Concrete Evidence of Global Warming

The Earth's average temperature IS rising, as the average temperature has increased by about 1 degree Fahrenheit (0.6 degrees Celsius) around the world.

More evidence that the Earth's average temperature has increased recently can be seen in the spring ice thaw and fall ice freeze: The spring ice thaw in the Northern Hemisphere occurs 9 days earlier than it did 150 years ago, while the fall ice freeze begins 10 days later than it used to.

Since weather record-keeping began in the mid-1800s, the 1990s was the warmest decade recorded. The hottest years include 1998, 2002, 2003, 2001, and 1997.

The multinational Arctic Climate Impact Assessment (ACIA) report has recently concluded that average temperatures in Alaska, western Canada, and eastern Russia have increased by 4-7 degrees Fahrenheit (3-4 degrees Celsius) in the last 50 years, which is nearly twice the global average.

In the U.S.'s northernmost city, Barrow, Alaska, the average temperature has increased by over 4 degrees Fahrenheit (2.5-3 degrees Celsius) in just the last 30 years.

The United Nations' Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) is projecting that global temperatures will rise another 3-10 degrees Fahrenheit (1.6-5.5 degrees Celsius) by the end of the 21st century.

Rising temperatures have caused Arctic Sea ice to shrink by nearly 30% since 1978, and it has also thinned the remaining ice as well. ACIA predicts that at least half of the Arctic's summer sea ice will melt by 2100, and that the Arctic region will increase in temperature by 7-13 degrees Fahrenheit (4-7 degrees Celsius) during that same time span.

Greenland's massive ice sheet has enough melt water to raise the sea level by about 23 feet (about 7 meters.) ACIA projects that that sheet will experience significant melting throughout the 21st century.

Large amounts of the Earth's fresh water supply is tied up in the world's many melting glaciers.

Montana's Glacier National Park had 150 glaciers when it was created in 1910; in the early 21st century, it now has less than 30 greatly shrunken glaciers. Tropical glaciers have been reduced even more, as evidenced by Tanzania's Mount Kilimanjaro - its 19,340-foot (5,895-meter) peak has melted by around 80% since 1912 and could be totally gone by 2020.

According to the IPCC, the average global sea level has risen 4-8 inches (10-20 cm) over the past 100 years. Their 2001 report is projecting that sea levels could rise anywhere from 4 to 35 inches (10 to 89 cm) by 2100.

This could greatly affect coastal dwellers, as a 1.5 foot (50-centimeter) sea level rise in flat coastal areas would cause a typical coastline retreat of 150 feet (50 meters.) In addition, there are 100 million people worldwide that are living within 3 feet (1 meter) of mean sea level, which means that a rise of just 4 inches (10 centimeters) could promote flooding in many South Sea islands, as well as the U.S. states of Florida and Louisiana.

Global warming could have an effect on the ocean's circulation system, known as the ocean conveyor belt. The conveyor belt moderates global temperatures by moving tropical heat around the planet, but an influx of freshwater from melting ice caps, for example, could cause unforeseen and possibly fast-paced change to the circulation system.

Climate models suggest that global warming could cause more frequent and more extreme weather conditions, including more intense hurricanes and storm surges affecting coastal communities, while heat waves, fires, and drought become more common.

Increased industrialization and shrinking forests since the 1860s have helped raise the atmosphere's carbon dioxide (CO2) level by almost 100 parts per billion, which has led to an increase in Northern Hemisphere temperatures, especially since the 1950s.

In the Arctic, for instance, coastal indigenous communities report shorter periods of sea ice, which no longer temper ocean storms and their destructive coastal erosion. Increased snow and ice melt have raised river levels, while thawing permafrost has caused havoc with roads and other infrastructure. This has forced some communities to move away from historic coastline locations.

Studies show that many European plants are now flowering a week earlier and losing their leaves 5 days later than they did in the 1950s.

Biologists have determined that many birds and frogs are breeding earlier in the season. In addition, a study of 35 non-migratory butterfly species shows that two-thirds of them are now heading 2-150 miles farther north than they did 20 years ago.

There are several signs of global warming in the present day. It is likely that there will be more signs as time passes if we continue in our current ways, which could lead to major changes for all of us in the way we live on Earth.

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Global Warming Debate: How To Save Our Planet

As the human race evolves, technology is developing and rapidly coming to our aid in solving most of our modern dilemmas. Dilemmas which cover a wide range of issues, from simple challenges such as improving the composition of paper-based products to the big global-impact issues of providing a higher standard of living and the state of our planet.

One of the key international subjects which regularly tops political agendas is Global Warming. But inspite of all the rhetoric there is generally minimal headway made in moving to resolve the issue, to the huge disappointment of the world's population.

Electioneering monopolises the debate in most cases and the serious environmental issue gets pushed into the background.

Further secondary issues are created and the main problem worsened by intransigence.

