Module 8

Jayden Nyman

IST 1100

Module 8

            I would not have been able to get though my education so far without my computer. Now days there is so many important things that you need a computer for. In almost every class that you take their will be things you need to be able to browse the web for, or have a document that you can type up important assignments or essays onto. Many times classes require you to have a computer, and if you don’t their really isn’t a way to pass the class without going to a library or somewhere you can gain access to a computer. Kids who do not have a computer are at a major disadvantage with their education. Take for instance this class, without access to a computer how would I be able to finish and complete the essays that we are required to submit once a week? I can answer that; I would simply not be able to pass the class. I would not be able to finish college either.

            Now days it is a necessity to have a computer that you can access if you going to seek an education. If you plan to go to college without access to a computer in some form you will be at a huge disadvantage. I know that colleges have computer labs open for student access, but who has time to always go to a computer lab to complete an assignment? I know that I do not have time between work and my other classes.

            Personally for me having my own laptop computer has benefited me so far with college. I was able to buy an Apple laptop around last Christmas time and it has changed how I do assignments for school. I can now take my laptop anywhere I want to go and complete assignments wherever I need to get them done. Another great thing about having a laptop is that you can just take it to class and take notes. This is great because writing with a pen can take way to long, and you can get really tired if your writing for too long, but with a laptop you don’t get tired. You are able to just type as long as you need to and keep up with what is being taught in class. If I was not able to gain access to a computer then I would not be able to complete college classes with how they are set up now days. College classes are now set up revolving so much around computers and technology it is just as important to have a computer as it is to show up to class.

            Being able to have my own laptop has allowed me to become better with all of the applications and programs that are available. I know how to do things on the computer that I did not before, and I can get things done in a much more time efficient way. I am definitely glad that I have a computer to help me get assignments done, as well as for fun things like Netflix and downloading music. Without a computer I would struggle to get things done on time, as well as getting the grades that I desire.

            Technology has come so far in recent years, and I am excited to see how things will continue to get easier to use. The things that will change with computers in the lives of our younger generation will be incredible. If computers continue to change like they have in my lifetime, then it will be a lot of fun to see what will be the next greatest thing.

Module 7

Jayden Nyman

IST 1100

Module 7

            Friedman expresses that comparative advantage is the reason that some countries or regions are better at accomplishing things then some other countries and regions. Some countries are developed better because each country has different belief systems, education levels, and economic practices. Friedman explains that comparative advantage is there because of some countries lacking or being slower than other countries when it comes to social, political, and global change. It makes sense, because in today’s world it is obvious that some countries are struggling more than others. Education levels are so much different from country to country. I think that education is the easiest way to try and show comparative advantage because more people can relate to education and have experienced first hand what education is like in our own country. One country may be better at producing items, while another country is better at coming up with the idea to create the item. Each country has its own way of doing things and some countries do it better than others, this is comparative advantage.

            Freidman classifies people who use the Internet to their advantage to search, compare, and buy products as self-directed consumers. These people use the Internet to their advantage using it to research products and buy things online. A great example of something a self-directed consumer would use is Amazon.com, Ebay.com, and Aliexpress.com. My favorite though especially in Utah is Ksl.com. Ksl.com is used for people located around Utah to find, sell, and buy used and new products. This is great because it offers great prices to people who are being self-directed consumers and looking for a bargain. I know that I am without question a self-directed consumer. I use Amazon.com, Ksl.com, and Ebay.com on a daily basis. I use these websites to find good deals on products that I would like to purchase. Many of the products I find online are much cheaper than in the local stores. I seem to use Ksl.com more than any other website. I have bought and sold more things on Ksl.com than I can even remember. I have sold 3 cars and bought 2 off Ksl.com in the last 2 years. To me I am definitely a self-directed consumer. Now days I don’t know of many people who are not self-directed consumers, other than maybe my grandparents who don’t know how to properly use the Internet.

