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Computer-Mediated Communication and Globalization: ConsideringSocial, Academic, and Business FactorsBy Ashley R. Norris2012, VOL. 4 NO. 02 | PG. 1/1“Most of us are surrounded by communication channels and tools thatkeep us constantly connected to sources ofinformation and people in our communities” (Thurlow, Lengel, &Tomic, 2004, p.83). The current communication channelclaiming responsibility for a large portion of this information andcontact is computer-mediated. One of the most significantfunctions of computer-mediated communication (CMC) is itscontribution to globalization. Over the past decade, theconcepts of computer-mediated communication and globalization havebecome synonymous. This synergy has allowedComputer-mediated communication and globalization to thrive whenapplied to social, academic, and business-relatedsituations.Computer-Mediated Communication DefinedComputer-mediated communication is “communication that takes placebetween human beings via the instrumentality ofcomputers” (Thurlow, Lengel, & Tomic, 2004, p.83).Computer-mediated communication is a widely accepted conceptthathas been appropriately applied to illustrate the communicationprocess “occurring via a computer terminal and acommunication network such as the Internet” (Alexander, Dawson,& Ichharam, 2006, p.241). As a result of theconvenience and flexibility this channel provides, CMC can beeffectively used to orchestrate a variety of communicationsituations. In addition to the ability to communicate on aninternational level, CMC has the ability to gather informationandconnect on an intercontinental level, a concept more specificallyreferred to as globalization.Globalization DefinedThe term globalization was coined in the 1980’s to encapsulate theoccurrence of developing interconnectedness ofworld’s population (Cissna, 2009, p.257). This interconnectednesshas led to an increased interest in globalization.Globalization is not a recently developed concept. However, therapidly increasing access to the Internet has broadenedits reach and intensified its pace. According to Friedman (2010)the first version of globalization, or globalization 1.0,started when Christopher Columbus discovered that the world wasround. The second version of globalization orglobalization 2.0 began during the industrial revolution, and thefinal version, globalization 3.0 started in early 2000.Globalization 3.0 coupled with computer-mediated communicationestablished a concrete communication networkdevoted to advancing social connectedness, accessing academicinformation, and dominating the business world. Inaddition to these main functions of globalization andcomputer-mediated communication, Friedman (2010) has deducedthat with each version of globalization, the world gets smaller andmore connected. Cissna (2009) continues to build uponFriedman’s theory of globalization by emphasizing the importance ofdeveloping and maintaining global relationships.Since the beginning of time people have continuously spreadthroughout the planet in an effort to build and strengthenrelationships extending across the globe. The increasingly advancedtechnology has enabled people around the world tolink up with superior speed and ease. One of the newly popularcommunication technologies spreading across the globeis wireless Internet. “Wireless technologies pumped upcollaboration, making it mobile and personal” (Baltzan, 2009,p.4).One of the main reasons technology and wireless Internet has becomea great success is because of the advanced levelof convenience and personalization associated with the newlypopular innovation. As a result of these innovations, socialnetworking sites have grown in popularity.Social FactorsSocial networking sites such as Linkedin and Facebook have added tothe development of global relationships. Thesesocial networking sites allow members to create a profile page foreither a professional or more routine channel ofcommunication. These sites encourage users to build a list offriends or contacts, allowing them to stay in touch withfriends and family both across the country and across the globe.Over the past few years, social networking sites havegrown in popularity and expanded their target market considerably.When these sites were first introduced, they weredesigned to draw in college students. However, the exclusivity ofthese sites did not last long, as high school, middleschool, and elementary school students began to inundate thesesites. Despite the original intentions of these networkingsites, the profiles extended to students of all ages, theirparents, and even their grandparents. In addition to socialnetworking sites that allow people of all ages to connect on aglobal level, there are also computer-mediated programssuch as Skype that allow for face-to-face communication. Similar tothat of social networking sites, this technologicalinnovation has also reached a variety of generations. Thesetechnologies are no longer solely used by college studentswho want to keep in touch with their friends back home, now theyare used by grandparents who want to keep in touchwith their grandchildren, friends and family members who livehundreds or thousands of miles apart, and a variety of othercomputer-mediated situations that warrant face-to-facecommunication. Over the past decade these networking sitesandother forms of communication technology have allowed users to buildand preserve social relationships through computermediatedcommunication.Academic FactorsIn addition to developing and maintaining these intercontinentalrelationships, communication technologies allow anindividual to further their academic career. As technologyprogresses, more students are deciding to take classes orentiredegree programs online. Taking classes or receiving a degree onlinehas allowed students to create their own schedulesor work around an existing one. This has opened the door to furthereducation for individuals who work full time or thosewho care for their children during the day, and especially forthose individuals who are attempting to balance work, family,and their education. The previous illustration demonstrates howcomputer-mediated communication has evolved over thepast decade. As a direct result of computer-mediatedcommunications’ success, globalization has developed abroadermeaning and usage.Business-related FactorsThe increasingly broad range of computer-mediated communication andglobalization has made it possible to connectwith people across the globe. The rapidly rising success ofcommunication technology has made it easier to communicatesocially and academically. However, this technology has also madeit possible for businesses to communicate on anintercontinental level. According to Rud (2009) “Many companies arehiring top technical and business talent from aroundthe globe equipping them to work virtually to save on travel”(p.47). Businesses and organizations are investing indifferentforms of communication technology in order to connect withco-workers and other organizations on an international and anintercontinental level. Two forms of communication technologiesthat a variety of businesses and organizations value arenet conferences and teleconferences. Net conferences are businessconferences that are mediated electronically via anetwork of computers and teleconferences allow business andorganizations to connect and collaborate with videocapabilities that allow for information and file sharing.Businessestypically identify similar strengths when it comes toassessing teleconferences. These strengths include an excellentmethod for information sharing and routine meetings, theparticipants may pay more attention to what is being communicated,and this method is more cost effective than makingtravel arrangements for a face-to-face meeting. In addition to themany advantages of teleconferences, there are alsosome challenges. “The highly technical and global nature ofbusiness today presents specific communication challenges”(Rud, 2009, p.47). Perhaps the most overwhelming challengeassociated with this technology is the increased difficultyreading and interpreting facial expressions and body language. Thislack of non-verbal cues may limit communication andmay make people uncomfortable. However, a well-trained moderatorcan greatly enhance the technological experience.“We live in the information age, when infinite quantities of factsare widely available to anyone who can use a computer”(Baltzan, 2009, p.4). The majority of the people across the globecan be easily placed within these parameters, whether itis a mother and son keeping in touch, a college student trying tofurther their education, or a company attempting toexpand their reach. Computer-mediated communication hosts a widerange of communication that passes through variouschannels in an effort to communicate on a global scale. In aneffort to increase globalization through computer-mediatedcommunication, individuals from across the globe are beginning toutilize communication technology. This technologyserves a variety of purposes, three of which are especiallypertinent. Social, academic, and business relatedcomputermediatedcommunication has opened the door to globalization allowing auniversal interconnectedness of the world’spopulation.(Source:http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/article ... tors//Date Accessed 24th July 2021)Answer ALL the questions in this section.
QUESTION 1 (20 Marks)Give a critical account of Triggers ofInternationalization/Globalization in the context of thepassage,citing examples ofyour own.