Impact of Globalization and Technology on Professional Development - Term Paper Example

The analysis will identify and critique the relationships between your personal world, your work (organizational) context and potential future careerdirections. Introduction: With the increasing use of technology and modern techniques there has been an increasing debate of their impacts on people and their personal life and career. This paper would discuss the implications of technology and globalization which are introduced in the modern world. In addition, the debates over work-life balance and cross cultural issues that have arisen in the recent era are also discussed in detail. The aim of this paper is to clearly define the impact of these issues on our present and future lives. Moreover, the study provides some recommendations to reduce the arising problems because of these modern technologies and techniques. As the world has become a global village, it revolutionizes the trend of the whole globe. Business is dispersing over the seas. It gradually dimities the boundaries and bring the people closer to each other. Globalization also requires the expansion of multinational organizations. To achieve better results, it is also necessary to understand the culture of people of different races. Culture has impact on communication also. Globalization has also certain effects on our personal world that will be discussed later in this paper. Globalization has increased the impact of cultural values and issues on people. Culture is defined as norm, values, believes behaviors and attitudes of certain group of people; community etc. These behaviors may vary from person to person depending on their costumes, languages, thoughts and perceptions. When the people belonging from different races interact with each other, an impact of cross culture issues seems to appear. This usually happens in multinational organizations where employees are brought from all around the world. The interaction between different cultures may lead to some cross cultural issues. Most of the times, the issue appears between eastern cultures and western cultures. In this paper we will enlighten such issues (Caetano, 2001). Another feature that is brought in by globalization is increasing technological advancements. Technology is the synthetic enhancement of human power. It makes us stronger and smarter. It is the technology that brings human beings from Stone Age to this modern era. Actually technology is the fact due to which world has become global village. It has increased the efficiency of business. It is the mean which provides luxurious life to the people and modifies the living standard. But it is confined to some people; it is observed that with the development of technology, unemployment is also increasing. In order to achieve competitive advantage and a bigger market share, organizations are continuously motivating the employees to work harder. The increased importance given to work can be taken as a result of globalized business environment which has made the world market more competitive than ever. Work-life balance is slowly emerging as an issue in business and society. As the globalization is increasing, it increases the competition and organizational downsizing. As there is a war of talents it makes the employees more valuable, but it enhances the load of work which impacts the employees and their families. They must manage their work life issues in practice so that they would be able to create an equilibrium between their work flows and job contents and their inside world which is totally associated with their moral responsibilities. Globalization: Globalization has brought the world closer and comprises this world into a village. Modern technology has played vital role for the enhancement of globalization around the world. The most recent and fine innovation is media. It not only makes the people aware of the facts but also brings up their mental status. It may also contribute to advertisement, which plays a significant role in the enhancement of business (Spurgeon, 2007). Capable and experienced employees can also be brought from all over the world. Globalization makes the world to care the talents and abilities of the individual one. A vast network of internet has really changed the world. It gives information about any matter, any affair or any latest issue of the world. It is a source of communication also. Nowadays globalization is influencing the world at individual level. It brings diversity at two levels: cultural changes and demographic changes. The demographic changes further include the changes of age and gender. As the world is transforming into a new era, it is changing the cultural trend of every one. The invention of a number of luxurious things has completely changed the lifestyle of the common man. As the people are mobilizing around the world, they leave the influences of their culture over the other. This adoption of new culture into the native ones has now brought a significant change, especially the tradition of eastern countries. It can be observed even in the change of their dressings, food, and life style and by their every attitude towards life. As the time passes they are really emulsifying into western culture. It is also helpful in being aware about the needs of the people belonging to different races. This combination of cultures certainly promotes the trade and commerce around the globe, which certainly results in the economy rise, not only in a certain country but the economy of the whole world is enhancing. The demographic changes include a change due to age. Now there is a competition going on between the people of different races. Everyone is striving as best as he can and trying to be the victor of this race. As the new technologies are being introduced, the people which are experienced but not well aware of modernize machineries are left behind by the world, and freshly talented employees replace them. This also promotes to the increased rate of unemployment. Furthermore, the employees are also brought from other parts of the world, where cheap labor is available, due to which the native ones remain unemployed. This ends up increasing the financial stresses at an individual level (Brown, Green & Lauder, 2001). Another change, the globalization has brought in our society