Book Review of "The Next Global Stage: Challenges and Opportunities in Our Borderless World" (Kenichi Ohmae)

REVIEW OF 'THE NEXT GLOBAL STAGE'

Foreword

The scale of fascinating is in gargantuan proportion in respect to one scholar Fritjof, Capra (2002), contending that global capitalism contrast sharply with ecological sustainability and another scholar Kenichi, Ohmae (2005) also asserting that cross border alliance is the way forward for entrepreneurs (predominantly capitalist) to survive. This is not in any measureable terms to suggest that there is clash of scholarly ideas from two great scholars.

Any firm that aspires to industry leadership in the 21st century must think in terms of global, not domestic, market leadership. The world economy is globalizing at an accelerating pace as countries previously closed to foreign companies open up their markets, as internet shrinks the importance of geographic space, as ambitious growth-minded companies race to build stronger competitive positions in the market of more and more countries.

Firms in industries that are already globally competitive, or in the process of becoming so are under the gun to come up with a strategy for competing successfully in global markets. In all of this, the crucial strategic issues unique to competing across national boundaries are: whether to customize the firm's offerings in each different country market to match the taste and preferences of local buyers or offer a most standardized product globally; whether to employ essentially the same basic competitive strategy in all countries or modify the strategy nation by nation to fit the specific market conditions and competitive circumstances it encounters; where to locate the firm's production facilities, distribution centers and customer service operations so as to realize the greatest locational advantages; and whether and how to efficiently transfer the firm's resource strengths and capabilities from one country to another in an effort to secure competitive edge. The purpose of this essay is to appraise the works of Kenichi (2005). The Next Global Stage: Challenges and Opportunities in Our Borderless World.

The focus of the literature will be section one; where foreword and biography of the author will be highlighted, section two will stipulate the reviewer's description about the book, objectives of the author, the theme of the book and the author's style and method as well as the book's design. Section three will concentrate on matters arising from the book. The spotlight of section four will be the reviewer's critique about the book, the strengths and weaknesses of the book, the extent to which the book achieved its goals and the impact of the book on the reviewer's life and surroundings and finally a conclusion will be drawn.

Biography of The Author

"Kenichi Ohmae, one of world's leading business and corporate strategists, born in 1943 has written over 100 books, including The Mind of the Strategist, The Borderless World, The End of the Nation State, and The Invisible Continent. After earning a doctorate in nuclear engineering from MIT and working as a senior design engineer for Hitachi, he joined McKinsey & Company, rising to senior partner where he led the firm's Japan and Asia Pacific operations. Ohmae currently manages a number of companies that he founded, including Business Breakthrough (a distance learning platform for management education), EveryD.com (a click-and-mortar grocery delivery platform), and Dalian Neusoft Information Services (a BPO platform for data entry in double-bite languages). He is Chancellor's Professor of Public Policy at UCLA, Distinguished Visiting Professor of Korea University and Professor Emeritus at Ewha Women's University in Korea, Trustee and Adjunct Professor of Bond University in Australia, as well as Dean of Kenichi Ohmae Graduate School of Management of BBT University in Japan. In September 2002, he was named the advisor of Liaoning Province and Tianjin City in China" Kenichi, (2005)

Description of The Book by Reviewer

This enthralling book, The Next Global Stage: Challenges and Opportunities in Our Borderless World, the first edition by Kenichi Ohmae (March 27th, 2005). Published by Pearson Prentice Hall and printed in the USA. It contains 282 pages, and was extensively edited by the following personalities: Tim Moore (Editor in Chief); Richard Winkler (Editorial Assistant); Russ Hall (Development Editor); Gina Kanouse (Managing Editor); Sarah Kearns (Senior Project Editor); Krista Hansing (Copy Editor); the cover was designed and cover photograph were crafted by Chuti Prasetsith and Karen Beard correspondingly.

