Enter the Global Economy
Trace the developmental gap of a country to its inability to benefit from global
trade. As global trade is a complex adaptive system, complex interactions in the system can lead to skewed outcomes, where
one country dominates the trade even when it has only marginal productivity edge over others.
Consider the industries of the next century: information processing, finances,
entertainment, communications, and leisure; expect the complexity of global trade to increase further. Since many industries
of interest exhibit increasing returns, it is futile for a laggard to compete in them unless they also achieve increasing
returns.
It is widely recognized that to develop and use technology effectively, the three
major technology functions- Research, Development & Engineering (RD&E); marketing; and production must work together
as an efficient system. It is just as widely recognized that few organizations have been able to mitigate the tensions among
these functions that result from "cultural" differences.
Such differences include different time horizons, educational backgrounds, career
patterns, recognition and reward systems, and perceptions of who the "customer" is. They are not necessarily amenable to simple
solutions, such as forming multifunctional teams. It is much harder, for example, to transfer tecnnology between functions
when these functions are decentralized across three countries.
There is little in the way of practical experience or theoretical understanding
to draw upon. The expanding number of joint ventures, cross-licensing arrangements and stategic alliances has added still
another level of complexity. All of this technology research has a tremendous downside for humanity.
The sophisticated devices imagined and manufactured- things such as televisions,
computers, and automobiles- have come to define our world. One of humanity's challenges will be to use technology as
a tool but not to let it define THE interaction with the world.
Humanity needs to connect to the natural world. People need to take opportunities
to be in the wilderness, to listen to the wind, and to look at the exquisite variety of plants and rocks and insects with
which they coexist.
For financial stability, less developed countries can rely on their own leadership
to improve the lives of the masses. Leaders are challenged to enable and unite their people in a common purpose. To fulfill
such things in a pressured, ever-chaging, fragmented world requires deep personal integrity, self-awareness, and sensitivity
to other people. Leaders must be willing to take risks and experiment, articulate and model new ways of working, and celebrate
and use diversity. They must help people feel loyal and plan for the future without the security of long-time government employment.
Conflicts must be confronted and managed honestly and openly to reduce frustrations and solve problems. To lead in today's
world is to be tenacious, open-minded, and savvy, and to help people be motivated and skilled.
