Globalization and need for globally relevant skills

“We have not noticed how fast the rest has risen”, quoting Fareed Zakaria’s ‘The Post-American
World’.

Globalization is the interconnection and integration of countries in terms of economy, society,

culture and politics. Akin to a ‘crazy wall’, globalization is a worldwide pinboard which ties the
strings of many countries together as goods, services, and capital is exchanged. A hotspot
subject nowadays, globalization is an age-old process, rumoured to have originated via the Silk
Route by the invasion of the infamous Mongol ruler Genghis Khan in the 13th century. Albeit,
the origin of globalization is disputed, its coming up was only possible through utilizing the two
fundamental facilities: transport and communication.
Globalization, although not limited, is largely related to the economy. United Nations describes
economic globalization as increasing interdependence of world economies as a result of the
growing scale of cross-border trade of commodities and services, flow of international capital
and wide and rapid spread of technologies. Globalization has provided a capital boost to many,
along with freedom of markets, job opportunities, lower prices, and higher standards of living.

Globalization is a prominent part of our world. The interdependence of the world grows on itself
each day, as knowledge, goods, services, ideas and capital, and even people pass from one
place to another. Globalization is a complex process, but it is one which is necessary.
Globalization acts similar to a gravitational force binding our economies together and keeping
them grounded. An example can be the establishment of Multinational-Corporations or MNCs.
These corporations are companies which have their business operations in more than one
country and have an international supply chain. Many MNCs such as Asian paints, Infosys, HCL
are world renowned Indian companies. Globalization is normally fueled by foreign investment,
which is investment of capital made by a foreign company, an MNC. Thus, many developing
countries are magnets for setting up companies, as they provide cheap labour and flexible
labour laws. The founding of SEZ, or special economic zones in India was done for the same,
where world class facilities are provided to MNCs.

Technology has provided a platform, working as an aggregator of information and a server of

speedy communication, transportation, and mass marketing for globalization. This has caused
an exponential push to globalization, along with the founding of ‘emerging industries’ such as
Information Technology and Artificial Intelligence, where India is rising high. It has already
hallmarked 62 software technology parks.

Globalization also has social and political aspects. Socially, it unifies the different cultures and
symbols of social status. Politically, it refers to the political relationship in the country and the
influence of countries on one another. Globalization turns down many dominoes, and they fall
into the most trivial details of our life, like our favorite international singer. Globalization has
infinite ripple effects, which make us think in a particular direction.
To put these thoughts together, skill development is a must. It leads to greater productivity,
better international business, emotional intelligence, thus a better overall scenario of the
country. It enhances adaptability of an individual and creates seamless opportunities for an
organisation. Globally relevant skills are crucial as they help individuals and organizations to
interact with the demanding world and simultaneously leverage their potential. Skill development
aids the negative ripple effects of globalization, in hopes of fostering an equitable globalization.

This is where the 21st Century skills, or commonly called the 6 C's, devised by Michael Fulian
come into place. The 6 C's include: Character Education, Citizenship, Communication, Critical
thinking and problem solving, Collaboration and Creativity. These 6 skills are the crux of making
a world, which is individually aware, and thus globally aware too.
Character education provides you a basic overview of the world and how it functions, and in turn
also teaches you the remaining five skills. Without education, we can not form a rational
viewpoint or pursue a valuable career.
Citizenship is often neglected, and people rarely realize that we are not only citizens of a
country, but of the world. Citizenship is giving your best to the world, and working up to your
potential. This helps tackle the concept of ‘strangeness’, or, rather, cross culture.
Cross culture is a concept that acknowledges the differences among people of different
nations, backgrounds and ethnicities, and the importance of bridging them together in a
business.
Communication includes the sharing of thoughts, ideas and facts. William Scott’s book,
organizational theory, states: “Administrative communication is a process which involves the
transmission and accurate replication of ideas ensured by feedback for the purpose of eliciting
actions which will accomplish organizational goals,” Clear communication has always been a
prerequisite for not only globalization, but any kind of development.
Critical thinking and problem solving is the most important skill for a fair globalization,
pragmatically. Critical thinking is described as the ability to gather information intelligently. Many
argue that the poor have to pay the price of globalization, as the policies designed for full
globalization seem unregulated. Including uncompromising labor laws, mass immigration, tough
competition faced by small producers against MNCs, are all some dismissive features of
globalization, especially in India, where people thrive on small family business and are
vulnerable to being exploited. Here efficient policymaking comes into place, which is a seed of
critical thinking and problem solving.
Collaboration is a work practice wherein individuals work together for a common purpose to
achieve a defined business benefit. While working together on a domestic and international
level ensures inclusivity, which will improve decision-making, initiative implementation, and
corporate and global growth.
Creativity is a prevalent skill seen in today’s age, with the coming of technology. Creativity helps
with coming up with good ideas, and additionally ‘sifting’ of bad ideas from good ones, which
often surf around today with overflow of information.
Globalization has proved itself to be one of the best ways to develop our world further, but, alas,
it does not come without disadvantages. This is where we come along to bridge the gap
between have and have nots, with globally relevant skills.