The making of a Dell Computer is nothing more the a very complex supply chain. First an order is put in via phone or internet into “Dell's Order Management System,” which does the CC card checks and verifies other personal info. After, an email containing the order is send out is sent out to one of the six Dell Factories in the world. When this email is send out, an electronic signal is also sent to the factory's supplier logistics center (SLC) that details the parts specific to the order. The SLC's main job is to keep track of the inventory and keep up with the demand. The SLC's collaborate with many different suppliers from many different companies in many different countries. This cycle happens every 2 hours so that the manufacturing plant always has the “just in time” components it need to make the customized computer. If by chance the SLC is running low on a certain part, they let a Dell sales rep. know instantly, so they can offer a deal to the consumer for a better part. So now, not only is the consumer feeling like he/she is being well taken care of, Dell is actually helping themselves by making the transaction quicker, and making themselves look good, when in reality it is them that had a a slight glitch in the supply chain. This is pretty ingenious!!!
After the manufacturing plant has assembled the laptop, it is send down a conveyer belt were servers await to upload the consumers desired software. Then, it is packaged and sent on to its final destination, where ever that may be! That is a well orchestrated supply chain! But the lesson truly being taught by Friedman is his “Dell Theory,” which says no two countries in the same supply chain shall ever go to war, because their lives and economy has already been touched for the good, and going to war would only be a step in the wrong direction. The “Dell Theory” however only applies to countries and states, and not to terrorists groups which have no state. Al-Qaeda is a great example.
Al-Qaeda's has learned to collaborate on the internet just like any flattened country or company. However they use the internet to spread hate and fear. They use the internet to recruit their soldiers, and they use the internet use to outsource these soldiers to train them. Al-Qaeda does have a supply chain, not of goods, but of “ murder and mayhem.” This supply chain uses small networks that move their money through howalas. They recruits come from the alternative educational systems and like I mentioned through the net. This brings about the worst supply chain of all, the suicide supply chain. This chain is like any other, however instead of supplying goods, this chain supplies suicide bombers. Just as one bomber goes out and does his job, another is needed to replace him. This is sick, and thanks to the same internet that brings me my basketball scores, comes another suicide bomber that is more then willing to sacrifice his life in the name of jihad.
The the supply chains of Al-Qeada are not the only advantage they get from a flattened world, they also use the internet to research potential targets so the executions of the missions can be more precise then ever. This is a scary thought and proof that a couple of bad apples can ruin the whole bunch.
To switch gears to the curse of oil, to me it seems the people of the countries from which the oil is coming from, are the people most suffering from the curse. As long as the leaders of these countries can get rich from drilling oil they will never tapping into the talents of their own people. Most of these people are completely obvious to this because they feel they are being treated fair by their own country, when in fact they are being mis-lead; they have no representation, which leads to no or poor learning facilities. This leaves their own people out of the technological loop, and in the end when the oil does run dry ( AND THAT DAY WILL COME), they will have no other choice but to change, by then it could be to late. These conditions also cause higher oil prices because the oil rich state is totally dependent on oil money, and where ever there is money to be made there will also be greed and corruption. Friedman theorizes that with the gas prices as high as they are, it only fuels us to arise to the challenge of renewable alternative fuel resources. I could not agree more!
For a long time now gas prices have been extremely high. I always hear people complain about it, and how inconvenient is it, typical Americans, sad but true! I on the other hand have always preached, “The high gas prices are not the problem, they are the solution.” I know that the prices are an inconvenience for us AT THE MOMENT, however we spoiled American's need to look at the bigger picture. Higher gas prices would force us to think different and do different. This is the least we can to for our mother earth; in which with out her, none of us would have life. I also agree with Friedman, that each of us has a moral price and responsibility to the air pollution that we cause, and because of this maybe gas prices should be even higher. Am I crazy?
Finally to conclude my reading of “The world is Flat,” I also have to agree with Friedman that even though the Flat World has brought us closer together, it also keeps us further a part. I am one of those people he describes as NOT SOCIALIZING. I'm that person with an MP3 player always in my ear. I am always turning down a visit or parties invites because I am at home on facebook. This part of the book really hit home because I realize how much FUN I am actually missing. I trade virtual people for real people all the time! I feel safer this way. But its more then that, facebook has a certain nature that is very addicting. I can remember when I used to make it a point to go to a friends house to watch a Jazz game. Now I stay at home and facebook that friend about the game during the game. This actually causes me to miss a lot of the game as I pay more attention to facebook then my beloved Jazz. This is a trend that didn't happen over night, this has been happening over the course of years, progressively getting worse. Thank you Friedman for pointing out one of my biggest flaws, I will work on it! Hopefully in one the the Wifi-free spots that he so enthusiastically speaks of!!!
No comments:
Post a Comment