Globalisation sees international collaboration at an all-time high

Globalisation seems to become more and more prevalent as the years go by. This is made evident by new research, which revealed that workers are more connected with international colleagues than ever before.

A study by Capterra revealed that 60 per cent of Aussie workers collaborate with employees from other countries at least once per month. Country borders have increasingly become blurred over the years as globalisation takes effect.

According to Investopedia: “Globalisation refers to the spread of the flow of financial products, goods, technology, information, and jobs across national borders and cultures. In economic terms, it describes an interdependence of nations around the globe fostered through free trade.”

Technology these days makes communicating with overseas colleagues a breeze. There are considerations to make, such as time zone differences and varied tax laws (if dealing with purchases), but the ability to contact someone has become as simple as having a Zoom call.

Analyst at Capterra, Laura Burgess, commented on the findings: “The survey shows that we’ve entered a global and interconnected economy, noting the potential challenges and opportunities this type of work environment can deliver. Organisations are encouraged to continue efforts in empowering employees to navigate international collaborations.”

Australia, similar to other English-speaking nations, collaborates with other countries frequently. In fact, 19 per cent of respondents worked with people abroad at least once a day. India topped this list, with 33 per cent saying the same, followed by the UK (19 per cent), the US (18 per cent), and Canada (16 per cent).

Meanwhile, 25 per cent of Aussies collaborated with international workers at least once a week, 16 per cent at least once per month, 9 per cent at least once per quarter, and 4 per cent at least once per year. Twenty-eight per cent said they never do.

There are certainly benefits to be made through globalisation. Some advantages, as listed by respondents to the Capterrra study, include:

• Networking opportunities (35 per cent)
• Diversity and inclusion (33 per cent)
• New perspectives for problem solving (30 per cent)
• Understanding other work cultures (29 per cent)
• Flexible work environment (29 per cent)

On a broader level, there are pros that can be beneficial to businesses looking to go global. Investopedia listed these as:

• A larger market for goods and services.
• Cheaper consumer prices.
• Outsourcing can benefit both domestic firms and foreign labour.
• Increased standard of living.

On the flip side, there are negatives to come from globalisation. There are always winners and losers, and the little man seems to come off worse in some cases. The downsides were listed as:

• Concentrates wealth in richer countries.
• Some poorer countries can be left behind.
• Poorer countries can be exploited of their labor and physical and intellectual resources.
• Cultures and the products consumed around the world can become homogenised.

Globalisation is perhaps the way of the future. With international collaboration at an all-time high, these trends could be expected to continue.