Globalization and Communication Study Guide PDF

Module No. 2 MODULE OVERVIEW Globalization is likened to the road. The world used to be thought of as vast, unchartered, distant, mysterious, unfathomable, and staggering and no person had the slightest inkling how he or she could fathom it. Today globalization has changed the way peopl...

Module No. 2 MODULE OVERVIEW Globalization is likened to the road. The world used to be thought of as vast, unchartered, distant, mysterious, unfathomable, and staggering and no person had the slightest inkling how he or she could fathom it. Today globalization has changed the way people see the world. It has become a road people can tread to discover many possibilities although for some this unknown road can paint terror and fear. As the human spirit in the past struggled to soar higher by probing unknown territories, climbing these highest peaks, and braving seemingly insurmountable storms, the warrior in every man and woman championed not only the feet and hands but also the mind and heart. Yes, T globalization has finally been realized. The term ‘globalization’ is widely used to define a spectrum of scientific, economic, linguistic, cultural, social, and political changes that have shaped the world over the past 50-odd years. Since globalization is a complex and multifaceted phenomenon, it has been credited with a AF wide range of powers and effects. Its proponents claim that it is both ‘natural’ and an inevitable outcome of technological progress, and it can create positive economic and political convergences. Many perspectives on globalization see it as differentiated in its effects and reception, culturally driven, either pre-modern or postmodern, best captured by globalist or skeptical perspectives, and an equalizing phenomenon. However, the main goal to achieve here is how important globalization and communication can be in terms of learning and living. MODULE LEARNING OBJECTIVES DR At the end of the lesson, the students will be able to: Define global communication and its emergence Explain how cultural and global issues affect communication Appreciate the impact of communication on society and the world Analyze the impact of globalization to communication and the great challenge it offers Discuss the power of information and communications technology ( ICT) in making global communication a reality Identify social media applications, their uses, and functions in global communication Reflect on a learning experience LEARNING CONTENTS WHAT IS GLOBALIZATION? According to http://www.globalization101.org, globalization is a process of interaction and integration among the people, companies, and governments of different nations, a process driven by international trade and investment and aided by inforation technology. This process has effects 1 on the environment , on culture, on political systems, on ecoomic development and prosperity, and on human physical well-being in societies around the world. Heywood (2013) describes globalization as a slippery and elusive concept. Despite intensifying interest in the phenomenon of a globalization since the 1980s, the term is still used to refer, variously, to a process, a policy , a marketing strategy , a predicament, or even n ideology. The problem with globalization is that it is not so much an it as them: it is not a singe process but a complex of processes, sometimes overlapping and interlocking processes but also, at times, contradictory, and oppositional ones. It is difficult therefore to reduce globalization to single theme. Perhaps the best attempt to do this was in Kenpachi Ohmae’s(1989) idea of a borderless world. This not only refers to the tendency of traditional political borders, based on national and state boundaries, to become permeable; it also implies that divisions between people previously separated by time and space have become less significant and are sometimes entirely irrelevant… Globalization is not really new, though. The globe has been globalized even before men coined the term globalization. For example, for thousands of years , people-and, later, T corporations- have been buying from and selling to each other in lands at great distances, such as through the farmed Silk Road across Central Asia that connected China and Europe during the MIddle Ages. Likewise, for centuries, people and corporations have invested in enterprises in other countries. In fact, many of the features of the current wave of globalization are similar to those prevailing before the outbreak of the First World War in 1994. AF But policy and technological developments of the past few decades have spurred increases in cross-border trade, investment, and migration so large that many observers believe in the world has entered a qualitatively new phase in its economic development. Since 1950, for example, the volume of world trade has increased by 20 times, and from just 1997 to 1999 flows of foreign investment nearly doubled, from $468 billion to $827 billion. Distinguishing this current wave of globalization from earlier ones, author Thomas Friedman has said that today globalization is farther, faster, cheaper, and deeper (http://www.globalization101.org). This current wave of globalization has been driven by policies that have opened DR economies domestically and internationally. In the years since the Second World War, and especially during the past two decades, many governments have adopted free-market economic systems, vastly increasing their own productive potential and creating myriad new opportunities for international trade and investment. Governments also have negotiated dramatic reductions in barriers to commerce and have established international agreements to promote trade in