is due to gender. Nowadays there is an increased consideration of women taking part in the field of career achievement along with men. There might be two reasons of such change. First of all the increased rate of unemployment lead to the financial stresses in a family, it makes the lady to strive with man to survive in this modernize world (Carlson, 2002). Another class of women which involve in this race is for the achievement of the position that men has attained. They also want to be a part of this rapid changing world. This situation is usually seen in western world but nowadays it is also increasing in eastern countries. The rate of working ladies is increasing at a high extent around the world. However, globalization could not eliminate the inequalities related to women and wages around the world. Women still face opposition directly or indirectly from the male counterparts of the society. In addition, sex trafficking and social concerns are still posing a threat to women’s position in the business world (Starke-Meyerring, 2005). However it is justifiable to say that globalization has brought a revolutionary change and if we compare the life standards to the people before a century, we will find changes at a high peak. Technology: Technology is the enhancement of manpower. Since the men have started considering this world, they have been striving to find the keys to the door of success in all fields. The men took this world into account and developed it bit by bit. It took centuries but finally they turned their stumbling blocks into stepping stones. And now the world has completely been revolutionized and twisted into a new shape. One of the most outstanding developments brought by modern technology is the vast spread use of multimedia network. Media is an excellent source of current affairs which are going on around the globe. It also keeps the people aware from current fact of international business therefore enhance the trade and commerce among the countries. It also brings the people closer to each other which completely belong to different races. To be brief, media is playing an important role in developing relationships between people and changing their attitudes about each other and about different things and trends (Walton et al., 2000). The inventions of modern machineries provide the more luxurious and comfortable life. Such appliances comprise the time. These inventions turn the days into hours, hours into minutes, and further minutes into seconds. Such preserved time increases the efficiency of an individual even at a remarkable rate. It also provides mental relaxation and provides an opportunity to spend the time according to our leisure pursuit. But all these luxuries of life are limited to certain people who have enough resources to afford them. Due to high expenses these comforts cannot be availed by the people who are under the line of poverty (Bowering, 2001). Because of this modern technology we cannot only enjoy the luxuries of life but also can use them for the welfare of mankind. It is the technology which leads us to the spaces and even made it possible for us to explore other planets. It makes men to rule in the sky, in the deep oceans, and even over the energies. It is the technology which makes the world a global village. We can communicate from one corner of the world to another within no time. It is the only technology which revolutionizes the whole globe. Apart of all such positive facts, technology also provides some worse effects on human life. The inventions of nuclear weapons are completely the abuse of technology. Even not only the nuclear weapons the new technologies are preparing themselves for biological war in the future era. Technology is a blessing and a curse both, but it is up to us, in which way we utilize it either for constructive mean or for devastation. However, in the field of modern business environment, the use of technology has put both the employers and the employees at ease. The costs are reduced as compared to the costs related to traditional working environment. However, the opportunity cost still exists in the form of unemployment and continuous changes in the technology which the organizations tend to adopt creating difficulties for the staff to work on them (Jie et al., 2008). Work-Life Balance: In modern era the interaction between work and family is altering. It is not only confined to working ladies, but this balance should also be maintained in the lives of men too. They must manage their time efficiently for their workplaces, for their children and for their whole family. There are certain ladies in our environment who are well-educated but cannot utilize their efficiencies due to their responsibilities of their children and cultural barriers. These are the ladies, which, if provided with an opportunity, will certainly make the most of it. They will develop their talent more. But all this would be possible if they maintain a balance between their work and personal lives (Fisanick, 2008). Nowadays to meet all the expenses it is necessary that women also have to run in the race of men. But due to some moral responsibilities it is difficult to manage internal as well as outer world in equilibrium. If any inconsistency will be done by working parents it will directly affect their children. A single dispersion of their consideration would lead them to a great loss for their kids. Any inaccuracy made by parents will directly influence their children. Their studies may be affected; it may also bring a number of changes in their personalities. They may lose confidence and avoid gatherings. They may become morally depressed, which may lead them to some psychological problems also and may also dimities their career. There is also an alternate condition. The people having no families or weak family backgrounds like to spend their most of the time with their work. They avoid being free. They always want themselves remain busy in their work so that they will spend less time with their families (Parker, 2007). In order to achieve success in terms of materiality, a number of people spend more time at their work places and others prefer staying with their families to support them morally. However, it is not justifiable to incline your attention towards any one of these. There has to be a balance between both of