By Alexander M. Korsunsky, Professor of
Engineering Science, University of Oxford
In our rapidly shrinking world, countries and affairs that once seemed far away have ever stronger
and more profound impact on our lives. This globalisation process is undoubtedly technogenic. The
first vehicle for this phenomenon is the rise of rapid communications, highlighted by the degree
to which the Internet and wireless communications permeate our environment, providing email,
web, IP telephony, video-conferencing, remote banking and other services. The second important
technological contributor is air travel. The volumes of passenger and freight air traffic worldwide
continue to grow exponentially, as they have done now over several decades. This growth drives
further globalisation by accelerating the interchange of people and goods, but questions about
the sustainability of such development also become more acute. The third crucial technogenic
phenomenon is the globalisation of manufacturing, services and engineering development: remarkably,
not only engineering technologies create the basis for globalisation, but they themselves become
involved in the resulting global pattern of research and development activities. What phenomena
arise in the context of technology-driven globalisation? What is the social and economic impact of
globalisation? Can organisations and communities suffer or benefit from it?
Note: This is a reprint and edited version of the original article which appeared in the Proceedings of the
International Conference of Engineers & Computer Scientists 2010.
N
o one is surprised today to come across
the word “globalisation” in a wide variety
of contexts, from politics and economy to
climate and ecology to human and social issues.
It is small wonder, considering how the events
happening and decisions made halfway across t