MNCs growth in number and size allows them more control of international trade and investments.

MNCs global span of their operations drives globalisation as they increase the economic interconnections between people and goods throughout the world.

This leads to interdependent relationships between parties involved in the operations of the MNCs

MNCs facilitate exchange of ideas between countries.

MNCs set up operations in different locations around the world and they have headquarters , usually located in the country of origin. MNCs source for components around the world before assembling their final product, this integrates many suppliers and producers around the world.

MNCs have the resources to utilise top of the range technology, attract top talent, buy and store raw material and maximise modern transportation for their businesses.

E.g. Starbucks coffee

Starbucks has acquired an amazing supply chain that spans across almost nineteen countries, and has stores in more than 65 countries.

Coco beans can come from one country while milk could come from an entirely different country hundreds of miles away.

This global resource span is a great way for Starbucks to expand the company and reach more countries than ever before.

Technology:

Facilitates communication and exchange of information across the world.

Instant global news

Quick and instant access to information in the business world

E.g.

Communication via WhatsApp of manufacturers all over the world

Technological advancements are more significant in driving globalisation in comparison to MNCs.

This is because most countries and cities have a majority of people that have an electronic device. And because technology can spread influence and ideas across borders without the need to physically be present such as MNCs, it creates a bigger impact due to its convenience and accessibility.

However, in order to spread and grow globally, MNCs need to physically establish outlets and branches across the globe in order to market and grow their businesses. This takes more time and resources to accomplish compared to technology, which only requires the internet and a mobile device to post a message or picture.

Therefore, I believe that technology, due to its accessibility and availability, is more significant in driving globalisation compared to MNCs

technological advances:

development of transportation -

speed: travel faster, cover longer distances

e.g. Shinkansen bullet train - cover a distance of around 3478km, travel up to 320km/h

costs: sped up movement of larger volumes of goods, services, people per trip, lower transport cost in total

e.g. rise of low cost airlines, cost of flights decreases, more people afford air travel

• overall more interconnected + interdependent globally; drives globalisation

growth of MNCs -

drives globalisation through supply chains, that are global in scale - increasing economic activity + connections between people + goods throughout globes

facilitates exchange of ideas between countries

e.g. Starbucks Coffee; supply chain across almost 19, has stores in more than 65 countries

coffee beans are sourced from more than 30 countries, beans are transported to roasting facilities in different cities such as USA + India, distributed coffee to more than 35000 stores across the world - global resource span expands company + reach more countries

• overall, increasing web of operations owned by MNCs, within + between countries, drive globalisation as more interdependent + interconnected relationships are established

• Technological advancements have resulted in a greater access to the internet and the increasing of mobile communications. Hence, these help to facilitate the communication and exchange of information from anywhere across the world.

Eg. many applications can now be easily installed onto a smart phone - a mobile phone with advanced computing capabilities. With the invention of the smartphone at the beginning of the 21st century, mobile phones are no longer limited to making voice calls.

Therefore, with technological advancements in communication, communication between people in different locations will be faster and more convenient. This results in the efficient movement of ideas and information which leads to a more interconnected and integrated world. Furthermore, businesses across the globe can grow rapidly as people can now purchase goods and services anywhere and new ideas can be formulated and conveyed at a much faster rate. This sparks off a cycle that continuously encourages the rate of interconnectivity around the world, leading to globalisation.

• Multinational companies are businesses with economic activities in more than one country. As MNCs continue to grow in their number and size, they control more aspects of international trade and investments.

  
  

  Eg. Starbucks whose operations are spread over the world. Starbucks grow their coffee beans in a few countries, roast and then deliver them to stores around the world. Through this, they can ensure a consistent product as well as have lower operation costs.

  
  

  With the growth of MNCs, their operations are set up in different parts of the world, economies become more integrated due to the economic interconnection between people and goods throughout the world. These interconnections can also lead to interdependent relationships between the parties involved in the operations of MNCs. At the same time, MNCs create investment and employment opportunities in the countries that they set up facilities in. This benefits the locals by providing employment as well as the country and region attracting even more investments which lead to economic interconnections between countries. This spurs integration and interconnectedness of the world, in turn driving globalisation.

MNCs are large cooperations that operate in various countries. Their supply chains are global on scope, thus linking numerous people and activities across different places of the world. As MNCs conduct business in other countries, they also facilitate the exchange of ideas between countries. These interconnections are links created or established amongst people, businesses and countries through the movement of goods, services, people, knowledge and resources. Such interconnections can lead to interdependence where developments on the world (global) and developments in a specific place (local) affect one another. Multinational corporations may have a significant impact on local economies and even the global economy, as well as play a significant part in international relations and globalization. In other words, events in one part of the world may affect other parts of the world. For instance, • An increased customer base allows businesses to increase their sales turnover by expanding internationally. For example, many businesses such as HSBC, KFC, Starbucks, Lamborghini and Walmart) have expanded into China to  benefit from the huge customer base. International brand recognition can also be enhanced by using global marketing strategies. Many MNCs expand overseas to benefit from cheaper production costs, especially inexpensive labour, this results in the ideas and people living in different parts of the world becoming interconnected sharing the same major cooperations in various global states.

