The World Is Flat #3

Convergence, as Friedman describes it, is the coming together of certain elements, to together rapidly flatten the world. These elements work together to flatten the world and without them being converged, they could not work as they are and as they have and none of the other flattening processes would have had the same effect without it. Friedman also states that he believes that it is a Triple Convergence, and there are three specific things that make it up. These are:

First, the equipment and technology that has developed. Work flow hardware and software, things like one machine that can do multiple tasks. Also, the continuing improvement of mostly all technological hardware and software. And finally, that this technology is becoming more and more accessible to people and places all over the world, connecting and allowing people all over to collaborate and compete with one another.

Second, the adaption of people to the use of all the new and improved technology being offered them. This is extremely important because what good is specialized technology and new equipment if people can't take advantage of it and can not use it? With out innovative thinking, and with out people learning the skills needed, new technology would be fruitless. Also, the new ways people have developed to run their businesses. Such as the UPS taking advantage of the opportunities offered them, helping their business to thrive by using insourcing for companies large and small to help them, or Wal-Mart supply chaining their stores and keeping track of the items sold.

Third, people who before were not very involved in business with others from far distances because of their economies, all came onto the playing field because of new technology that enabled them to do so. Because of this billions of new collaborators and competitors arose from China, Eastern Europe, India, Russia, Central Asia, and Latin America. All these new people who joined the flattening world not only joined, but stretched it farther because more of the world was now opened up.

These three convergences all together have helped flattened the world more, and more quickly by coming together. The first convergance flattened the world by opening it up, allowing distance to no longer be a huge barier against the communication and colaboration of people. This became more useful and more flatening when the people started to adapt and use the technology to better their businesses, which was the second convergence. All this was expanded and made more of the rest of the world flat when the billions of people who had not collaborated before began to join in, which was the third convergence. All together they flatten the world greatly as the Triple Convergence.