Four Forces Shaping Your Business

We’ll begin a discussion this week of Four Forces that are shaping the way we do business:

• Globalization
• Information ubiquity
• “Always on” operations
• Shortage of top-shelf talent

These forces interact and are impacted by demographic, political and economic changes that are swirling all around us.  And the one force you and I can read about daily is Globalization. 

Mike Peng in his book Global Strategy states that those who approve of globalization believe its contributions include: 

·         Higher economic growth

·         Better standards of living

·         Increased technology sharing

·         More extensive cultural integration

 Critics would argue that globalization actually: 

·         Undermines wages in rich countries

·         Exploits workers in poor countries

·         Devastates the environment

·         Compromises human rights

·         Diminishes national sovereignty

·         Gives large multi-national enterprises too much power

 It would appear that globalization is a two-edged sword that impacts just about everyone. 

For example, the following are popular snapshots of globalization: 

·         A man in London calls a product help-line for his IBM computer and gets an operator in Bangalore.

·         Nuclear waste is taken from Japan and reprocessed in Sellafield, England, before being dumped in Australia.

·         Coffee growers in Guatemala are put out of work as world coffee prices plunge.

·         A man places his cellular phone next to the Western Wall in Jerusalem so a relative in France can say a prayer at the holy site.

Let’s face it; each of our perspectives on “globalization” is shaped by where we live in the world.  But most groups tend to focus on economic globalization when discussing the term.  Other aspects of globalization, including culture and religion, are many times seen as a mere backdrop to what’s really going on (i.e., the rise of consumerism).   

Christians in the world of business have an opportunity to seek to understand globalization from a much broader perspective—God’s.  Consider this quote from Dr. Billy Graham: 

"I believe one of the next great moves of God is going to be through the believers in the workplace".

 And where is the workplace to be found?  As globalization continues, the answer is “everywhere.” 

 As we follow Jesus, our motives, values, and habits are bound to be different from those who are not Christians.  Seeing this work itself out in the marketplace takes conviction, courage, and courtesy.  But by God’s enabling grace we can learn to be not just different, but effectively different.   Being effectively different implies adding value from both God’s and man’s point of view in our various roles in the marketplace. 

In addition to my being distinctive as a Christian in the marketplace, am I relevant? Am I truly useful on my job?  Does what I do truly add value?  Am I an excellent teacher…an excellent accountant…an excellent manager/leader in the best sense of the word?

 What a challenge that is to my heart and mind!  Father, what can I do each day to become more distinctive and relevant for You in the marketplace?  And part of the answer is:

• Love God and draw closer to Christ.
• Love people—every person that God brings you into contact every day.
• Become excellent in all that you do in the marketplace.  If you need more knowledge, obtain more knowledge so that you can do your work with excellence.  Ask yourself, what can I do now to become more excellent, to provide more value, in my role in the organization where God has placed me? 

Loving God, loving people and being excellent in what you do and how you do it is quite a winsome combination!  Think of the positive influence you and I might have in the marketplace for God’s kingdom!

So—is globalization a force for good or a force for evil?  The immediate answer most likely depends on your current circumstance!  However, from the Christian worldview, we can take heart that our sovereign God is working all things for our good and His glory (Romans 8:28). 

Our task as Christians in the marketplace is not in defining globalization, but in engaging globalization to advance the kingdom of God and serve our fellow man.

Next week we’ll muse about “Information Ubiquity”—a tremendous force that impacts your organization and mine with an evermore powerful punch.

Have a great week!