There is a growing belief that 'creative thinkers' and problem-solvers are among those whose positions may be safer than others - that is, the least likely to be outsourced.
Facts and Links about the Globalization of the White Collar Worker: Book Resources
In Free From Corporate America, the globalization of the white collar worker is treated as a given for the sake of the argument that “The Real Risk is Working 9 to 5″; however, there is a lot more to be said on the topic that could not be explored in that chapter. This resource section provides an opportunity to cite some related books that go more deeply into this topic.
The search for books on globalization and offshoring yielded a surprising number of how-to guides for businesses. As more companies go international, there is a growing need to share mistakes and successes of those who’ve already made the move. Another other top result was advice to individuals on how to stay afloat in an increasingly competitive job market; there is a growing belief that “creative thinkers” and problem-solvers are among those whose positions may be safer than others – that is, the least likely to be outsourced.
Topics explored in the books listed here include the nature of today’s in-demand jobs, the education and training required to compete with foreign workers, and the economic consequences of these practices worldwide.
Editor’s Note: We have also created a separate resources page for online articles, forums and videos that explore the themes of globalization.
A Whole New Mind, by Daniel Pink - Daniel Pink, influential author of Free Agent Nation, has written a guide to the importance of developing creative “right brain” skills in order to avoid the threat of outsourcing, which many “information workers” are facing. Pink details six new conceptual skills to master in the “world is flat” economy.
 The World Is Flat 3.0: A Brief History of the Twenty-first Century by Thomas L. Friedman – This is the updated and expanded 2007 version of the New York Times journalist’s 2005 publication by the same name (minus the “3.0″). In an Amazon.com interview about the expanded “3.0″ version, Friedman says he started the book in March 2004 and focused on the following questions: What are the new jobs going to be in the flat (i.e., leveled or accessible) world? What is the right education for the new jobs? Are there schools promoting this education? Further, Friedman says his book has triggered discussion about education, particularly asking why we are falling behind.
Chindia edited by Peter Engardio - A senior editor at BusinessWeek, Engardio combines reporting and analysis of the emerging markets in China and India, as well as strategies businesses can take to compete in the global economy. Each chapter offers a different perspective.
What’s This India Business? by Paul Davies - This March 2008 book discusses the value of offshoring American back office jobs to India. Further, it is a guide to successfully navigating the offshoring process, going through the benefits as well as the dangers, so you will get a strong background in the pros and cons of this practice.
Take This Job and Ship It by Byron L. Dorgan – U.S. Senator (D-ND) Dorgan’s 2006 title explores the turnover trend seen in America’s workforce as it relates to our country’s economic strength. Dorgan cites a list of U.S. companies that have operations overseas and focuses on the political ramifications of offshoring American jobs, as well as his own solutions for bringing them back home. Bonus: watch Dorgan spar with Stephen Colbert on The Colbert Report and learn what might be in your Fig Newtons.
Rise of the Creative Class and Flight of the Creative Class: The New Global Competition for Talent by Richard Florida - Written in 2002 and 2005 respectively, Florida’s books explore the topic of the “reverse brain drain,” where talent is leaving the U.S. to either expatriate or return to their home countries for better opportunities. Like Pink and Friedman, Florida asserts that we’re losing our skilled workers and thinkers, whose jobs were previously safe from being outsourced like blue-collar jobs. In Flight, Florida backs up his assertions with a variety of statistics on living in the U.S. and the outsourcing practices of U.S. companies. For a quick look into the “reverse brain drain” idea and Florida’s books, check out this USA Today article by Alan M. Webber: “Reverse brain drain threatens U.S. economy” (February 23, 2004).
Want to buy Free From Corporate America or see reviews of the final published version from readers like yourself? The printed book is now available on Amazon.com with product reviews.
You can also get a discounted version of the final book in eBook (PDF) format, or you can pick up a copy on the Kindle. The published version of the book is significantly enhanced from the web version available on this site.