On every occasion the topic is discussed, vehement discussions ensue from politicians who swan around in large expensive cars, which hoover through the gas, and release massive volumes of smog into the air.

No one wants to stand up and be counted and spearhead the solution.

And there is actually no stimulus for them to do so. Conservative politics amply compensates them.

Politics aside, the future, however, looks rosier with further discoveries being made in ways of detecting what causes ozone damage and pinpointing causes of global warming caused by humans.

Solutions range in scope from cleaner and gentler chemicals, to challenging the very foundations of "green" power.

A well-documented move is car-makers getting into the swing of helping save the planet by producing hybrid vehicles, which cause less damage to the environment, consume less fuel, oil and other toxic substances, and rate lower for emissions.

What we really need now is a major change in thinking by Western society, and widespread recognition of the problems we are facing in order to change this situation.

Manufacturers are being persuaded to change their approach by governments who are offering them incentives such as tax breaks to produce cleaner, "greener" items.

Finding ways to lower carbon emissions rates for cars is a must, and it is good to see that the tax incentives are gradually expanding to include other types of manufacturers, so that they too can experience similar benefits in return for changing to cleaner and more energy efficient methods of production.

But does all of this actually benefit all of us in the long run?

Are governments really looking after the interests of their citizens by offering these sweeteners to the big industrial conglomerates?

It is true that many people are all for encouraging programs that promote the use of cleaner power, and less environmentally hazardous chemicals, especially since less "green" methods and chemicals tend to be more costly.

But your average taxpayers are not managing to reap the benefits of trying to switch to a "greener" lifestyle when they examine their own budgets.

Electrical companies are starting to offer "green blocks" of power for sale to consumers, but these blocks are for purchase additional to the normal household power bill, and do not offer savings on the next months bill in exchange for buying the blocks.

Something is way out of balance here: major manufacturers are being co-erced with tax breaks and incentives to develop cleaner methods of operating, but millions of households are not getting that same encouragement.

A positive move to help global warming, would be to create a reward scheme to recognise the small but important things that every household could and often does, easily do such as save power at home.

A simple incentive scheme would lead to millions of watts of power being saved annually.

The amount of power needed world-wide would then be a fraction of current consumption rates, giving power companies the opportunity to participate in cleaning up large areas of industrial wasteland, instead of merely the handful of disused and derelict manufacturing areas they clean up currently.

It would be a fantastic idea to decontaminate smog-ridden towns, and reduce energy usage, so that resources from the earth are not burned relentlessly to supply energy we do not really need.

All the little things that we can do, when magnified globally, would help arrest the annual toll of destruction caused to the ozone layer, and would considerably slow the damage that we earthlings are causing to our very finest asset, our planet.

It is not solely the government or solely the people who should be landed with sorting out this environmental mess.

We all have the power to make individual changes; but it needs the concerted efforts of the whole human race to make the major transformations our planet so desperately craves.

Make a start today: Click the link below if you would like a tree planted in your name (free offer):

http://supergreendiscounts.com/index2.php?sid=129274

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Global warming prevention

Global warming refers to the Earth’s air and oceans gradually heating up to a point that disrupts balance, a problem that is continually getting worse. It sounds like a problem too massive for any one individual to take on, but it really isn’t. Combining any few of these suggestions can make more of a dramatic effect than most people understand. The goal is to emit less carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. Delicious Reddit Stumble Upon Facebook Google Flag Article Instructions Difficulty:  Easy Step

1. Drive less. Take bikes, walk or carpool whenever possible.
2. Consider investing in a hybrid or electric vehicle to help prevent against further global warming.
3. Replace all the lightbulbs in and around your home with energy-efficient fluorescents that use fewer watts for the same amount of light.
4. Clean or replace your filters monthly.
5. Choose energy-efficient appliances when it's time to buy new ones.
6. Decrease your air travel.
7. Wash clothes in cold water and line-dry whenever possible.
8. Use a low-flow showerhead, which will lessen the hot water used but not drop your water pressure in the shower.
9. Cut down on your garbage—buy fewer packaged materials to prevent further global warming.
10. Unplug electronics when they are not in use, because they still take up energy. At the very least, turn items off when they’re not being used.
11. Run the dishwasher and clothes washer only when you have a full load, and if available, use the energy-saving setting.
12. Insulate your home better, and don’t forget to repair or replace worn caulking or weather-stripping. Insulate your water heater.
13. Buy recycled paper products and recycle as much of your waste as possible.
14. Bring your own reusable canvas grocery bags when grocery shopping.
15. Plant a tree.
16. Have an energy audit done on your home so you can find the trouble areas and fix them.
17. Use nontoxic cleaning products.
18. Shop locally for food. A farmer’s market is an excellent place to visit. And choose fresh food over frozen foods. Fresh takes less energy to produce.
19. Keep your car tuned up, and check tire pressure often to save gas.
20. Eat less meat and more organic foods in your diet to do your part in preventing global warming.

www.globalwarming-prevention.com

Global warming prevention

Global Warming and Ockham's Razor

In the Fourteenth Century, a Franciscan friar named William of Ochkam proposed a new way of looking at the world. Known today as "Ockham's Razor," his approach tried to cut through the complexities and convolutions of the Scholastic school of philosophy by suggesting that all else being equal, the simplest explanation for a phenomenon is probably the correct one.

