Title: A systems framework for globalisation

Authors: C. Gopinath

Addresses: Suffolk University, 8 Ashburton Place, Boston, MA 02476, USA

Abstract: Globalisation is widely acknowledged as a phenomenon affecting the environment in significant ways. The attention given to it by different academic disciplines underscores its multidimensionality and complicates our ability to analyse its impact. This paper argues that the systems approach provides the tools to both frame globalisation as well as provide guidelines for analysis. Globalisation is presented as comprising of five domains – political, economic, social, business and physical. The paper then describes the use of systems thinking through the importance of goal identification/setting performance measures, boundary delineation, the nature of interactions between the domains, and trends in convergence/divergence. This approach leads to a more systematic decision making process in the context of globalisation.

Keywords: globalisation; domain interaction; systems analysis; business environment; systems framework; convergence; divergence; systems thinking; performance measures; boundary delineation; decision making.

DOI: 10.1504/IJBG.2012.046208

International Journal of Business and Globalisation, 2012 Vol.8 No.3, pp.316 - 330

Published online: 14 Aug 2014 *

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