Technological advancements have resulted in greater access to the internet and the increase of mobile communications. These facilitate the communication and exchange of information from anywhere across the world. As a result, there is efficient movement of ideas and information, leading to a more interconnected and integrated world. For example, digital technological advancements on the internet like Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok allow people to converse and share their ideas with one another. This way they can efficiently communicate with one another and build interconnections among people, businesses and countries.  In addition, businesses have started selling their products on apps such as TikTok with the new feature of TikTok Shop, as well as the more conventional e-commerce platforms like Lazada and Shopee. Shopping on e-commerce allows for a more convenient alternative to shopping and has recently been very popular amongst the youngest generations. Hence, technological advancements are a driving force to globalisation.

We think that technological advancements are more significant than the growth of MNCs in driving globalisation.

Without technological advancements , global companies would not be able to send their products and promote their products abroad as efficiently, which would not drive globalisation of the products .

technological advancements ;

• Communication: Technologies like the internet, mobile phones, and social media have revolutionized communication, enabling instant connectivity across the globe. This has facilitated global trade, collaboration, and cultural exchange.

• Transportation: Innovations in transportation, such as containerization and air travel, have reduced the time and cost of moving goods and people internationally, contributing to the integration of markets and economies.

• Automation and Efficiency: Technological advancements in automation and information systems have increased productivity and efficiency in global supply chains, enabling companies to operate more seamlessly across borders.

While both technological advancements and the growth of MNCs are integral to globalization, we feel that technological advancement drives globalisation more than MNCs.

Laurel & Raylene

Technological advancements have played a pivotal role in the growth of MNCs and the acceleration of globalization.

One of the most significant impacts of technology on MNCs is in communication. The advent of the internet, email, and video conferencing has revolutionized how MNCs communicate with their partners and customers worldwide. Real-time communication has not only enhanced collaboration but has also led to faster decision-making processes, thereby increasing overall efficiency.

Secondly, technology has provided MNCs with access to global markets which was not possible before. Online platforms and digital marketing tools have made it easier for MNCs to reach customers in different countries. This has opened up new markets and opportunities for growth, driving globalization forward.

In conclusion, technological advancements have not only facilitated the growth of MNCs but have also played a crucial role in driving globalization. Through improved communication and ccess to global markets, technology has connected markets, people, and businesses across the world, reshaping the global economy in the process.

MNCs are large corporations that operate supply chains global in scope, thus linking numerous people and activities across different places in the world in the world. For example, in 2022, Starbucks distributed roasted coffee to more than 35,000 stores across the world. This shows that MNCs helps to facilitate the movement of people, goods and services across the globe. Therefore, MNCs are significant in driving economic globalisation because it allows maximum markets’ sale of physical goods.

technological advancements have led to the improvement of land, sea and air transportation as well as international communication. MNCs are large corporations that operate in various countries. They drive globalisation through supply chains that are global in scope and drive the flow of goods, services, people, knowledge and ideas around the world.

Technological advancements such as the improvement in transportation, have led to the decrease in costs of transportation. For example, in the 1950s, flying was a luxury only available to the wealthy and for business travellers. However, with the rise of low-cost airlines, such as SCOOT, flights have become more affordable and have become commercially available. Containerisation has also improved transportation of goods through the use of standardised container ships, making shipment more efficient.Technological advancements in international communications such as Google’s Youtube and Meta’s Instagram have driven globalisation more through the spread of ideas, culture and knowledge from different places in the world.

MNCs have led to globalisation through their global supply chains. To exemplify this, Starbucks Coffee Company, sources their beans from more than 30 countries worldwide, and send their beans to roasting facilities in different cities in the US and India. Warehouses pack and store roasted coffeefor distribution for retailers and distributes roasted coffee to more than 35,000 stores across the world. This has led to the spread of goods from different places in the world to be ubiquitous internationally.

Although both technological advancements and MNCs drive globalisation, I feel that technological advancements are more significant in doing so. This is because MNCs drive globalisation through the push of industries for monetary reasons and involve the creation of some technological advancements such as containersism. However, technological advancements in international communications, such as TikTok, Instagram and Youtube have driven the exchange of cultural and social information that influences the way we think and feel, hence driving globalisation through intangible forces that are ultimately more impactful in our lives compared to monetary and materialistic goods.

Multinational corporations (MNCs) refer to large corporations which operate in various countries. They drive globalisation through their large supply chains, which are networks of individuals and companies in creating a product and delivering it to the consumer. An example of this is Starbucks, and it has created global interdependence and interconnections. Their coffee beans are sourced from more than 30 countries across Latin America, Africa, and Asia, and they are roasted in different cities like in the US and Asia. MNCs increase the interconnection between people, activity and goods. However, MNCs rely heavily om technological advancement to aid them, such as Starbucks now having an app to manage the high volume of local deliveries.