Like many other dangerous thinkers of the Renaissance--including such impious malcontents as Galileo and Copernicus--William of Ockham was ultimately charged with heresy. This fate is all too familiar to anyone who has tried bringing logic to bear upon arguments that are being waged emotionally. And, unfortunately, charges of heresy are not mere relics of history. We see similar charges made today against many whose only crime is being on the wrong side of a political debate--some of which are questions that, like the conception of the Universe in earlier days, are questions of science rather than matters of faith.

Our Place in the Universe: The Renaissance Confronts Copernicus

In the days of Copernicus, conventional wisdom placed the Earth at the center of the Universe (since God would never place us anywhere else), since every object in the heavens moved around us in the sky.

But astronomers could tell that the paths taken by the planets seemed to move in uneven patterns across the sky--some, weaving their way through the night sky, while others occasionally crossed their own pathways while performing slow-motion loops. In the days before satellites and advanced rocket science, this offered two alternative explanations to the people of the Renaissance:

Alternative A (favored by Copernicus and Galileo): If the Sun is in the center--and all the planets rotate around the Sun, rather than the Earth--then everything lines up, and the planets' motions are explained.

Alternative B: If the Earth is in the center of the Universe, then for some reason not mentioned in the Bible, the planets are whirling in circles as they move around the Earth.

The conclusion suggested by Ockham's Razor is that either the Sun is in the middle, or something is missing from the puzzle that we don't understand.

The conclusion of the Church--the political Orthodoxy of the day--was that since we were obviously the center of Creation, the subject was not open to debate and the astronomers were obviously heretics for suggesting otherwise.

From our perch in the 21st Century, we scoff at the early Church for its pronouncements, and salute Galileo and Copernicus for their vision and dedication to scientific truth.

But we don't have to look far to see that while we are more scientifically advanced than our Renaissance ancestors, we haven't learned much from their experience. For proof, we only need to look at one of today's hottest issues--the heat generated by our concerns over global warning.

Modern Geocentrism: Global Warming

Today, there seems to be some evidence that our climate is gradually getting warmer. Politicians--in the world of Science, as well as Politics--assure us that they have identified the cause...that the cause is us...and that dire consequences will follow from failing to take immediate steps to stop it. In addition, selected groups of scientists having issued proclamations on the subject, the solution to the problem happens to be beyond further scientific inquiry as well...and anyone who denies these obvious truths wants us all to die.

History tells us that the Medieval Warming Period, which began about the 9th Century, lasted for about four hundred years, even though much of it is undocumented by a written historical record (owing, alas, to the limitations imposed by the Dark Ages). This was followed by a Little Ice Age that lasted from the 1400s until the 1800s, a time of intense cold and advancing glaciers and polar ice caps. And since the 1800s, our climate has been gradually warming. As of the early 21st Century, some of the polar ice on Earth appears to be melting, and glaciers are receding in many areas around the globe. It also seems that polar ice may be receding on the Planet Mars, and recent photographs of the Red Planet suggest that a flowing liquid--perhaps even water--was present on its surface within geologically recent times. In this modern age of satellites and advanced rocketry, this provides two alternative hypotheses for us to consider, with respect to changes in our climate:

Alternative A: Earth's climate changes over time, and it looks like polar ice is disappearing on both the Earth and Mars. Perhaps something common to both, like the Sun, is the cause.

Alternative B: Humans pollute, and have a dominating impact on their surroundings. Therefore, we are the cause of global warming. Something else must be affecting Mars.

The conclusion suggested by Ockham's Razor is that we should study the effects of the Sun--particularly whether the Earth's climate is affected by small variations in the Sun's output of energy. Once we know this, we may be able to learn what effect humans may be having with respect to global temperatures.

The conclusion of today's Political Orthodoxy appears to be that humans are obviously the cause of a changing global climate, the matter is beyond debate, and anyone who suggests otherwise is obviously a heretic (and, if the heretic is a meteorologist or other scientist, someone whose credentials should be revoked).

Cooling Down the Debate

In today's political climate, our concerns over global warming share many of the characteristics that led the Church to condemn the early astronomers. We have imperfect knowledge about our subject, and strong emotions affect our perceptions. We also have forgotten that we are, in many respect, still just big apes. We are brighter and more curious than our cousins, perhaps, but we are just as prone to get into trouble. And we are just as likely to get so excited about some grand occurrence or other that we often misplace what little sense we have, start beating our chests to show how important we are, and forget about using our brains.