            Freidman explains that globalization means Americanization, but only in some ways. Not all of the things that have happened flattening the world have affected both globalization and Americanization. A lot of things have though, like American entertainers and American fast-food chains that were taking advantage of the flattening of the world. Freidman stated, “Globalization would have an American face, an American look, and an American Taste.” This meaning America was going to benefit from globalization and the flattening of the world.  

            This reading was very intriguing, but I really like the second essay question about self-directed consumers. This really described what I have been doing for the past few years. I never looked at it in this way until reading these chapters in the book. Freidman really puts his thoughts into a perspective that you can relate to and put your own thoughts around.

Module 6

Jayden Nyman

IST 1100

Module 6

            Freidman explains free trade by using David Ricardo’s theory which states, “If each nation specializes in the production of goods in which it has a comparative cost advantage and then trades with other nations for the goods in which they specialize, there will be an overall gain in trade, and overall income levels should rise in each trading country.” Freidman argues that Ricardo is right, and that more American individuals will benefit if we don’t erect barriers to outsourcing, supply chaining, and offshoring than if we were to allow the barriers. I believe that supply chaining is very important because it allows jobs to potentially be created. This is very important, and with lower trade barriers I would believe that jobs would be easier to come by. Free trade also creates more savings and investment opportunities because of the increase of money and profit that the trade brings in. This is very important because it allows for a better retirement, as well as allows America to give out higher paying jobs. I know that I will want to have benefited from a higher savings and investments when I’m ready to retire.

            Traits that would make up a “new middler” would be “special or specialized.” For example, Friedman says they are the “untouchables”, like Michael Jordan, or Madonna because they are very “specialized” and can’t be copied or matched. Like Michael Jordan, he is looked at as the best to ever play basketball. Not just anybody can copy what he has done, or ever will, this is why he is “specialized.” In order to be a “new middler”, they have to be classified with a middle class job, but only newer. Second are people who are localized and anchored. These people are considered “untouchables” because their jobs have to be done a specific way or in a specific area or place. This could be a plumber, or even your family dentist. The third category includes middle class jobs that would include things such as security analysis, or even radiology. Freidman called these the “old middle” jobs. These jobs are now fungible and tradable because of the ten flatteners, and many of the jobs are now under pressure from the flattening of the world.

            Describing the CQ plus PQ is greater than IQ is quite easy. Freidman describes IQ as the intelligence quotient, CQ as the curiosity quotient, and then PQ as the passion quotient. Friedman argues that IQ matters, but CQ and PQ matter even more. He gives an examples stating, “Give me a kid with passion to learn and a curiosity to discover and I will take him over a less passionate kid with a high IQ every day of the week.” I completely agree with his idea of the entire formula. Everything he said in this chapter makes sense, and I would definitely take the kid with passion and curiosity over someone with only a high IQ. Curiosity in some shape or form is what has lead to some of the great inventions that we have come to know and love. This is why the formula is very important, because we need curious and passionate people in our society working to create better more efficient ways of living.

            What I have read in these chapters has really engaged me to look farther into the essay questions. Free trade, “new middlers”, and CQ+PQ>IQ are all very important topics. These are all things that will help promote a better world around us, as well as change the way that our world operates for the greater good.

Module 5

Jayden Nyman

IST 1100

Module 5

            The triple convergence is when all ten of the worlds flatteners started to converge and work together, which created a new, flatter, global playing field. It was around the year 2000 that the flatteners began to converge. It was called triple convergence because there were 3 different ways that the flatteners converged together. In convergence I, a new global platform was created by combining all ten flatteners. What the platform did was allow us to communicate like we never could before. Convergence II was more related to the business aspect of globalization. The new global platform created from convergence I wouldn’t have been possible without changing the way that we do business. Friedman talked about what he called “horizontalization”, which he explains is practically what it takes to make a businesses process to change and become successful. Convergence is not something that happens over night, it takes time to develop, but Friedman states that it is happening much faster than we think and it’s happening globally. Convergence III consisted of billions of people who where previously locked out now being able to collaborate like they never could before. Friedman says that those who learn the habits, processes, and skills the fastest will win the race. With all the forms of collaboration tons of people from all over the world are now stepping into the competition.

