Today I read an article, "It's a Flat World, After all" appeared in the book called, Emerging global cultures. Actually, this is a text for my anthropology class. The reason why I read this article is that this is my assignment for that class. In the article, "It's a Flat World, After all", the author, Thomas Friedman mainly talks about today's globalization and insists that world is becoming similar because of spreadout of high technology in the world. Based on his experience, vising india in 2004, he strongly believes that industrializing countries such as India and China will be great threats to the United States in the future because of having ability to use more high technologies by using the internet more than ever before. And he thinks this tendency will ends the era of American emperialism and makes to equalize the power, espeically contol information and high technology among the nations. In short, by his own perspective, massive people from all over the world are strong competitors to each other and we will live so-called, "endless conpetitive era" later in the future.
After I read this article, some disagreements erupted from my mind that is different from Friedman's. I admit that world became similar and more people can access the internet and have oppotunites to develop their own talent by using several kinds of high technologies. However, this is also a story for the part of the world, not the whole world. As an example, even though fast growing industrializing nations such as India and China have drmatically developed during the last decade, there are still tremendous number of poor people there. In fact, the place where Friedman visitied is one of the most fast growing cities in the world. Also, the people whom he met are all either C.E.O.s of certain companies and successful businessmen in their own fields. Therefore, it is unfair to say "World is flat" by having those same kinds of people.
If we look at India and China more in depth, most parts of their lands are full of poor and uneducated people who need help except some rich and educated people who live in a big city such as Bangalore and Shanghai. That is, I do not agree with the point that "World is flat" as he mentioned. Personally, I believe that it is somehow true what he mentioned in the article, but it is not as much as he thinks. We rather have to focus on more about helping poor people who can not be benefitted by today's high civilization and ultimately make them as the most talented people in the world later in the future.
Wednesday, February 28, 2007
Tuesday, February 27, 2007
Costco is giving up its competitive advantage!
I read the article, "Costco tightens return policy on electronic", appeared on the internet website, http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/17350641/. This article mainly talks about the change of Costco's return policy that it will allow to give customers only 90 days to return televisions, computers, cameras, camcorders, portable music players and cell phones. According to the article, the reason is that many customers are taking advantage of having six month to get full refund. By giving too long period time to use Costco's product, Costco is actually experiencing difficulties such as providing newer product for less price and big cost drops by returning of older item. In order to avoid these situations, Costco starts to post new return policy on its website and plans to activate it gradually in a short period of time. Along with that, Costco also plans to provide more technical support and extend its warranties in order to prevent possible serious complaint from its old customers.
When I read this article, I felt that we are going to lose "Costco" that we used to know. Costco has been very successful during the last several years because of its generous return policy, lower price, and good quality of product. However, Costco is now giving up one of its core conpetencies in order to prevent loss of sales caused by practicing too generous return policies. Personally, I do not think it is a good idea. It is true that Costco might lose some sales because of customers who want to use its return policy in order to take their own advantage. However, by changing its generous return policy which has been parcticed since long time ago, many customers will feel betrayal. Because they used to enjoyed its return policy but they can not enjoy it any longer from now. In reality, Costco might lose some customers because of changing its return policy. Guess what? Costco will eventually experience even more loss of sales by losing those loyal customers. I hope Costco to keep its competitive advantage, generous return policy, as it was to prosper its business even more than ever before.
When I read this article, I felt that we are going to lose "Costco" that we used to know. Costco has been very successful during the last several years because of its generous return policy, lower price, and good quality of product. However, Costco is now giving up one of its core conpetencies in order to prevent loss of sales caused by practicing too generous return policies. Personally, I do not think it is a good idea. It is true that Costco might lose some sales because of customers who want to use its return policy in order to take their own advantage. However, by changing its generous return policy which has been parcticed since long time ago, many customers will feel betrayal. Because they used to enjoyed its return policy but they can not enjoy it any longer from now. In reality, Costco might lose some customers because of changing its return policy. Guess what? Costco will eventually experience even more loss of sales by losing those loyal customers. I hope Costco to keep its competitive advantage, generous return policy, as it was to prosper its business even more than ever before.
