Tuesday, March 08, 2005

Assignment 3 - Outsourcing

My fellow classmates have made valid points on the globalization issue. What we are yet to bring up is the question, Are we looking for a solution (fix it, end it) to globalization and outsourcing? The author of the article, Barry Lynn, made good use of a 5-page layout speaking of the how, why, and what. But do we, as Americans, as a society, as adults eventually going to run this world, agree or disagree with globalization and outsourcing? I do not agree. Not entirely.

What seems like a loud, bright, swinging WARNING sign is the basic FACT that one little disrupt can drastically shift our economy downward. By 'shift' I mean natural disaster or a manipulated destruction. And by ‘manipulated destruction’ I mean intended sabotage. It's very evident that before the outcast of the Enron shenanigans, corporations have been able to duck past this issue in the media.

Currently, people are taking notice of the Jenga game in globalization. Most recently I've gained knowledge on how all the major corporations are fighting and sneaking around, trying to get the last loose block from the tower. In other words, get the cheapest manufacturing possible. I see this as a major problem. Cheapest manufacturing possible? That’s like saying, “Here’s your designer cologne. And by the way we have started using pig shit instead of natural herbs. Enjoy!” We have leaned that questioning corporations only gets us rhetoric and twisted answers. In the article, manufactures are asked what will happen if a factory has to be shut down overseas. The calm answer is that there always another factory waiting in the background to be started. Creepy.

The idea is not to question, the idea to look past the given to find the outcome:

Given: Products and services that used to employ Americans are now taken care of overseas. To see a documented version of such, rent Roger and Me, a Michael Moore flick that documents the outsource of a GM factory to Mexico and the effects on its town, Flynt, Michigan.

Outcome: Americans must surpass expectations of ‘menial’ employment and not only have to get a Bachelors but a Masters and/or Doctorate as well. An article on outsourcing in Asia gives another take on this idea with a point of view from the Asian society.

Logically, the money being saved because of outsourcing should go into student grants and scholarships. I don’t know if it does. Most likely the extra money goes into advertising and marketing.

Lania makes the point about Dells being a crap computer, if so, then why does our school occupy so many of them...Hmm...placed advertising anyone?
Additionally, Elena gives links to inquisitive articles contrasting command and control tactics within companies.

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