Haworth College of Business' Global Business Center will devote efforts to develop synergies as a central clearing house - mainly to initiate, facilitate, expedite and "champion" the global business activities of HCOB. As such, it will work closely internally with university groups such as the Haenicke Institute of Global Education and externally with the larger community to further and enhance HCOB's globalization efforts.
Such efforts will help to more efficiently and effectively contribute towards WMU's mission ("Western Michigan University's mission is characterized by pursuit of [specific] institutional goals"). GBC contributes to all these goals, in particular: "to strengthen interdisciplinary collaboration and international programs."
GBC will facilitate, initiate and coordinate the internationalization/globalization activities of the Haworth College of Business. The prime focus will be to facilitate and enhance the internationalization of the curriculum, the faculty and students; support internationally oriented teaching and research; and develop global community outreach.
In a world "flattened" by technological and communication developments and the "death of distance", noted author and columnist Tom Friedman remarks on why education and an understanding of the globally connected business environment are critical. He tells his daughters, "Girls, when I was growing up my parents used to say to me, 'Tom, finish your dinner – people in China and India are starving...' My advice to you is: Girls, finish your homework – people in China and India are starving for your jobs." Companies are now increasingly searching for savvy talent from all over the world. Here at WMU and the Haworth College of Business, we need to do all that we can to make sure that our students don't fall off the edge of the intensely competitive flat business world.
Globalization trends also point to the disaggregation of business functional activities which can and are being performed in geographically dispersed locations. Concomitantly many nations are moving towards adopting free market principles and aspiring to improved standards of living; these provide tremendous opportunities and challenges to business and demand imperative attention on how to conduct business with and within these countries. Moreover the workplace here and overseas is increasingly marked by multicultural diversity. Regionally and nationally, companies are requiring business schools to prepare students for this globalized world of business.
The Haworth College of Business has recognized this need and has been involved in various initiatives towards strengthening and contributing to the "globalization" of the faculty, students and curriculum. GBC will provide the synergy in conducting globalization activities.