Monday, February 26, 2007
PowerPoint Is Evil
Is PowerPoint really evil? I do not think so. In other words, I strongly disagree with Edward Tufte. In the article, he mainly talks about possible disruptions of using powerpoint when one makes a presentation. As an example, too many visual aids can cause negative effects to the audience regarding undestanding of the content. Also, some other effects such as noisy sound and moving characters can harm the audience to concentrate on the content. I know what he is saying but I believe those effects are actually helpful for the audience to understand what a presenter want the audience know. The reason is that those effects make the audience more aware of the content and let them know the importance of it. In reality, espeically these days, many people prefer to use a Microsoft Powerpoint because of not only its convinience but also its effectiveness of explaining the content to the audience. Personally, I can undertand and concentrate to the content more when a presenter has a well-designed powerpoint slides. I also admit the argument that some people insist the ability of a presenter is matter not ppt slides. However, in my opinion, powerpoint slides at least help us to know about the content more in addition to a presenter's explanation.
On the other hand, even though I mostly disagree with him, I agree with him on one point that use of powerpoint slides can cause negative effects to children. I believe high shcool and college level are fine to use ppt slides anytime if a presenter think it is needed. However, I think it is better to recommend lower than those levels such as middle school and elementary school not to use powerpoint slides. The main reason is that they are the one who started to study basic materials so they should have an ability to write anything in order to express what they know.
Either high school and college level students are considered to know the materials so it is ok to focus more on look nice and how effectively they can present those. But, young children should learn to write what they know first. If they are not educated like that, they might not be able to presnet what they know exactly when they become either high school or college level. In fact, I personally think young children should follow traditional way of learning.
Overall, each level has its own best way to learn and express the content. Therefore, it is not an issue to argue whether use of powerpoint slides is good or bad. We should rather focus on the right way of using it and develop it continuously as we wish to use.
On the other hand, even though I mostly disagree with him, I agree with him on one point that use of powerpoint slides can cause negative effects to children. I believe high shcool and college level are fine to use ppt slides anytime if a presenter think it is needed. However, I think it is better to recommend lower than those levels such as middle school and elementary school not to use powerpoint slides. The main reason is that they are the one who started to study basic materials so they should have an ability to write anything in order to express what they know.
Either high school and college level students are considered to know the materials so it is ok to focus more on look nice and how effectively they can present those. But, young children should learn to write what they know first. If they are not educated like that, they might not be able to presnet what they know exactly when they become either high school or college level. In fact, I personally think young children should follow traditional way of learning.
Overall, each level has its own best way to learn and express the content. Therefore, it is not an issue to argue whether use of powerpoint slides is good or bad. We should rather focus on the right way of using it and develop it continuously as we wish to use.
Friday, February 23, 2007
My Writing Process
The first thing that I do whenever I get a writing assignment is brainstorming. I usually write down anything that relates to the topic on separate piece of paper. It could be words, sentences, or even pictures. After that I make a outline that might be helpful when I write an essay. Most of time, I correct many parts of it while I am writing so my final version is always totally different from the outline that I actually planned to do so.
Next, I start to write an introduction. Personally, I usually spend a bit of time to write an introduction. The reason is that I believe introduction should include all things that I am going to talk in later body paragraphs and should be interesting enough to grab the readers' interests. Because of my writing style, my introduction is usually longer than others.
After I finish the introduction, I start put down topic sentences of each body paragraph in order and do some research or try to understand clealry about the topic in order to support them effectively by using persuasive supporting details. Again, I usually make corrections that are different from what I originally planned to use when I keep writing.
Finally, in conlusion, I summarize all points that I have shown above body paragraphs and try to show the relationships between the thesis and supporting points in order to make sure whether those are persuasive or not. This is not just a summary of points in body section but more like rephrasing the meaning of them. Then, I usually use a meaningful proverb or message that would appeal to the readers when I complete my essay.
