In most corners of the world, South Africa is currently the center of the universe, and bars and restaurants on six continents (and perhaps a research station on the seventh), are packed with crazed fans cheering for the team or nation of their choice. Even in North America, where Football (not Gridiron) rarely attracts any attention, people are paying attention to the World Cup.
Some time in July, there will be a new world Football champion, and the sport will then fade into relative obscurity for the next four years. This is because Soccer doesn’t matter… at least to people in the United States. The Canadians have a marginally more international view of the world, but they are largely stuck with the baggage their big-brother to the South leaves them with.
Business in North America is largely conducted the same way. It stands to reason that when the world’s largest single economy by a wide margin is located on the North American continent that people would not be compelled to look beyond their own neighborhood.
However, the times are changing. Much like the disintegration of the Roman Empire, the economic dispersion precedes the rest of the empire, and businesses in North America would be well advised to look abroad – not only for market opportunities, but for management help as well.
This may seem like heresy to many Americans and Canadians, but there are European, Asian, and South American organizations that are exceptionally well run – they may even do some things better than their North American peers.
Health care industries are an excellent example. Both the United States and Canada have incredibly dysfunctional health care systems. If you don’t believe me, look at any global ranking, and see where these two countries place. In most northern European countries all their citizens have access to care (unlike the United States), and they have a mixture of public and private care that ensures the rationing of care is kept to a minimum (unlike Canada).
If Governments and businesses in North America could see past their own myopia to other parts of the world, a great number of business and social problems could be addressed.
Tell me I’m wrong….