goods, services, and investment. Taking advantage of new opportunities in foreign markets, corporations have built foreign factories and established production and marketing arrangemets with foreign partners. A defining feature of globalization, therefore, is an international indutrial and financial business structure (htt://www.globalization101.org). Technology has been the other principal driver of globalization. Advances in information technology, in particular, have dramatically transformed economic life. Information technologies have given all sorts of individual economic actors-consumers, investors, business-valuable new tools for identifying and pursuing economic opurtunities, including faster and more informed analyses of economic trends around the world, easy transfers of assets, and collaboration with far-flung partners (http://www.globalization101.org). In an article entitled The Impact of Globalization on Communication Skills Development, 2 David Ingram said that [c]ommunication skills development has always been an important factor of success in business, but the influence of globalization and cross-cultural interaction in recent decades has impacted the types of communication skills needed on dramatic ways. No longer can entrepreneurs afford to simply communicate well within their own homogenous cultures. Thus, today, people need to understand the dynamics of long-distance collaboration, the impact of culture on manners of speaking and body language, and how to use technology to communicate with people on the other side of the globe. 1) Virtual Interactions. Globalization has introduced virtual communication and collaboration as a major part of academic and workplace dynamics. We need to understand the strengths and limitations of different communication media, and how to use each medium to maximum effect. For example, communicating via email to distant team members requires a certain etiquette and nuance not necessarily required in face-to-face interactions. Holding virtual meetings requires a similar change in approach, and people who are unaccustomed to communicating in groups in virtual settings can find themselves lost, confused or unable to share their input. T This is why in schools; language courses try to address the challenges of virtual interactions. 2) Cultural Awareness in Speech. The need for cultural awareness is a major impact of globalization on the required skillset of effective communicators, resulting in the evolution of AF communication skills development programs. In the workplace and schools, for example, we need the ability to catch subtle nuances of people’s manner of speech when communicating across cultures. Even when two people are speaking the same language, cultural differences can affect vocabulary, colloquia expressions, voice tone and taboo topics. In Japanese business culture, for example, it can be considered rude to ask personal questions in an initial business meeting. In the U.S., on the other hand, asking personal questions and sharing personal information can display warmth and openness. American and Japanese businesspeople who understand this about each other can communicate in ways DR that resonate more effectively with each other. 3) Cultural Awareness in Body Language. Awareness of cultural differences in body languages can be just as important as the nuances of speech. This is why in schools, students are taught to understand acceptable speaking distances, conflict styles, eye contact and posture in different cultures, accepting that the physical expressions of their own culture are not universally accepted. Students are also taught how to address these differences to prepare them for face-to-face meetings with foreign suppliers, customers, or team members when they become professionals. 4) Time Differences. The advent of global collaboration introduces another new dynamic to communication skills - the need to communicate and share information across several time zones. When people collaborate with others on the other side of the globe, their counterparts are usually at home asleep while they themselves are at work. This is why schools teach students to address the nuances of overcoming this challenge by teaching them to understand the information needs of their colleagues, according to the communication styles of different countries or cultures. Being able to effectively share information between shifts can make or break the productivity of a geographically dispersed team, making this an important issue for 3  many companies. This skill is particularly needed in call centers catering clients from countries of different time zones. According to Danev (2017), [t]he process of globalization has widely increased the availability of information of people across the world. By the use of the internet and advanced mobile services, people are able to discuss business plans and proposals on an international level as well as exchange private data securely. Global communication services have also contributed to the enlightenment and development of the political process in a number of states. Danev (2017) also enumerates the three major impacts of globalization on global communication and identifies the major problem, as follows: 1) Availability of Information. The availability of information is a major effect of the process of T globalization. The World Health Organization, in its works focused on the cultural dimensions of globalization, has expressed the view that with the spread of business delivering internet, satellite TV and mobile services, the costs of such information technologies drop. The decreased price makes it easier for people across the world to make use of the World Wide AF Web and the resources available. 