The computer company Dell has an ingenious system of providing computers to the public. Though, computers are a complicated machine, Dell has simplified the production process into an incredibly efficient supply chain. So efficient that every individual part is stocked for a purpose and supplied with precision timing. Someone yearning to grasp their part of the flat world will see an ad for Dell begin the purchase like this: a customer orders a computer providing contact information, shipping information and payment. Also, at order, the customer customizes exactly what hardware and software they want included in their system. When the initial order is complete Dell sends it to one of the six factories it has in different parts of the world. That factory then sends orders to suppliers with warehouses near the factory for all the specific parts to be delivered within an hour and a half. Those suppliers must keep enough supply on hand in order to not lag when Dell demands the parts it needs. In order to protect against falling behind, Dell uses many different manufacturers for each component to make up for any issues that one supplier may have. As soon as the parts arrive at the Dell factory, they are unloaded and sent to certain assembly lines where each computer is built specific to the customers order and loaded with the requested software. Finally they are packaged for shipping and loaded onto a plane to start the delivery of the final product to the new owner, all in a matter of days.
Al-Qaeda understands how a supply chain works and uses it to its full potential. A supply chain is a way for someone to collaborate horizontally with other people to get the things they want even if it is on the other side of the world. By using a supply chain someone can organize other people to produce something, ship it around the world and put it to use without ever leaving that spot. The flat world allows them to do that by shrinking the world to being easily within their reach. Al-Qaeda put their supply chain to use to carry out the 9/11 attacks. They obtained any supplies and funds they needed over the internet, tapped into talent and services offered in other countries, gained the education necessary to deliver the final product, and the leaders gave the go ahead safe from their office on the other side of the world. Wal-Mart proves that they can collect goods from all over the world and distribute them to their stores without ever leaving Arkansas and al-Qaeda can collect information from all over the world distribute fear to their targets without ever leaving their base as well.
The curse of oil is a type of tunnel vision. Countries that have been drilling and selling oil for so long are stuck with it because that is all they know what to do. They make so much money that they do not need to venture out and take on more responsibility. I am sure when Bahrain ran out of oil and were forced to consider other options of income, they were glad to get out of the hole of oil because they had a reason to improve their economy rather than rely on one thing because it was easy. The worst thing someone could let happen to themselves or even a country is becoming blocked from innovation because of their inability to use their imagination. In conclusion of the book Thomas Friedman says, “The most important competition is now with yourself” (Friedman 635).
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