Next, I start to write an introduction. Personally, I usually spend a bit of time to write an introduction. The reason is that I believe introduction should include all things that I am going to talk in later body paragraphs and should be interesting enough to grab the readers' interests. Because of my writing style, my introduction is usually longer than others.
After I finish the introduction, I start put down topic sentences of each body paragraph in order and do some research or try to understand clealry about the topic in order to support them effectively by using persuasive supporting details. Again, I usually make corrections that are different from what I originally planned to use when I keep writing.
Finally, in conlusion, I summarize all points that I have shown above body paragraphs and try to show the relationships between the thesis and supporting points in order to make sure whether those are persuasive or not. This is not just a summary of points in body section but more like rephrasing the meaning of them. Then, I usually use a meaningful proverb or message that would appeal to the readers when I complete my essay.
Sunday, February 18, 2007
My name is Sung! (About Myself...)
My name is Sung and I am senior year at San Jose State University. Actually I was born in Seoul, South Korea and I moved to San Jose in 2002. The first thing that I did after I moved to here is taking some English classes in SAL (Studies in American Language) which is located in the second street. As I keep stuying English for few months, I got enough TOEFL score in order to get into community college in May. After that, I applied De Anza college and studied there for three years. Then I transfered back to San Jose State University in 2005 Fall school year where I used to hang around five years ago. After I transfered to SJSU, I had in mind majoring in accounting at the beginning. However, after losing interest in that field, I decided to change my major into management. Now I am satisfied with my major and am enjoying my college life here. I am planning to graduate within this year and hoping to get a job here in U.S.
As most people have their own hobbies, I also have hobbies. When I was young, I loved to play bsketball. Actually, I was pretty good at it but I seldom play basketball these days because I got serious back surgery few years ago. I also like to go to see a movie and travel many places. As an example, I used to go to see a movie every weekend when I was in college. Sometimes I just download the movies and watch those by my laptop but it is more exciting to watch movie in a theater with my friends. In addition, I love to travel. When I was in South Korea, I have visited many places in S. Korea and also went four European countries including Italy, Swiss, France, and Great Britatin when I was in high school. Since 2002, after I moved to the United States, I have been to many places in California including S.F., L.A., San diego, sacramento, Yosemite, Reno, and Lake Tahoe. Furthermore, I traveled East coast and middle parts of the United States as well during the five years: New York, Chicago, Washington, Yellowstone National Park, Salt Lake City, and some other cities located in fourteen different states in America. The main reason why I like to travel is that I can learn many things from people who live in other places in the earth sharing different lifestyles that are different from mine. I am so glad to be here in U.S. and have a chance to experience all these things. If it is possible, I want to travel some other places in the earth internationally later on. Then, finally, I want to use those experiences by learning different cultures and ways of thoughts when I get into the real business world after I gradudate.
As most people have their own hobbies, I also have hobbies. When I was young, I loved to play bsketball. Actually, I was pretty good at it but I seldom play basketball these days because I got serious back surgery few years ago. I also like to go to see a movie and travel many places. As an example, I used to go to see a movie every weekend when I was in college. Sometimes I just download the movies and watch those by my laptop but it is more exciting to watch movie in a theater with my friends. In addition, I love to travel. When I was in South Korea, I have visited many places in S. Korea and also went four European countries including Italy, Swiss, France, and Great Britatin when I was in high school. Since 2002, after I moved to the United States, I have been to many places in California including S.F., L.A., San diego, sacramento, Yosemite, Reno, and Lake Tahoe. Furthermore, I traveled East coast and middle parts of the United States as well during the five years: New York, Chicago, Washington, Yellowstone National Park, Salt Lake City, and some other cities located in fourteen different states in America. The main reason why I like to travel is that I can learn many things from people who live in other places in the earth sharing different lifestyles that are different from mine. I am so glad to be here in U.S. and have a chance to experience all these things. If it is possible, I want to travel some other places in the earth internationally later on. Then, finally, I want to use those experiences by learning different cultures and ways of thoughts when I get into the real business world after I gradudate.
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