2) Business Conduct. Globalization has influenced global communication by implementing new techniques for business conduct among workers at international corporations. Long-distance travel is no longer necessary for businesspeople should they require a meeting with a partner overseas. Internet technology makes it possible to exchange business information and conduct video conferences. Additionally, enhanced communication allows businesses to promote their products more efficiently in the international market. This significantly changed the business world. DR In his works on the matter, U.S. economist John Thompson concludes that the advanced means of communication have enabled international organizations to take faster and more adequate decisions in accordance with the changes in economic, political, or social setting in a particular region. For example, as described by Boonlert Supadhiloke, a professor of communication in Bangkok University, Thai-based, international technology corporations use advanced communications to respond to the growing demand for Thai-made products. 3) Social Awareness. The availability of information, which is a direct effect of the development of global communication systems, has led to increased social awareness of people across the world. Information technology and networks enable them to share opinions, views, work on projects and research different areas. These are among the main reasons why the process of globalization is creating a sense of a global society. For example, through the use of communication, many students from developing countries enroll in university degrees in the developed world. Education is only a single sector of social awareness. Other effects, like social determination, have also occurred -- the political unrest in Tunisia in the beginning of 2011 had 4  been inspired by opinions and political considerations shared over the social networks available on the web. 4) The Problem. Despite its quick spread and continuous development, global communication has not reached the majority of people on all continents. The World Health Organization indicates that at least 70 percent of all people in Africa will never make a single phone call or use the Internet. This points out the need for a more extensive application of communication technologies as part of the process of globalization. In addition… Increased Business Opportunities Many companies today hire employees that are located in other countries. Using communication vehicles such as video calling makes it simple to converse with colleagues across the globe, almost making it feel like they are in the same room. Technology also makes it easier to connect with suppliers and customers all over the world and to streamline those relationships T through improved ordering, shipment tracking, and so on. With this kind of communication technology, many businesses are able to take advantage of opportunities in different countries or cities, improving the economic outlook on a global level. Thanks to global communications, information itself can be transferred as a valuable AF business asset from one country to another. This has the effect of making everyone’s operations more modern and efficient, regardless of where they are located. Fewer Cultural Barriers. Many people perceive culture to be the root of communication challenges. When people from two different cultures try to exchange information, the way they speak, their body language, or their mannerisms can be interpreted differently by the other person. The way people approach problems and how they participate in communities is influenced by culture. Globalization has made it possible, for example, for someone in Japan to understand how someone in the U.S. goes about their day. With television and movies, cultural barriers are becoming less prevalent. Being able to communicate effectively and frequently with colleagues or DR friends across the planet helps people understand each other’s cultures a little better. Creation of a Global Village You’ve likely heard of the phrase "global village," coined by theorist Marshall McLuhan. Affected both by globalization and global communication, the global village is created when distance and isolation no longer matter because people are connected by technology. Wide-spread telephone and internet access have been life-changing for many people across the world, especially those in developing countries. Many are now enrolling in universities across the world without having to leave their desk chairs. Virtual assistant jobs are becoming commonplace. Employees from developing countries work with companies in North America or Europe, providing administrative support and other business services that can efficiently be conducted over the phone or via the internet. Globalization and global communication have made it easier to see people on the other side of the world as neighbors instead of a stranger from a faraway land. There is so much knowledge about other countries and cultures available online, that it’s no longer a complete mystery. Fewer Cultural Barriers 5  Many people perceive culture to be the root of communication challenges. When people from two different cultures try to exchange information, the way they speak, their body language, or their mannerisms can be interpreted differently by the other person. The way people approach problems and how they participate in communities is influenced by culture. Globalization has made it possible, for example, for someone in Japan to understand how someone in the U.S. goes about their day. With television and movies, cultural barriers are becoming less prevalent. Being able to communicate effectively and frequently with colleagues or friends across the