergence of new
markets has leveled the economic playing field and invited the influence and regulation
of organizations and alliances, enhancing international interdependence. By flattening
the world, globalization has also increased the exchange of knowledge and transfer of
information, motivating the development of institutions in order to remain comparable
with dominant markets. Globalization has also evolved from a theoretical concept to an
empowering reality, presenting vast trailblazing opportunities to benefit from the
worldwide interconnectednes in social, cultural, economic, ecological, technological, and
political forces.

Two pages maximum, single spaced, 12-point font, print back-to-back.

(1) what is your definition of globalization?

(2) how does globalization impact you ␣ positive and negative?

(3) what opportunities do you have as a result of globalization?

(4) how can you do to increase the positive impacts of globalization on your career and
life?

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benihana, genentech, the goal

Dan’s Top Eight List for Handling Cross-Cultural Challenges

1. Seek similarities as well as differences
2. Analyze different levels of culture – national, organizational, departmental. Be sure
to catch yourself separating national cultural differences from individual, group, and
organization issues
3. Use multiple analysis formats before concluding some issues about national culture
– Hofstede, Low-High Context, Clusters, Aperian Global
4. What is your own cultural profile?
5. Recognize that cultural interaction is not static, but a dynamic process. Look for
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rub-off effects and personal relationships that go beyond the differences.
6. Confront concerns about identity and autonomy, both yours and theirs. People
need to feel values and not coerced.
7. Start with what is positive – assume the other cultural perspective is preferable to
yours. This stance helps to see the other perspective.
8. Challenge yourself not to be ethnocentric.

Globalization has come to be a principal characteristic feature of the new millennium and
it has become an inescapable reality in today's society. No community and society can
remain isolated from the forces of globalization. The cyber society has come with a bang.
The computer culture is spreading rapidly. Even in a poor country, coca-cola, cars,
cosmetics and clothes seen in the cities and towns hide the reality of poverty and
suffering of the people. We have almost reached a point to believe that "We cannot
reverse the trend; we can only go forward!" We need to ask: What is the role and
priorities of theological education in this fast changing situation.

The opportunities
Jobs are being created as business opportunities increase with the reduction of trade
barriers and the decentralization of production to take advantage of benefits specific to
the location of their facilities (e.g., low-cost unskilled and skilled labour). The most
striking is the case of export processing zones (EPZs), as described elsewhere.
Other developments are the subcontracting of activities by companies, greater
specialization and new forms of work organization. All have some positive direct and
indirect effects on employment. The spread of subcontracting has generated at least 200
million jobs worldwide. New forms of work organization have been accompanied by a rise
in non-standard forms of employment, with advantages for certain groups. Workers with
family responsibilities, highly skilled professionals, migrants and adults undergoing some
form of training have been able to opt for part-time, temporary, home-based and fixed-
term employment.
Greater specialization and the widespread application of advanced technologies have
stimulated a rise in demand for skilled labour in fields such as information technology
(IT), specialized financial and other business services, materials engineering and
biotechnology. On the whole, job opportunities for women in high-growth sectors remain
limited, mainly because of lack of required skills.

The implications of globalisation for a national economy are many. Globalisation has
intensified interdependence and competition between economies in the world market.
This is reflected in Interdependence in regard to trading in goods and services and in
movement of capital. As a result domestic economic developments are not determined
entirely by domestic policies and market conditions. Rather, they are influenced by both
domestic and international policies and economic conditions. It is thus clear that a
globalising economy, while formulating and evaluating its domestic policy cannot afford
to ignore the possible actions and reactions of policies and developments in the rest of
the world. This constrained the policy option available to the government which implies
loss of policy autonomy to some extent, in decision-making at the national level.
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