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Why Do I Need to Know About Globalization? I Work for a Small U.S. Firm

November 06, 2007  |  from From the Top

One might respond that megaprojects or globalization are of no interest because he or she is a domestic practicing engineer in a small firm – say fewer than 35 employees. However, look around you – many of the emerging technologies and innovative ideas are generated by engineers from all around the world. Being small and local does not make you immune from being a responsible engineer maintaining competency and knowledge of the most effective and efficient ways to solve a problem. Value can be gained from learning what others do around the globe. Globalization continues to raise the question of off-shoring of engineering jobs due to the economies of labor in some countries and the ability of the Internet to encourage a global workforce.

As noted in a National Academy of Engineering publication, The Bridge, engineering in the United States as well as other developed nations may soon face a crisis. Countries such as India and China are quickly reforming their engineering curriculums to match those in developed nations. However, their wages remain 40 to 80 percent lower. Offshoring affects not only job displacement but it directs job growth to lower cost nations. This, in turn, could have a direct impact to engineer’s salaries – no matter whether they are in a small local domestic firm or a global multi-national firm. The real downside then becomes the ability to attract young people to the engineering profession in a time when the U.S. and other nations desperately need engineers in light of failing infrastructure and global engineering issues affecting all populations such as climate change and natural disasters. However, the best and the brightest will always continue to be sought out. As the global landscape changes, so must the skill sets of engineers if we are to combat the pressures of low wages and technical / electronic mobility. Understanding globalization is a key component of the engineer’s tool kit.

In the 21st century, advances in engineering will to a large measure determine the rate of world economic growth, quality of life, and standards of health and security. Engineering will become increasingly important in addressing many critical global issues. The profession has truly become a global enterprise as new ideas and discoveries have emerged all over the world and the balance of engineering expertise has shifted among various countries. Engineering advances will increasingly depend on the ability to draw upon the best minds regardless of their national origins. Thus, as engineers embark on the new millennium, they must remain acutely aware of such issues as global warming, human practices that are destructive to the environment, the devastation wrought by natural disasters, development of critical infrastructure in light of the threat of terrorism, and energy and water shortages—all of which threaten global sustainability as well as global stability. Engineers have the opportunity to develop innovative solutions to these global problems—to elevate their professional standing on the global stage and enhance their image in the public’s eye. And while this will require engineers to employ the most up-to-date relevant technology, it will also require them to communicate effectively to ensure the accurate and efficient transfer of data across international borders.

Globalization, therefore, is a concept that engineers must not only understand but incorporate into their everyday business and professional lives. The mission of the 21st century engineer is to ensure that there are no boundaries in terms of how engineering is applied to better the quality of life worldwide. But in order to do so, the 21st-century engineer must be better prepared. She or he must be facile in adapting to changes in global forces and trends to ethically assist the world in establishing a balance in the standard of living for developing and developed nations alike. Deftly adapting to these changes in global forces and trends will determine how well the 21st-century engineer succeeds on the new global business landscape. (Part of a several week series taken from The 21st Century Engineer by ASCE Press, email: pubsful@asce.org)

Filed: Career Construction-Workforce