Many suggestions advanced as weapons in the fight against global warming are, in themselves, quite sensible on their own merits. Pollution is not a good thing, after all, and most reasonable steps to contain it have much to commend them. But sounding alarm bells, or warning of apocalyptic events in the near future, does nothing to advance human knowledge and only confuses what we know with what we feel. It also overlooks the "inconvenient truth" that similar alarm bells sounded thirty years ago about an impending Ice Age...which proponents insisted was being brought about by the impact of humans on the planet that is our home. And in the turmoil, we seem to have forgotten that forty years before the Ice Age scare of the 1970s---in the depths of the Dust Bowl days in the 1930s---we were too concerned about living through the Great Depression to worry very much about why it seemed so hot.

Ockham's Razor is a principle of inquiry, not a scientific fact. It suggests a methodology for testing assumptions and analyzing the world but will not, by itself, tell which of several possible explanations is true. It only suggests a course to follow to seek out the truth...and reminds us that because there is much we do not know, we must always be open to new ways of looking at things. But its essential wisdom comes from realizing that complex explanations usually produce unworkable solutions, and that with simplicity comes understanding.

Humans will always have imperfect knowledge. This is as it should be, for the era that sees us lose our quest for knowledge will be the era that sees human society begin descending into another Dark Age. But we should never confuse fact with opinion, and we should always be open to the possibility that we are wrong. In the end, all that matters is the truth; in the thinking about our changing environment we should concentrate on the science of climate change, not on the politics.

For the rest, we should remember that thinking ourselves the center of creation usually leads to all sorts of mischief.

Problems With Global Warming Theory

Criticized for his unconventional views on climate change, one man had the courage to stand up against the scientific community and mainstream media. Believing that the "global warming" theory did not have enough evidence to support its claims; a scientist/weatherman risked his reputation and stood by his convictions. That man was John Coleman, founder of the Weather Channel.

According to John Coleman, billions of tax dollars are being wasted on an overhyped belief that the Earth is warming. Mr. Coleman also points out that skepticism by scientists who dispute this belief has been widely suppressed by the media.

Despite constant media attention, "global warming" is still just a theory. Quite the contrary, periods of global cooling are a fact of Earth's history that have come before and will come again. Although Mr. Coleman does not believe that either extreme is likely in our immediate future, an understanding of times when the Earth was cooler is essential in order to understand some of the fallacies of the mainstream view.

Although you will often hear the misleading argument that polar ice caps are melting, this argument fails to consider several important factors:


The best geological and climate data shows that ice sheets regularly grow and decline at predictable and sometimes unpredictable intervals. Mankind hasn't been studying climate long enough to know for sure what constitutes the "normal" decline of ice in between glaciation periods.
Biased climate reports of record highs often neglect to show record lows and unprecedented snow falls that occur throughout many areas - including states that are supposed to be part of the Sunbelt.
Many scientists disagree with the "global warming" theory including the 17,000 that signed a petition circulated by the Oregon Institute of Science and Medicine.
Despite predictions, some glaciers have actually increased in size in recent years.
Projections of "global warming" by the media and even scientists at times are often wildly exaggerated and based more on opinions and questionable computer models than actual historical data.
The whole premise of temperature increase is highly questionable on multiple accounts including the way readings are conducted (typically using unreliable ground-based readings), the amount of this increase (only 1 degree on average) and the manipulation of readings to cherry pick sample areas that best support the theory.
The belief that the industrial revolution has spurred on a warming trend conveniently overlooks the first 100 years of this period where Earth's temperatures actually cooled.
Current CO2 levels in our atmosphere are similar to what they were between 120,000 to 140,000 years ago during the Eemian Interglacial Period. After this brief warming trend, the climate reverted back to a full-fledged ice age!


Despite popular belief, CO2 or carbon dioxide is actually not a very strong greenhouse gas. In fact, carbon dioxide is beneficial to trees and plants which need this to survive. Our atmosphere also breaks down CO2 naturally as carbon dioxide is a necessary part of our eco-system.

Does this mean we should be complacent about vehicle and industrial emissions? Certainly not! Air pollution is air-pollution and those with self-serving agendas must be held accountable for actions that effect our environment.

The truth is, we really don't know exactly what the future will bring. Although it is theoretically possible the Earth might warm, it is also very possible just the opposite will occur or that the Earth may remain relatively stable for many millenniums to come. Extraordinary claims must be substantiated and not the result of conjecture. Without a full and unbiased model that shows all the evidence, such wild speculation has no place in science and only serves to reduce the credibility of climatologists and the legacy scientists of our time leave behind.


