An Ideas-Based Online Magazine of the Global Network for Advanced Management

Future of Globalization: Dramatic Changes

To coincide with the fifth anniversary of the Global Network for Advanced Management in April 2017, Global Network Perspectives asked faculty across the 29 schools in the network: "What do you think the future of globalization looks like? How will this affect the economy in your country or region? How is your school preparing students for this world?" Read all of the responses. Also, in a session at the anniversary symposium, a panel of experts—including former U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry—led a discussion of the future of globalization and its implications for business and management education. Watch the video.

Danielle van Jaarsveld
Danielle van Jaarsveld

MBAs need to prepare for a dramatically changing global landscape. The recent events we are witnessing such as Brexit, and the shift toward countries turning inward, has important implications for business. In the workplace, we need to prepare for increasing diversity with respect to gender, race, and age. One of the most significant challenges I see for businesses concerns international mobility—that is, how to access human resources while navigating immigration regulations. Another significant challenge is how to develop a workforce with a productive mix of employment relationships (e.g., temporary, independent contractor, full-time) that can meet the needs of the organization while at the same time remaining flexible enough to adjust to market changes and disruptive technology.

As educators, we need to think carefully about how to develop learning opportunities for MBA students to build their understanding of how regulations interact with and influence business practices. At the Sauder School of Business, our approach, through our Global Immersion Experience, is to have students work on client projects that originate in another country, then take our students to spend time in that country to enhance culture understanding and broaden their business expertise.