How is information technology connected with globalisation? Would globalisation have been possible without expansion of IT?
Information Technology has played a major role in spreading out production of services across countries. Telecommunication facilities like telephone, mobile phones, and fax are used to contact one another around the world and communicate from remote areas. The Internet allows us to send instant electronic mail and voice-mail across the world at negligible costs. For example, a magazine for London readers can be designed and printed in Delhi using the Internet, with payments made instantly through e-banking.
Globalisation would have been difficult without expansion of IT. Rapid improvement in technology has been one major factor that stimulated the globalisation process. IT has enabled services like data entry, accounting, and engineering to be done cheaply in countries like India and exported to developed countries. Without IT, instant communication and sharing of information across the world would not have been possible at such low costs.
Explanation
The textbook clearly establishes the connection between IT and globalisation through multiple examples. IT enables spreading of production across countries through telecommunication facilities and Internet. The magazine example illustrates how IT allows work to be done remotely across countries. The second part of the question requires students to understand that while globalisation has multiple enabling factors (technology, liberalisation, WTO), IT expansion has been crucial for making instant, low-cost global communication possible.
Solution Steps
Step 1: Explain how IT connects with globalisation - spreading production, telecommunication facilities, Internet for instant communication
Step 2: Give specific example from context - magazine designed in Delhi for London
Step 3: Address whether globalisation possible without IT - technology is a major stimulating factor, enables low-cost instant global communication