The Concept of Global Culture - Coursework Example

? Discuss whether there is such a phenomenon as "global culture" Table of Contents Table of Contents 2 Introduction 3 Global Culture 4 Overview 4 PEST Analysis 5 Conclusion 8 Works Cited 9 Introduction The world in the 21st century is a place where fast lives and tremendous development is a common factor. The rise of telecommunication services all over the world led to a rapid empowerment as well as high level of penetration of the internet in various corners of the world. Talking on this note, it can be said that the high level of penetration of the internet has helped in a great way in the development of a virtual world. The establishment and development of the virtual world has, in return, aided in the process of creating a world of knowledge that is freely available on the internet. This has resulted in a free and smooth distribution of information to masses all over the world. The availability of knowledge and information to people located in various parts of the world has led to the process of evolution of consumer demand. People and masses located in the emerging economies and developing countries are expressing the desire to acquire the same brands of products and services, that are being enjoyed by the people and masses located in the more advanced countries that have developed economies. As a result of the spill over of consumer demand from the developed economies to various undeveloped markets, new markets and new economies are being created. The corporations around the world, in an attempt to attain a significant amount of growth, are focusing on the process of developing the markets, that are located in the emerging economies, by fulfilling the new kind of consumer demand that is starting to evolve in that particular area. Talking with regard to the formation of value chain that is getting developed around the globe on a regular basis, it can be said that in most of the economically emerging regions and countries, the consumers are trying to move up the value chain. It can be said that, in an attempt to create a symbiotic relationship with the consumer demand that is getting formed, the corporations and global companies, that are trying to enter the new markets, are focusing on the process of development of brands that can move down the value chain. By doing so, the global and international companies are trying to form a symbiotic relationship with the customers, wherein the customers’ growing demands are being fulfilled by the companies. Global Culture Overview It can be said that in today’s high-end modern age environment, where the connectivity of the internet, powered by various high level sophisticated devices like Smart phones, and I-pads, is making significant impact in the lives of the masses around the world, the effect of spill over of information, knowledge and cultural trends cannot be ignored. Talking with regard to spill over of trends, it can be said that the development of a global marketplace, where goods and services are created and delivered to the consumers using various platforms like business to business, business to consumers or even consumers to consumers, has helped in the process of formation of a culture, that is familiar to many consumers irrespective of their presence and distribution in various geographical locations. In brief, it can be rightly stated that the global marketplace is contributing to the formation of a similarity in trends of consumption as well as behavioural patterns of masses all over the world. These similar kinds of behavioural patterns are helping in the process of development and growth of global citizens It can be said that global culture, in very simple terms, represents a variety of more or less similar trends, practices and behaviours which are expressed and displayed by the global citizens. It is necessary to state here that global culture represents a diverse mix of various trends, consumption patterns and styles of living which currently exist in various countries around the world. These diverse trends and consumption patterns, that are supposed to be existent in various corners of the world, are increasingly brought together on a common platform and thus they are getting tied in a common string provided by the massive penetration of technology and globalization (Featherstone 171). PEST Analysis For the purpose of forming a better understanding of the highlighted trends of global culture, a PEST analysis is being conducted. The PEST analysis will highlight on the political, economic, social and technological aspects of the culture of globalization and its related impacts. Political Talking from the political viewpoint, it can be said that the effects of having a global culture are forcing significant amount of changes in the political framework of various countries around the world. On this note, it can be highlighted that there are a couple of examples that can be cited. One of the most critical examples that can be quoted is the case of Arab Spring. Talking in more detail, it can be mentioned that the Arab Spring was a revolutionary movement that had its origin in various Arabian nations around the year 2011. The movement was formed as an outbreak of the repressed response of the common masses with regard to the political stronghold and dictatorship natured leadership styles that are being implemented by the ruling political parties of those countries (Cnn, “Unrest in the Arab World”). Talking on this note, it can be said that the masses of the tightly handled nations are naturally looking forward to the implementation of various transparent rules, regulations and frameworks, which naturally provide significant amount of freedom to the expression of speech, expression as well as right to information. Needless to say, this evolution, of public demand of the Arabian nations which have promoted the revolutionary movement, has happened with respect to the realization of the masses that they need to develop a platform for themselves which will provide them with a same level of opportunity as that in other developed as