The role of measurement in the globalization movement
Globalization has shrunk the continent and revolutionized our way of living. Underlying this phenomenon, lies a standardized system that has fueled globalization and aided its expansion. De facto measuring standards have been used to manufacture goods that can be used at any corner of the globe without further resizing and modification to meet the local specifications. The metric and imperial systems have become the main measurement system used all over the world. Though they are distinctive in their measuring, they can be inter converted which has brought together the two frameworks. This article seeks to elucidate the role played by these measuring standards in globalization.
Measurement standardize goods such that they can make perfect fits in their respective areas of use without further modification. Measurement is the underlying framework that supports standardization since every commodity can be scaled to various units of measurement. These commodities make a perfect fit in their respective areas of use due to standardized measurements albeit being manufactured elsewhere in the world. This has enabled the consumers to trust and consume goods from all over the globe since they meet their local needs perfectly. Measurement standards have ensured that the consumers and manufacturers align themselves with a pre-existing framework that enables them to work together to achieve their goals. Measurement led to the birth of containerization that enabled the shipment of goods across the world easily in small standardized containers and eased the loading and offloading of goods in ports. Containerization technology has become the backbone of globalization, and it is based on precise measurements of steel boxes that fit in ships, trains, and trucks for easier transportation.
Standardized measurements also enable the global trade in the movement of labor. Various professionals are trained in a different parts of the globe to work in other different areas. Training of professionals requires knowledge of a measurement system to quantify units they use in their daily work. Quantifying their tools and products enables them to work anywhere since almost all countries in the world use either the imperial or metric system. Thus, since globalization is also dependent on labor, the standards of training professionals becomes easier and skills and techniques learned in one corner of the globe can be applied anywhere in the world. Measurement systems are central to training for the global market of labor and have played a key role in creating a global pool of labor.
It eases the communication process which is fundamental to globalization. Effective communication is founded on the ability of two parties being able to understand each other perfectly. Measurement creates the framework for quantifying commodities and services to enable people from different places around the world to be able to work together. This is because both parties use a standard measurement system thus being able to agree ‘how much’ or ‘how many’ are needed to complete a specific task. Eliminating the measurement system would paralyze the communication and even complicate it thus running into problems that could be avoided y good communication system based on a mutual measurement principle. The reference point created by a measurement framework supports the communication process which is integral to globalization and interaction of goods and people from diverse cultures.
Concisely, measurement is an indispensable tool that has aided globalization over the decades. It’s direct and indirect effect has streamlined the world to perceive the world through the same lens. Standardized measurements have been widely adopted globally and established a firm base for quantifying the products and services exchanged on a global scale. As a reference point of quantification, it has eased communication process, labor training and manufacturing of standardized goods and services as described in this article.