Emphasis should be placed on the fact that Martin Litkowski and Tim Galligan were the marketing manager and international marketing managers respectively Kenichi Ohmae (2005). "The Next Global Stage" is divided into three parts. Part one encapsulates the stage and has three chapters notably: the world tour; opening night; and the end of economics covering chapters 1, 2 and 3 correspondingly. Part two comprises stage directions and includes four chapters namely: playmakers, platforms for progress, out and about as well as breaking the chains covering chapters 4, 5,6and 7 respectively. Part three encompasses the script and is also made up of four chapters. That is chapters 8, 9, 10 and 11; and envelops reinventing government, the futures market, the next stage and postscript in that order.

The quality of paper used in printing was fabulous and there is considerable good font size with that enhances legibility; with the book's binding being hard cover, durability is assured. It also has accurate index.

Imperatively, the book has the approved seal of Wharton School University of Pennsylvania

Objectives of The Author (Book)

The objective(s) of Kenichi Ohmae (2005) "The Next Global Stage" is to explain what is really happening there in business and politics and provides a script to negotiate a route through the shifting plot lines as well as offering a blueprint for businesses, governments, and individuals who intends to thrive in this new environment. It is edifying to contend that "the Next Global Stage" was shaped by two forces; first it bears witness to changing circumstances and second it witnesses some pioneers of the global economy firsthand.

Kenichi extensive travels round the globe and first hand interaction with people from diverse background which changed his perspectives entirely about business and society was the motivating factor in writing this book.

The Theme of The Book

The theme of Kenichi Ohmae (2005) "The Next Global Stage," is focused on the process of understanding the new rules that apply in this world — and often, there aren't rules to adequately explain what we now experience on a daily basis. This book according to Kenichi Ohmae is not an endpoint nor is it a beginning, but he hopes it is an important step forward for companies and individuals as well as regional and national leaders.

The Author's Method And The Book's Design

Kenichi's was logical and showed proficiency in style on the subject matter that he dealt with and this indeed was a novel. He made use of exact technical expressions to a larger extent, especially when he illustrated how Finland made it great to the top with incessant innovation and investment in research and development in page 14 of his book.

Kenichi extensively acknowledged all those in diverse ways that offered stimulating, enriching but challenging discussions with him that necessitated the birth of this book. He also provided detailed bibliography of sources he referenced and relied heavily on illustrations and circumstances in articulating his points.

Kenichi's style of presentation is simple and logical, but suitable to the subject, readers and the purpose of the author. This book is pregnant with lot of illustrations, statistics, tables, curves, maps, charts and diagrams and these appeals to the five senses of its readers and facilitates blatant understanding.

He resorted to the combination of dialogue, discussions, exposition, narration and descriptions as his method of presentation and is evident in the manner he chronicled his travelled expeditions and the impact it had on people by transforming their view point particularly the business executives. For instance he claimed to have travelled with between 40 and 60 Japanese business executives to witness for themselves 'first hand regions that are attracting money from the rest of the world. And also sending groups of people to Ireland to see how cross border business process outsourcing is reshaping the economy'. Also his commentary of events about the Riverdance at the Great Hall of the People of China and his tour to the city of Dilian near peninsular, these among other scenarios depict his writing style.

Astonishing, Kenichi was extremely critical of the economic theories of astute economist; including Jack Phillips, Keynes, Alfred Marshall, Paul Samuelson, David Ricardo and Adam Smith

Matters Arising From The Book

Kenichi Ohmae (2005) believed that "nothing is more important than actually visiting a place, meeting with companies, and talking to stake holders shows how you develop a feel for what is going on".

It is imperative to underscore that Kenichi made several important arguments that will stimulates mind for years to come. Notably among them are: Business decisions must be considered in terms of four dimensions in today's borderless world: communications, capital, corporations and consumers. He posited that the 4C's have made global economy a true reality since they have the capacity to break all barriers to this concept. This new perspective replaces his famous three C's in The Mind of the Strategist (competitors, the company and consumers).