“The Great Conductors”

Who knew there were so many people and places involved in the building of one small individual notebook?  I have to be honest and say that I read the first few stops and then just scanned over the rest of that really HUGE paragraph detailing all the possible locations for each key part of a Dell laptop.  It really makes sense though considering that each one is built to certain specifications requested by the customer.  How else could this be accomplished except by “just in time” manufacturing? An entire 747 just for computers? Sure! Why not?  I also think that having several suppliers for each specific part is brilliant on Dell’s part.  What a way to keep everyone on their toes, knowing that if you don’t get them what they need there are two or three other companies just waiting for the opportunity to do so.  They are rulers of the so called “supply chain symphony”, expertly organizing and fulfilling orders from around the world.

Unfortunately they are not the only ones to latch on to the power of the supply chain.  Al-Qaeda has manipulated the flattening of our world to their advantage as well.  They have formed a chain of destruction that only requires “recruits, donors, and victims” (Friedman p. 595).  They raise money, entice followers, and distribute their tools of annihilation all over the world.  Their reach is limitless.  It is terrifying what can be accomplished when the world is flat.  There are no longer barriers to searching out and connecting with one another.  It is now child’s play to locate and communicate with those that are already distraught or sympathize with radical movements.  I cannot wrap my head around the idea of the suicide supply chain.  What a gross misuse of human life. 

                It is infuriating to me to see that one group of people can take such an awesome invention and turn it into a tool for growth, collaboration, and good. Then another group of people can take that exact same awesome invention and twist and manipulate it into a tool of destruction, horror, and evil.  There are so many times in this life that I have said, “Man just imagine if they would use those brains for something productive?”  In this case, we already have proof of what can happen!  Two polar opposite effects from the same product. Each has become master maestros of the orchestra supply chain they have chosen to create.

            This same idea holds true with countries that are focused on tapping into natural resources such as oil.  The so called curse of having such resources is that while it provides money and assets for the country, it keeps the rulers from having to answer to the people because the wealth was not obtained through taxing the people.  Because they have no one to answer to, often times the ruling parties spend on “boosting wasteful subsidies rather than on much needed development and new technology” (Friedman pg. 627).  This is yet another prime example of wasting an amazing asset. 

            It is sad to think that even when the world is daily becoming more and more flat, and we complain about it due to the increased competition, there are still so many that are unaware and have not experienced the advantages that come with it.  Our experience is completely dependent on who is “leading the music”.