them (The economist, 2006). Cross Cultural Issues: Culture is defined as norm, values, believes, behaviors and attitudes of certain group of people; community etc. According to some experts, culture is an identification of a group or people of different races. According to Clyde Kluckhohn, "Culture consists of patterned ways of thinking, feeling and reacting, acquired and transmitted by symbols, constituting the distinctive achievement of human groups, including their embodiment in artifacts; the essential core of culture consists of traditional (i.e. historically derived and selected) ideas and attached values." Another scholar, Triandis describes culture as, "Culture is a subjective perception of the human - made part of the environment. And this includes the categorization of social stimuli, associations, beliefs, attitudes, roles, and values individuals share." There are many types of culture: National culture, corporate culture, Sub-culture, Collaborated culture, Cross culture. However, we will focus on the cross cultural issues. It is the type of culture in which people of different races interacts with each other. The origin from which the idea of cross culture develops is globalization. The best example of cross-cultural organizations, introduced by the development of globalization, is multinational companies. It refers to such organizations which have spread their roots throughout the world. The employees that are brought to the administrative centers belong to different customs and have their unique values. By means of an organization these culturally assorted persons are incorporated together. The interactions of people belonging to different races may lead to certain cultural issues also. One of the major issues is language. Companies send their representatives and associates to introduce and develop their brand name in a foreign country. These foreigners sent by the organization often face communication barriers. As English is considered as an international language, most of the people learn English to overcome this problem. For an in-depth understanding of cross-cultural issues, the examples of eastern (Asian) and western (American) culture may be a useful example. One of the greatest differences between Asian and American culture is individualism and collectivism. American culture completely believes on individualism. They prefer to work alone and consider collectivism as a symbol of weakness. On the other hand Asian usually favors collectivism. Asians believe in group work in order to stay away from risks. They believe in trustworthiness and like to effort together in an organized manner (Sosik & Jung, 2002). Another enlightening point is the perception of personal affairs. Western people usually believe on legalized contractual relationships, whereas, societies in the east are assembled together by personal relationships. They give more importance to moral values which create certain interactions between them that cannot be removed from them. They obey their elders and feel secure under the supervision of elders. In contrast the western like freedom and would like to face all the particulars of life at individual level without any supervision. However, if business practices are considered, both Eastern and Western organizations work in collaboration. Even if the work is divided among the employees, they are closely linked with each other and are directed to work in the good faith of the organization rather than for their individual interests (Fischer et al., 2005). Conclusion: The above study reveals that there are certain aspects of our society that have a great influence in our lives. These aspects may either be advantageous or disadvantageous for our present life and future prospects. It is all up to us how we treat certain matters. Each and every object of this world is for human being. We must take steps for the benefit of mankind, instead of disabusing it. By our actions we can turn this world into a heaven or may lead it to a hazardous place. The advancements made by men in the form of globalization and technology have brought a great change in our lives. However, the weaknesses associated with them are still waiting for proper consideration. The business world is at a great advantage from these modernized concepts and overall, the impact of globalization and technology has made the world a better place to live. Bibliography: Sosik JJ, & Jung DI. (2002). Work-group characteristics and performance in collectivistic and individualistic cultures. The Journal of Social Psychology. 142 (1), 5-23. Fischer, R., Ferreira, M., Assmar, E., Redford, P., & Harb, C. (2005). Organizational Behaviour across Cultures. International Journal of Cross Cultural Management. 5 (1), 27-48. Caetano, J. F. (2001). Cross-cultural negotiations in the globalization era. Thesis (LL. M.)--Wayne State University, 2001. Starke-Meyerring, D. (2005). Meeting the Challenges of Globalization. Journal of Business and Technical Communication. 19 (4), 468-499. Brown, P., Green, A., & Lauder, H. (2001). High skills: Globalization, competitiveness, and skill formation. Oxford: Oxford University Press. Carlson, B. A. (2002). Job losses, multinationals and globalization: The anatomy of disempowerment. Santiago, Chile: United Nations, Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean, Division of Production, Productivity and Management. Walton, J., Bax, T., & Crossley, N. (2000). Information technology in business. Milton Keyes, England: Chalkface Project. Bowering, C. (2001). Implementing technology in business. Liu Jie, Wang Jiang, "The Negative Effects of Information Technology on Employees Mental Health and Their Solutions," isbim, vol. 1, pp.453-456, 2008 International Seminar on Business and Information Management, 2008 Business - Computing - Work-life balance. (2006). The Economist. 381 (8509), 113. Parker, C. C. (2007). Generational differences in work life balance attitudes. Thesis (M.S.)--State University of New York at New Paltz, 2007. Fisanick, C. (2008). Working women. Detroit: Thomson / Gale. Spurgeon, C. (2007). Advertising and new media. London: Routledge. Kroeber, A.L. and Kluckhohn, F. (1952) Culture: A Critical Review of Concepts and Definitions, New York, Vintage Books, p.181) Triandis, H.C. (1972) The analysis of subjective culture. New York: John Wiley. Read More