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environment|global warming & climate change

Global warming, as well as climate change, is a subject which demonstrates very little sign of cooling down.   Here's the lowdown on why it's happening, precisely what is causing it, and the way it might modify the planet.

Is It Taking place?


Truly. Earth is presently screening numerous symptoms of worldwide climate change.


• Average temperatures have climbed 1.4 degrees Fahrenheit (0.8 degree  Celsius) around the world since 1880, a lot of this in current decades,  in accordance with NASA's Goddard Institute for Space Studies.


• The rate of warming is increasing. The 20th century's last twenty years  have already been the hottest in 400 years plus possibly the warmest for several  millennia, relying on a range of climate studies. And the United  Nations' Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) reports that  11 of the past 12 years may be among the many dozen warmest since 1850.


• The Arctic is feeling the results by far the most.

Average temperatures in  Alaska, western Canada, plus eastern Russia have risen at twice the  global average, according to the multinational Arctic Climate Impact  Analysis report compiled between 2000 and 2004.


• Arctic ice is speedily disappearing, and then the region may have its first of all completely ice-free summer by 2040 or earlier. Polar bears and even indigenous cultures are already tormented by the sea-ice damage.


• Glaciers and mountain snows are quickly melting—for example, Montana's Glacier National Park currently possess solely 27 glaciers, versus 150 in 1910. Within the Northern  Hemisphere, thaws additionally come a week earlier in spring plus freezes initiate one week later.




Is Human beings Inflicting It?

The report, based on the work of some 2,500 scientists in more comparing to 130  nations, concluded that humans have triggered all or most of the most present  planetary warming. Human-caused global warming often is called  anthropogenic climate change.

• Industrialization, deforestation, as well as pollution have enormously extended  atmospheric concentrations of water vapor, carbon dioxide, methane, plus  nitrous oxide, entirely greenhouse gases which help entrap heat around Earth's  surface.


• Human beings are pouring carbon dioxide to the surroundings much quicker in comparison with plants plus oceans is able to absorb it.


• These gases persist inside the atmosphere for years, which means that even if such emissions are already eradicated today, it would not directly stop global warming.


• A few specialists point out that organic cycles in Earth's orbit is able to alter  the planet's exposure to sunlight, that may clarify the current trend.  Earth has actually experienced warming and cooling cycles generally every  hundred thousand years because of these orbital shifts, however the mentioned alterations  have occurred over the span of several centuries. Today's changes have  taken place in the last hundred years or fewer.





What is Going to Occur?


A follow-up describe warned that global warming could lead on to large-scale food and water shortages and also have catastrophic effects on animals.


• Sea level could climb among 7 and 23 inches (18 to 59 centimeters) by means of  century's end. Rises of only 4  inches (10 centimeters) may flood a number of South Seas islands and swamp  huge parts of Southeast Asia.





• Glaciers world wide could melt, causing sea levels to rise while  creating water shortages in parts depending on runoff for clean  water.


• Robust hurricanes, droughts, heat waves, wildfires, as well as other natural  disasters may turn out to be conventional in many parts on the planet. The growth  of deserts may also trigger food shortages in many different places.


• Over a million species face extinction from disappearing habitat, shifting ecosystems, and acidifying oceans

Truth Shocking Facts|Global Warming & Climate Change







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Global Warming Effects on Animals

Effects of global warming are already being felt on plant and animal species across the world; although the most dramatic effects may not be felt for decades, according to studies.

Climate variability and change can affect plants and animals in a number of ways; birds are laying eggs earlier in the year than usual, plants are blooming earlier and mammals are coming out of hibernation sooner than in previous decades. Distribution of animals is also affected; many species are moving closer to the poles as a response to the global temperature increasing. Birds are migrating and arriving earlier at their nesting grounds, and the nesting grounds that they are moving to are not as far away as they used to be and in some countries the birds don't even leave anymore, as the climate is suitable all year round.

These changes are not to harmful as long as the happen in a synchronized way, for example if butterflies emerge before the flowers they depend on for survival, then we could see many of the rarer, regional species being wiped out.

Geographic ranges of some plants and animals have shifted northward and upward in elevation.

A good example of this is the red fox; this species has moved north and is now getting close to the arctic fox's range, threatening its survival. Similar range shifts have also been observed within the United States in birds, mammals and plants.

The case of the red fox is interesting, but what if these animals can't move to cooler climates - huge safari parks in Africa home some of the rarest animals on the planet, including African Wild Dogs which are already close to extinction - where do these animals go? Are we in our efforts to protect then, really killing them?

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Think locally & Act globally

 

 

Think locally & Act globally.

 

Introduction:

Business

The term is also used in business strategy, where multinational corporations are encouraged to build local roots. This is sometimes expressed by converging the words "global" and "local" into the single word "glocal," a term used by several companies (notably Sony Corporation and other major Japanese multinationals) in their advertising and branding strategies in the 1980s and 1990s. “Think global, act local” is the strategy for companies of all shapes and sizes that have global aspirations. Generally, if your brand(s) is available in major markets and some minor ones (keeping in mind that corporations have different financial parameters for defining global brands) and is perceived as being universal by your consumers, then you’re competing globally. If not, you are a global wannabe.

