Business Strategy

Wise men learn by other men's mistakes, fools by their own."
-- H. G. Wells

This quote, timeless in its application, seems to sum up quite accurately the thinking and mentality of Asia's businessman of the year, Sunil Mittal. Mittal is the head of the largest mobile provider in India. It wasn't always the biggest, however. Several years ago, as the wireless market was taking off, Mittal had a big decision to make: how was he going to stay on top? Instead of sticking with tradition and absently following the market, Mittal decided to be wise and learn from the experience of others, particularly those in America and other nations. Although he lived in India, where all the outsourcing was taking place, Mittal decided to apply their reasons for success to his own business. He outsourced. From India. Although it was revolutionary at the time, it made all the difference. The business strategy demonstrated by Wells' quote, if used carefully, can lead to many successes in the technology world. As companies innovate to expand, strengthen and improve their services, others will be watching. The key to success is being ready to change, even when that change contradicts the accepted. People looking to make a difference have to be willing to take a risk. At times, it is appropriate to learn through your own mistakes, but if you carefully watch others' success you may be able to improve by following their ideas. Mittal is the perfect example of noticing a new idea and then applying it, despite the unconventionality of it. He learned from America the value of outsourcing. He applied it and gained billions in revenue. He leads the market in India...all because he learned from another man's experience.

Asia Business Man of the Year

My World is Flat...and why that's good.

As I read Friedman’s The World Is Flat, I was impressed with the originality of his idea that as a result of the many technological and related advancements in the last couple of decades, the world is much more accessible to each of us. It is flat. Although I had never thought of this idea before, it struck me as remarkably true and as I continued reading on, I thought about how this flattening of the world has affected (and is affecting) me in my own personal life, here as a student at Brigham Young University in little Happy Valley. I have come to the conclusion that it is hard to figure out how it is affecting me because so much of my life has actually revolved around these things – I don’t really know life without most of them. And yet, there are a few specifics that I can point out that are a result of this flattening. Namely, I have found that the outlook of careers in technology has improved, my schooling and learning have been greatly magnified, and a standard in education and skill has been raised.

As a student studying computer science, I find the focus on technology a really positive consequence of a flattened world. Technology has an increasingly important role to play in society, and as a result, the job outlook for my field is good. Because software and technology are infiltrating every field, I can work in any area that I find interesting. I will have many opportunities to work in fields that can really make a difference in peoples’ lives--something that I personally am looking forward to. These opportunities also bring job security and flexibility. This is possible because of the demand for knowledgeable and skilled engineers as the technology world takes off.

I have also found that the flattening of the world has greatly enhanced my schooling. I am lucky; I grew up in a generation that didn’t start with computers but still had full access at an early enough age to learn the benefits they could bring to life. Through the internet and the worldwide web I have had ready access to many resources from a collaboration of scholars. Research has been made easier and more substantial. Even simple things such as wikipedia or dictionary.com have made studying and learning more accessible. The flattening of the world has allowed my formal education to expand and will also allow for life-long learning as long as there is access to the internet.

As the ability to learn has increased, so too, has the standard of education. Because more people (especially those outside of America) now have access to solid, competitive education, I must work harder as a student. Competition for jobs now comes from all over the world, from people with all types of backgrounds, various experience, and different levels of excellence. No longer is it a given that students graduating from college automatically get a job. We must study, learn, work hard and gain experience so that we can compete for those job positions that are needed. This can, as Friedman mentioned, be a deterrent to many, but in reality it gives us a good reason to push the boundaries of our mind. It gives us a reason to excel and succeed.

Finally, another positive result of the flat world on my own life is better products and better prices. Because people from all over the world are able to work on the products and things that I use, they are better able to create satisfactory results for less. I am a believer that diversity in the workforce can lead to better products (although it doesn’t necessarily ensure that) and I think that this flattening has allowed us not only to have less-expensive services and products, but has made them more accessible and more applicable. Because the technology world is no longer run solely by middle-aged white men sitting in a stuffy office dressed in suits and ties, products come out more directed toward the average population. The general population is then more satisfied and this makes for a happier world. For example, I’ve noticed easier-to-understand user interfaces, web companies targeting certain groups, and lower prices for many services. This comes because of the flattening of the world, and thus, diversity in the workplace.

In conclusion, I agree with Friedman. The world is flat. And in the process of understanding that, I’ve also come to the conclusion that my world is flat. That flattening has led to good experiences that have allowed me to push myself and learn more than I otherwise would have. I admit that there are some negative side-effects of this flattening, as there are with many good things in life, but for me, on the whole, despite those negatives, the positives of a bright job outlook, increased education, and increased diversity make it a pleasant experience.

Copyrights

The ambiguity that surrounds the controversy of digital violation of copyright is a topic that has spawned many argumentative discussions throughout the world. It seems that each side of the argument is based on rights. The question becomes, “whose rights are more controlling than the others?” Orson Scott Card made a solid argument when he mentioned that the record companies who fight against digital copying may not even have the best interest of their artists in mind. Who benefits most from these copyright laws? Card also pointed out several effective arguments about how beneficial music sharing can be. It can lead to increased advertising, and thus purchasing. He also mentions that if the record companies really want their music to be fully paid for, they are focusing on the wrong group. Rather than targeting young people who don’t have real salaries, they should focus on those who do--those who can afford music and who feel comfortable paying for it. I agreed with many of Card’s arguments, but I still believe it is important to follow the law until the changes are made. It is obvious that this topic needs to be thought about, talked through, and laid out so that the laws are enforceable and protect the right principles. However, until that happens, each of us is still under obligation to live the law. Just because times change we cannot ignore the current rules. The Constitution is successful, in part, because people don’t just ignore it when something in society changes. Laws are what protect us, but they are also adaptable and flexible to the world in which we live. Adjustments to the law must be instituted officially before we are free to live them, however. Our job is to respect and follow the laws while acting to inspire change until the laws are in line with the desires of the people.
http://www.ornery.org/essays/warwatch/2003-09-07-1.html