well as developing economies. Economic It can be said that with the formation of global culture, there are significant amounts of changes that are happening in the economic platform and forum of various countries around the world. As a result of globalization, knowledge is freely available to masses all over the world. This is creating a platform for formation of new kinds of consumer demands, with regard to new products and services. Faced by the growing and diversified nature of demands of the consumers, the companies and business organizations of domestic as well as international stature are trying to satisfy the needs of the consumers. This is resulting in the development of new markets in various emerging economies (McKinsey Quarterly, “The Rise of The African Consumer”). The formation of new markets in various emerging economies is leading to a large scale transformation in the rules and policy frameworks that already exists in the countries of the emerging economies. For the purpose of making the economies open towards the process of attracting foreign inflows of capital, especially in the form of FDI (Foreign Direct Investment) and FII (Foreign Institutional Investment), the government and various governments owned agencies are initiating significant changes in the business rules and regulations of the countries with emerging economies and new markets. This is helping in the development of attraction towards the emerging new markets with regard to various business organizations that are looking forward to fulfilling the demands of the consumers existing in the new markets for the purpose of attaining significant amount of growth in their business. It also needs special mentioning of the fact that apart from the development of flexible, new and highly compatible business policies, there are also significant amounts of other developments that are sure to happen, which will be having a direct linkage to the economic development. In an effort to build up significant environment that will help in the promotion of growth and development of business, it can be said that the government will also provide significant amount of investments in the development of public infrastructure. This will also significantly help in the promotion of economic development of various geographical regions around the world. Social It is of utmost importance to highlight that the social factor has played a major role in the process of development of a common culture around the globe. As a direct impact of the spill over effect that has resulted from the intermixing of people from various parts of the world with regard to business or personal relationships, the social trends and behavioural patterns are going to get synchronized on a single line. As an effect of globalization, there has been a tremendous role of the cultural diversity at a global level (Lehmannova, “The Role of Culture Factors in Global Processes and Conflicts”). This factor of cultural diversity is providing a lot of exposure and recognition to various previously existing region specific cultural trends at an international level. The process of coming to exposure of various region specific trends is resulting in the process of evolution of various kinds of opportunities for businesses around the world. It needs special mentioning that as more and more consumers from various regions will start participating in the process of making themselves compatible with global trends, the consumer choices are sure to evolve continuously, thereby providing significant amount of opportunities of development of the markets around the world. Technological There is room for little doubt when it comes to highlighting the fact that technological development in the last couple of years has played a major role in the formation of global culture. Talking in details about this, it can be said that the high speed development of hardware and software, has evolved and continued in a tremendous way for the speedy diffusion of the trends of global culture to various locations around the world. It is a commonly known fact, that the high level of internet penetration, coupled with the development of various sophisticated and smart natured technological devices, has resulted in the rise of popularity of various social networking platforms. The development and fast acceptance of the social networking platforms has played a major role in the process of forming and development of a global culture (Dijck 3). Through the live interaction of masses that are connected to each other through the wire based as well as wireless virtual world, there has been a rising influence of various cultures from one region to the other. In many cases, even large, small as well as medium based organizations, for the motive of getting a glimpse of the mindsets of the consumers located in different locations, are focusing on engaging and building relationships with them on a social media platform. Conclusion On a closing and concluding note, it can be mentioned that the phenomena surrounding the existence of global culture are dependent on a variety of factors. In a more elaborate manner, it can be highlighted that it is a common human psychology to lead a better life, like one’s peers. Looking at this human psychology from a much higher level, it can be said that the need and desire of people of evolving regions as well as of developed economies, to lead better lives, which are complete in terms of growth, development, fulfilment and satisfaction, has helped in the existence and survival of a global culture. Works Cited McKinsey Quarterly. The Rise of the African Consumer. Mckinsey.com, Nov. 2012. Web. 18 Jan 2013. Lehmannova, Z. The Role of Culture Factors in Global Processes and Conflicts. University of Economics, Prague. Web. 18 Jan 2013. Dijck, J.V. The Culture of Connectivity: A Critical History of Social Media. New York: Oxford Unversity Press, 2013. Print. Cnn, Unrest in the Arab World. Cnn.com, 2012. Web. 18 Jan 2013. Featherstone, M. Global Culture: Nationalism, Globalization and Modernity. London: Sage Publications, 1990. Print. Read More