Globalization
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. However, it does not include unhindered movement of labor and,
as suggested by some economists,
may hurt smaller or fragile economies if applied indiscriminately.
Globalization also is a process of interaction and integration among the people, companies, and governments of different nations, a process driven by international trade and investment and aided by information technology. This process has effects on the environment, on culture, on political systems, on economic development and prosperity, and on human physical well-being in societies around the world.
Outsourcing
- 1) Is subcontracting a process, such
as product design or manufacturing, to a third-party company;
out sourcing is when you hire someone outside your company to do a job for you; 2) The contracting or subcontracting of non-core activities to free up cash, personnel, time, and facilities for activities in which a company holds competitive advantage.
out sourcing is when you hire someone outside your company to do a job for you; 2) The contracting or subcontracting of non-core activities to free up cash, personnel, time, and facilities for activities in which a company holds competitive advantage.
Companies having strengths in
other areas may contract out data processing, legal, manufacturing, marketing,
payroll accounting, or other aspects of their businesses to concentrate on what
they do best and thus reduce average unit cost.
Outsourcing is often an integral
part of downsizing or re-engineering. Also called "contracting out".
Virtual Teams
- A virtual team (also known as a geographically dispersed team, distributed team, or remote team) is a group of individuals who work across time, space and organizational boundaries with links strengthened by webs of communication technology.
Powell, Piccoli and Ives define virtual teams in their literature review article "as groups of geographically, organizationally, and/or time-dispersed workers brought together by information and telecommunication technologies to accomplish one or more organizational tasks." Ale Ebrahim, N., Ahmed, S. & Taha, Z., in a 2009 literature review paper, added two key issues to the definition of a virtual team "as small temporary groups of geographically, organizationally and/or time-dispersed knowledge workers who coordinate their work predominantly with electronic information and communication technologies in order to accomplish one or more organization tasks". Members of virtual teams communicate electronically and may never meet face-to-face. Virtual teams are made possible by a proliferation of fiber optic technology that has significantly increased the scope of off-site communication. Virtual teams allow companies to procure the best talent without geographical restrictions. According to Hambley, O'Neil, & Kline (2007), "virtual teams require new ways of working across boundaries through systems, processes, technology, and people, which requires effective leadership... despite the widespread increase in virtual teamwork, there has been relatively little focus on the role of virtual team leaders."
- A virtual team (also known as a geographically dispersed team, distributed team, or remote team) is a group of individuals who work across time, space and organizational boundaries with links strengthened by webs of communication technology.
Powell, Piccoli and Ives define virtual teams in their literature review article "as groups of geographically, organizationally, and/or time-dispersed workers brought together by information and telecommunication technologies to accomplish one or more organizational tasks." Ale Ebrahim, N., Ahmed, S. & Taha, Z., in a 2009 literature review paper, added two key issues to the definition of a virtual team "as small temporary groups of geographically, organizationally and/or time-dispersed knowledge workers who coordinate their work predominantly with electronic information and communication technologies in order to accomplish one or more organization tasks". Members of virtual teams communicate electronically and may never meet face-to-face. Virtual teams are made possible by a proliferation of fiber optic technology that has significantly increased the scope of off-site communication. Virtual teams allow companies to procure the best talent without geographical restrictions. According to Hambley, O'Neil, & Kline (2007), "virtual teams require new ways of working across boundaries through systems, processes, technology, and people, which requires effective leadership... despite the widespread increase in virtual teamwork, there has been relatively little focus on the role of virtual team leaders."
How are these changing IT?
Globalization, outsourcing, and virtual teams are all changing IT project management due to the fact that project
managers now need to be familiar with different cultures and languages. This
would help to develop a multi-cultural leadership style of management.
I think that Globalization is an interesting term, as it is used and described in the this article. I remember as a young man, hearing stories about major companies connecting with similar business in countries around Europe, and Asia, for the very first time. Such connections were always hailed as ground-breaking, and immensely promising. For all of America's business might, she needed to be connected past her own borders.
ReplyDeleteHowever, it also became one of the most controversial hot-bed points of discussion regarding the state of the American economy, and the rapidly growing use of out-sourcing. "Buy American". There was no shortage of tense discussion about looking after America- and Americans- first. America was already helping the whole world, acting as the global police. Companies and corporations large enough to afford to seek out skills and talent in other countries, surely were making enough money to pay a little more for those same skills, state-side. Where was the honor in American business philosophy? Lets look after our own, those who live here within our borders, make sure that all qualified American citizens that have the appropriate skills and certifications, were employed and earning and financially independent, and that our own budgets were evenly balanced.
Personally, I do not support outsourcing at all. I understand that it has a place in modern business, if the primary focus is employing the most skilled, talented, qualified person for a particular task, wherever that person might be.
That said, wouldn't I be a hypocrite if I was to justify virtualization and virtual teams in the modern business and IT world, knowing full well that both are routinely used in, and for the purpose of outsourcing? I'm on the fence there, would have to see how many jobs are being lost to foreign elements, are being denied qualified American workers- because I definitely believe in, and see the wisdom and efficiency of the virtual team. Think of the immense flexibility that can be added to the project, connecting to people with the same ease as calling someone upstairs, except you're reaching Canada, Norway, Russia, Israel. There are certain items that will always need to be printed, be tangible such that one person can physically hand it to another. For everything else, the electronic universe may very well address every requirement for business success.
All this said, I'm not sure if the aforementioned topics are the cause of, or the result of, changes in IT, and thus, IT project management. Any business can only articulate as far as it's resources, and finances. Did the demand for IT services in support of various management platforms, stimulate and create new markets? or did the availability of new IT services result in the projection and design of new services- even if the markets weren't there yet?
Good point David. Glabedys, remember to answer in your own words. Pf. Forman
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