Acknowledge your state and focus your time and attention on succeeding in your current geography. A global future will only be achieved by succeeding locally first.

If you already are competing globally, is the “think global, act local” strategy helping you achieve better results? From our perspective on implementing processes and programs the answer is “yes” for most global companies. But it’s time to evolve. Here are some thoughts about the strengths and vulnerabilities of global branding today and a new strategy to consider for tomorrow.

The Strengths

Clarity of purpose. Successful global brands strive to be unique, meaningful, and enduring to the target audience in current and potential markets. The right distinction establishes a powerful global foundation, which can be adapted to local wants and needs, resulting in a powerful localized message. With the world becoming smaller, a consistent global foundation allows consumers to easily find the brand they want wherever they are.

 

When a brand has identified its global difference, which can be defined as a distinctive benefit and a reason to believe the brand can deliver it, it has the foundation for consistent application. But market segmentation can reveal that the feelings consumers have about a promised benefit varies by target and geography. A brand can maximize its opportunity in virtually every locality by tailoring its message to the needs of local audiences.

Knowledge exchange. A global brand management system (GBMS) expands your geography and access to brand experts. Every geography counts as a test market for ideas and programs. Brand managers can assess what’s working and not working around the world, and apply that information in their own territory. In a GBMS, the number of individuals who intimately know the brand is multiplied and can be deployed for the advancement of any part or the whole.

We are working with a brand that was launched internationally before launching in the US. A successful US launch is now underway, thanks to open information sharing by the brand managers in the other countries. The US team has returned the favor by offering some evolved approaches to product range and packaging graphics.

 

The Vulnerabilities

Group-think. In the spirit of collaboration and achieving satisfaction among all geographic representatives, too many key brand decisions end up being “by committee” acts. The success of brand management over the years is due to having an owner of the brand, one person whose voice counts more than others, one person who marries the art of branding with the science of branding. This person makes the tough decisions to try bold programming that could either bomb or dramatically build the brand.

 

An effective GBMS must keep group-think in check. Dissension is important for the ultimate good of distinctiveness. Not every voice can or should have equal importance. It is imperative to carefully define what decisions must be made globally and who is the ultimate global decision maker. Similarly identify what decisions are most appropriately made at the local level and who the ultimate decision maker is there. A good place to start is by determining the desired results (wants) and critical success factors (needs) both globally and locally.

Communication without comprehension. Certain statements can mean different things to different people, whether they speak the same primary language or not. It is critical to check for understanding and intent within and outside your organization. Watch for universals in body language. Never hesitate to ask for clarification on every nuance. These subtleties are crucial to an effective GBMS and to ensure your consumers understand and are motivated by your message, no matter where they reside.

The Strategy

Capitalizing on clarity of purpose and knowledge exchange while watching out for group-think and communication-without-comprehension can contribute to the success of not only global brands, but local brands. However, our analysis of the strengths and vulnerabilities of GBMS reveals the shortcomings of the current strategy “think global, act local.” The interrelationship and interdependence between global and local suggests a revision: “think local, learn global, act global.” “Think local” because local is where every brand begins and ends. “Learn global” because a global view highlights what seems to be working and what needs to be improved. And finally, “act global,” which reflects a critical facet of global brand management today: the ability of local successes to drive global success and global success to drive local successes.

In a conversation the other day I was trying to describe some of my viewpoints and some of my aims. The person I was speaking to came back with, “sounds like the 'think global, act local' concept”. I agreed in short before a quick pause and then said, hold up. That is not what it is, it is exactly the opposite. While I greatly appreciate and support the 'think global, act local' movement, I definitely come to it from a different point of view.

 

If we spend all of our time thinking about things on a global scale (and it is wonderful to realize that our small footprints can have a large impact on the world as it exists beyond our typical site line), then we never really learn the intricacies of the multitude of varying 'locales' in the world. This is the problem with thinking globally, is that what exactly do we really know of the globe? How many of us have really been out and about it? Most likely our 'think global' concept comes from someone else's concepts, someone else's viewpoints. Not that this is all bad, but think about it in the terms of you letting someone else interpret the world for you and then giving that already digested info to you for your usage. The world as we see it is shaped entirely by the information that is presented to us after someone else has already picked and chosen how to see it and explain it.