planet helps people understand each other’s cultures a little better. The Power of ICT The revolution of ICT is considered as the main driving force for globalization (Ogunsola 2005) by promoting trade, investment, and business both domestically and internationally. It contributes to the globalization process by contributing to infrastructure for trans-world connections (Faye 2000). Globalization is important for human development because it influences its three dimensions, income, health, and education. And the interaction of T globalization and ICT is considered as an important tool for human existence (Ogunsola 2005). Developing countries like India are using ICT as a powerful tool in order to eradicate poverty, reduce health hazards and mortality, and increase universal education and sustainable development (United Nations Development Programme, UNDP 2004). AF What is social media? Social media refers to the means of interactions among people in which they create, share, and/or exchange information and ideas in virtual communities and networks. Social media is an internet-based form of communication. Social media platforms allow users to have conversations, share information and create web content. There are many forms of social media, including blogs, micro-blogs, wikis, social networking sites, photo-sharing sites, instant messaging, video-sharing sites, podcasts, widgets, virtual worlds, and more. DR Social media main functions 1. Reflecting identity According to one of the top Instagram growth services, any account, no matter whether it’s an influencer, brand, agency, or individual, primarily reflects identity. Everything you post on the Internet reflects you, your principles, and values. On the other hand, social media SHAPE the identity. Roughly speaking, all user reactions to news, content, statements of someone in the media, as well as updates in the lives of other people posted on social networks, form the awareness and sense of “self”. 2. Opportunity to keep in touch Almost all social media have built-in tools for connecting with other users. How do they communicate? With the help of hashtags, mentions, messengers, challenges sharing, and so on. In this way, you can meet like-minded people, for example, those who follow the green movement or seek the best hunting tools, increase self-esteem, share an idea, discuss sensitive topics, or simply exchange a few words to maintain socialization. 6 3. Enabling permanent sharing “Social” means sharing between people. This can be the exchange of knowledge, practices, experience, entertainment content, and much more. Modern users distribute and receive more content in less time than all of humanity has done before. This is why people “hang out” on social media more than anywhere else. 4. Establishing new contacts One of the main social media goals is to make new connections by forming interest groups. Here we often find people who share similar thoughts to receive social support or encouragement. 5. Promotion It’s generally accepted that social media promotion is more suitable for the B2C market. But the modern possibilities of these tools allow promoting the business-to-business and peer-to-peer markets. T Today social media are a tool for increasing loyalty to a person as an expert, a way to create a personal brand, direct sales, increasing the company’s recognition, counteraction to negativity, and even recruiting. Promotion and marketing team to work as brand collaboration can do wonders for your AF business and provide it with a better future. As a modern and innovative trend in marketing strategies can really help in your business promotion in a more efficient and effective way. Name: ________________________________________________ Student No. _______________________ (Surname, Given Name, MI) DR Note: Upon submitting your activity, follow this name format: SG2_Learning Activity 1 Instructions: The video entitled “Connected, but Alone” from TED talks has a significant message. Please watch “Connected, but Alone” through the link provided below and answer the questions that follow. Be ready to share your answers to the class. Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t7Xr3AsBEK4&t=3s 1) Identify the main idea. 2) How does the writer support the main idea? Enumerate the examples provided. 3) According to the writer, what is the difference between “conversation and connection.” What does face-to-face conversation teach us? 4) What does “being alone together” mean? Cite specific instances. 5) Justify the truthfulness of the following lines: a. “We expect more from technology and less from one another.” b. “I share, therefore I am.” 6) What does the expression, “Flight from Conversation” mean? What are its benefits? 7) If you were the speaker, how would you address the inherent problem in communication in society today? Enumerate your top three solutions or recommendations. 7  REFERENCES https://www.scribd.com/document/524903606/What-is-Communication-and-Globalization-in-Purposi ve-Communication https://www.studocu.com/ph/document/central-philippine-university/accountancy/purposive-commun ication-module-12-communication-and-globalization/21173664 https://communications.tufts.edu/marketing-and-branding/social-media-overview/ https://www.urdesignmag.com/technology/2021/08/20/what-are-the-5-functions-of-social-media/ https://www.studocu.com/ph/document/university-of-negros-occidental-recoletos/business-marketin g/lesson-2-communication-and-globalization/17015381 Madrunio M.R. et. al, 2018, Purposive Communication Using English in Multilingual Contexts. T Bernales R.A. et. al, 2018, Purposive Communication in Local and Global Contexts. Barrot J.S. et. al, 2018, Purposive Communication in the 21st Century. AF DR 8