            I believe that Indiana is the exploiter because they are exploiting the Indian workers. They are saving 8.1 million dollars by using their exploiting tactics. I don’t think there really is a fair way to have a right or wrong answer for this question though. They both believe that they caught the good end of the deal. Indiana saved the 8.1 million dollars so they would believe that they won, but the Indians were also in a good position because they were given the job. Because they were given the job, I would say that it is hard to pick a specific side and there is going to be multiple different opinions on this essay question. I do believe that Indiana is doing the state and United States wrong by not providing the jobs to American workers. Our country already struggles with unemployment and paying a different country to come in and do the job instead is a kick in the face. I am curious to see how all the different students will answer this.

            Intellectual Property in the simplest form is knowledge of a product that not meant to be spread for other people to know and share to other people. My father manages a pharmaceutical company where IP really comes into perspective for himself as well as the sales representatives. There are written agreements that state the company’s Intellectual Property. This is important because if companies didn’t have Intellectual Property then there ideas would be spread to people from other companies. If the Intellectual Property was in the wrong hands then the competing company could release the specific new product before the original company had the chance. This puts the original idea out of perspective, and now the idea that was once with one company is now no longer available to them. Intellectual Property is something that is of major importance in the business world.

Jayden Nyman

Module 4

            I decided to interview a close neighbor for this assignment. She serves as the Director of Operations for Telehealth Services throughout the Intermountain system and participates in the development of system plans and execution of those plans across all the system hospitals. Telehealth Involves non-physician practitioners and includes the use of monitoring equipment with or without streaming data to a monitoring center and is supported by qualified nurses to act on the information. She is responsible for leading, managing and facilitating multiple Telehealth efforts. She collaborates with the Medical Director for Telehealth Services as well as other operational directors for the Medical Group and Clinical Programs and is responsible for ensuring that monitoring processes are designed, implemented, and executed to gather the appropriate data for measuring progress in line with ATP philosophy of TQM and GE style Six Sigma Lean Processes.

The reason her job falls under the Information Technology category is because she coordinates outsourced and offshore software development collaborations and consulting services, which is awesome because we have gone over this in The World is Flat book we are reading. The majority of what she does is creating software that is more organized and efficient for the doctors’ use. When I was interviewing her she explained to me what her team had just accomplished. To whoever reads this if you are familiar with Skype then think of it in that sense. A baby was born 4 weeks early, shortly after her birth their family medicine physician recognized that the baby could be suffering from a collapsed lung. The baby needed to be transported to another medical center after her condition got worse, but there just wasn’t time and something had to be done as soon as possible. This is when my amazing neighbor’s team comes into play. Her Intermountain team had installed the Teleservices equipment just days before the baby’s incident. By using the equipment their family doctor was able to communicate by video with an experienced neonatologist. The neonatologist was able to watch and consult in real time during the procedure to ensure success. Soon after the operation, the baby was able to return home healthy. This is truly incredible to me, what her team was able to create is going to be a life changer. In 2014-2015 the Teleservices they created are going to expand enterprise wide.

What I learned from the interview with my neighbor is that a lot of jobs in Information Technology have a real purpose. She was able to save the life of that newborn baby. A career that can be as rewarding as that without the stress of performing the actual surgery seems stunning. After looking at what she accomplished, as well as what she is working to accomplish everyday, has made me seriously consider a job in her field. I would love to be able to save people’s lives, as well as design software for doctors and patients to be able to use to their advantage. My neighbor offered to take me into work with her sometime to really see what she does, which made me even more interested. Besides saving lives she makes a lot of money and loves what she does. She did not have a negative thing to say about her job. She loves that she doesn’t have to travel, has every weekend off as well as holidays. She also mentioned that she has more vacation time then she knows what to do with. I love going on trips so this would be to my advantage. This assignment has really been of great benefit to me, and I believe will help me better decide what I want to get my degree in.