 

Now think about it locally in your 'line of site.' You know the people, the culture, the norms, the generally accepted practices, the niceties, etc. You understand the area, you understand the people, and you know how they 'function'. Now think about humanity in general. We have an infinite amount of cultural nuances and variances, yet we all still wake up in the morning and all pretty much put one foot in front of the other, we look to eat, to keep ourselves clean and warm, search for company in others, etc. The world is not such a different or mysterious place, people like it when others are nice to them; they like to be able to control their own interactions with others, live in a secure setting, etc. On a grand scale these things make sense to us all as we ourselves are human, and we know what human emotions and situations feel like. Asking global offices to cede control over any area of their local operation and make the sweeping changes necessary to move to a global model is going to meet resistance. Therefore, the first prerequisite in the globalization Process is to get the buy-in and support of C-level management. Change of this scale and magnitude cannot be requested, it must be mandated. To ensure universal adoption, the orders must come from the very top. The variances really come in different ways of doing things, different cultural conclusions and different view points. So in this way I would say that what we really need to be doing is to be thinking about the local things that go on in the world – everywhere. We should all be striving to go to as many places as possible, to learn as many things as possible, and then try to draw our own larger ideas from this. We should figure out how it is that people all over the world do the same things and then try to find a global system that allows for the most inclusive and amicable system to allow people to be people. Take ideas from all over the world (not just the ones that are presented to us through they eyes of an opinionated journalist, an over educated academic, or an adgendaed politician), but those of local people, dealing with a multitude of locally unique, yet humanly similar, issues to those seen all over the world. There are some many brilliant ways of doing things that we don't even no about. We need to find them, search them out locally, and then try to incorporate them into our global ideas and actions.

 Instead of achieving the economy of scale of a global enterprise, many multinational corporations still function as a loose confederation of U.S. and foreign business interests, each with its own reporting systems, business practices and IT solutions. In a time when corporate accountability is under intense scrutiny, corporate financial officers must certify the performance of diversified holdings around the world without standardized processes or integrated information systems. Moreover, with scores of data silos around the world, companies operate with huge information blind spots. It can take weeks, even months, to collect, reconcile, translate and analyze a company's regional and overall performance. As one CFO ruefully put it, "What I get every fiscal quarter is a global headache." The situation is an outgrowth of outdated technology and business practices. For decades, the prevailing wisdom for companies expanding oversea was to: "Think Global/Act Local." This market theory was based on acculturation: the practice of customizing product and services for regional consumption in accordance with the local language(s), currency, culture and regulatory climate. Not surprisingly, localization encouraged each country of operation to develop its own customized IT solution and operational procedures. 

There is a difference between operating around the globe, and being global. Globalization refers to the process of streamlining and standardizing communications, business functions and management practices throughout the global organization. While the global offices remain sensitive to cultural and compliance issues in the markets they serve, the organization functions as an integrated, global enterprise. This model, reflecting the new economic realities of a 24/7 global marketplace, can be summarized as: "Think Local, Act Global." 

Globalization touches all businesses today, regardless of size or location. A small company or specialty manufacturer might not serve an international audience, but the organization can improve its supply-side economics by finding alternate sources of product and services in other markets. For large corporations, the benefits are far-reaching - literally spanning the globe. 

In this article, we will examine the road to globalization and what changes must occur across-the-board to support the new organization. I will spotlight important considerations in designing and implementing a globalization strategy, drawing on customer experiences. We will focus on the enabling technology and what specific technology features and functionality support and abet the process. 

Change the culture

Among companies around the world, there is near unanimous agreement that globalization is a strategic priority; however, uncertainty exists over how to enact such comprehensive change. Corporate decision-makers tend to see globalization primarily as a technology challenge, but from our experience, the largest impediment to globalization is cultural.

The "Think Global, Act Local" mindset is firmly rooted in corporate culture. Within most large, geographically dispersed organizations, the overseas offices and subsidiaries continue to operate with a great deal of autonomy. Seeped in the local business customs and laws, the in-country managers are regarded as regional experts and their decisions regarding that market are largely deferred to. They typically have proprietary IT systems to handle various aspects of their business, and purchase goods and services from local vendors and suppliers. Globalization cannot be implemented in an ad hoc fashion. 

 

 

Change the business processes

Globalization requires common business practices and processes across the enterprise. The challenge is to reengineer processes to be globally efficient, yet locally accountable. A multinational company still must meet all in-country requirements set by foreign governments, as well as honor the business traditions, etiquette and customs which are the underpinning of successful and long-term relationships. The aim, therefore, is to establish shared services and global practices, which simultaneously have the flexibility and robustness to meet local compliance criteria. For example, in both Southern Europe and in Japan, negotiations are sealed with a document similar to a promissory note, basically a pledge of good faith and intention. Therefore, any global system serving these markets must offer local versions of this protocol document. 

Our advice in implementing a global system is to build as broadly as possible. In other words, accommodate and support diversification. Metaphorically speaking, the system should operate like a master light panel where everyone is using the same energy source (data) and amperage (processes), but users can switch on or off the lights as needed.

