Beam Me Across the Pond, Scotty

Beam Me Across the Pond, Scotty

Thursday, April 5, 2012

This is a digital age. Information is regularly sent wirelessly to any destination without much constraint except for the amount of information to be sent at any one time (with technology rapidly advancing). Correspondence, transactions and meetings can all occur in the comfort of local offices or even at home. With this ability, it is a wonder to me why businesses decide to send employees abroad. Surely, travel expenses such as the flight and hotel stay could be removed from the existing budget. Isn't it all just a waste?

A friend of mine told me that his company was sending him across the Atlantic to visit an international branch of the company. While I wished him a good time and safe travels, I couldn't help but think if it was necessary. From what I understand, his job deals with a lot of constant communication between offices over the internet. He's been able to work from home on occasion. Now in a currently troubling economy, would it not be beneficial to simply stay the course?

After his trip, I ended up reading an article in the New York Times explaining the importance of learning foriegn business practices. Some colleges even offer degree programs for the field. It is reported that networking in real life still plays an important factor within business; gaining trust. There's plenty of metaphors to explain trust. Attempting to gain trust via written text is especially difficult. Perhaps reading a published work allows us to trust the author because theirtext has been reviewed by an experienced editor. However, sending an e-mail to a potential business partner can generally put the receipient on the defensive. Who is this? When did we meet? Where did you get my information? Often, your e-mail isn't regarded as priority. However, if you meet the person first and then follow with e-mail correspondence, the result typically shows a dramatic difference, even under a relatively bad first impression.

A recent TED talk discusses how we lose our ability to use conversation and rely more on technology to connect to the world. For example; I've had my new phone for a month and according to my log I have had phone calls between only 6 people (other than immediate family members). Could the phone be considered a piece of technology? Certainly, but not the type that inhibits conversational skills. Posting snippets of thoughts for public comment misses vocal inflections and facial expressions that are key elements in understanding people. Speaking with emotions, such as displaying sarcasm, has always been an elusive on the internet, even though methods exist. Does videoconferencing solve this issue? I think it may however, the general public would much rather text, tweet and e-mail their thoughts. There's no need to schedule appointments and you are able to edit or delete your conveyed thought with a small amount of resource. And scheduling meetings internationally can prove to be exceptionally difficult.

Perhaps generations from now it might be socially acceptable for meetings to occur without traveling abroad. It would require a global understanding that the speed of business and politics would accelerate while expenses could be attributed toward other goals. Trust would need to be gained by another means, maybe using digital or a newer not yet known technology. Though for now, this is as close as we can get.