According to the Business Dictionary, globalization may be defined as…”The worldwide movement toward economic, financial, trade, and communications integration. Globalization implies the opening of local and nationalistic perspectives to a broader outlook of an interconnected and interdependent world with free transfer of capital, goods, and services across national frontiers.” [1]
As such, while globalization provides countless opportunities for “traditional” business growth and expansion, it has also created boundarylessopportunities in the worldwide procurement and delivery of goods and services, both within and across national markets and geographical borders. That is, the all too well-known concepts of ‘outsourcing’ – domestically, as well as globally – i.e. the transfer of a value-creation activity from within the organization to an external provider, domestic or foreign.
[1] http://www.businessdictionary.com/definition/globalization.html
Assignment:
Read “The Future of Outsourcing”
“Globalization has been brutal to midwestern manufacturers like the Paper Converting Machine Co…[However] By having U.S. and Indian designers collaborate 24/7…PCMC hopes to slash development costs and time, win orders it often missed due to engineering constraints, and keep production in Green Bay…the strategy already has boosted profits at some of the 32 other midsize U.S. machinery makers it has bought. ‘We can compete and create great American jobs,’ vows CEO Robert Chapman. ‘But not without offshoring.’”
Tasks:
Informed by your own experiences, perspectives, and independent research please address the following two-part question:
a. Does outsourcing – whether domestic or global – serve a legitimate purpose in modern business enterprises?
b. If so, what are the ethical implications of ‘offshoring,’ i.e. outsourcing certain functions to overseas locations, or to global providers?
Notes:
• Your answer should not exceed one single-spaced page in length, and should include at least one fully referenced independently researched source.
• Your answers will be due by no later than midnight, Friday, November 4.