 

Determining the local subset of required functionality for each nation of operation is not for the faint-hearted. Expect in-country offices to defend their entire system as essential. In reality, it will be a mix of real and manufactured needs. Some processes will comply with local statutes and customs; others will reflect the idiosyncratic preferences of management, past and present. For instance, some regional managers want top-line financial summaries, while others prefer detailed reports with lots of market numbers and breakouts. Chances are high the local reporting system will mirror the in-country manager's personal style, or those of one or more predecessors. 

One strategy to get around this problem is to put one person in charge of one global business process, such as customer relationship management or finances or human resources. Chosen for their experience and skill sets, the manager can take ownership of process design and implementation worldwide, and they made the local judgement calls. For instance, a collections expert will have the final say over the content of invoices (as opposed to product or sales managers), because it is the task of that department to make sure the company gets paid.

In addition to supporting market diversification, the global system must support the company's full range of business activities. An important lesson to remember is that 'dummying down' the system will defeat the purpose of globalization. If local markets cannot access the information and forms they need, they will be forced to create parallel systems. Never compromise functionality in an effort to simplify and streamline global processes. 

Change the technology

As aforementioned, most corporate policy makers overstate the technological challenges of globalization and underrate the cultural ones.

The technology to support globalization exists today. The Internet provides a low-cost, global communications network, which even the smallest specialty parts supplier can access with a standard Web browser, serving as a common platform to standardize, automate and streamline business processes, enterprise-wide, in real-time. 

When formulating a globalization strategy, the first step is to conduct a worldwide technology audit to understand the deployment of resources, and what compatibility and integration issues exist. A technology group also should evaluate e-business solutions to identify what features and functions are available, and at what cost. Among the issues to examine in detail, is how "global" are the solutions. Some e-business software vendors may claim to offer global solutions, when in truth they improvise foreign market solutions by partnering with local partners. These customized software solutions might address local compliance needs, but they also will introduce future compatibility and maintenance/upgrade problems.

To have a truly global solution, look for e-business software solutions with the following features and tool sets:

 

1) Data consolidation. Globalization is best served when the enterprise uses the same consistent data model worldwide, enabling a single definition of customers, suppliers, partners, employees and business events to be easily across the enterprise.

2) Automatic conversion of external documents into the receiver's language. In a global marketplace, language remains a barrier. With this system feature, external documents are prepared in the language, currency and custom of one nation of operation, and automatically translated into the language, currency and custom of receiving destination.

 

3) Interoperability among all systems.

4) Global support. In implementing a global technology solution, you want to ensure that operations around the world can receive the technical support at the local level.
5) Unicode support. Unicode is a universal encoded character set that allows you to store information from any language in a central database. It defines codes for characters used in every major language written today, and also provides support for over 94,000 characters for the world's alphabets, ideograph sets and symbol collections (i.e., punctuation marks, diacritics, mathematical symbols, technical symbols, musical symbols, etc.) Using Unicode, a company can deploy a single system, and a single data center, reducing IT operations and allowing users to have access to complete global information. It also supports corporate web sites that serve customers from all over the world.

As globalization takes hold, the users accessing company resources will widen to include vendors, customers, and partners. Therefore, companies must adopt an outward-facing collaborative culture. While early collaboration solutions, like Electronic Data Interchange (EDI), were prohibitively expensive for mid-to-small size companies, the Internet is opening up the supply chain to anyone with a standard browser. Moreover, through role-based Web portals, companies can control how much visibility partners, customers and suppliers have into their operation.

Once a common infrastructure and software solution is in place, companies and their suppliers can realize a fast return on investment (ROI) in terms of shorter product cycles, greater inventory optimization and real-time market intelligence and decision-making. 

 

 

 

Globalization = Economy of scale

As companies adopt e-business strategies, the world literally shrinks.

With a universal communications platform and common user interface, marshalling and deploying corporate resources worldwide becomes less an issue of geography than cost-performance. 

By operating from one unified Web-enabled infrastructure and a centralized global database, a company can better utilize and deploy its resources and personnel to meet worldwide demand. With the creation of virtual teams, companies can juggle more projects simultaneously. Reducing the need for consultants to travel increases their bandwidth and their value to the company.

I conclude,

                       Globalization is important to businesses of all sizes. Removing regional silos of process and data from any organization can alleviate information blind spots and enable management to best analyze and evaluate both division and overall business performance. Streamlining and standardizing communications, business functions and management practices to be consistent throughout the global organization, while local offices remain sensitive to cultural and compliance issues in the markets they serve, allows an organization's worldwide market presence to be more than all over the globe.

Driving the change to act global yet think local is not easy, but economy of scale and operational efficiencies built into a standardized, global system make its benefits clear: As revenues grow, cost reduction, information sharing and margins improve. Local business specifications and advantages can continue while management now achieves global visibility and real-time information about performance. It is an investment that keeps producing dividends.