globalization,thenewreality

　　Globalizationisamurkyterm.Itcanrefertoeverything

　　fromtheinterconnectednessofexperience

　　totheriseininternationalventures.Forthedesignand

　　constructionindustry,however,globalizationisatrend

　　thatmeanstwothings:increasedopportunityandincreased

　　competition.

　　Somemayassertthatglobalizationisaphenomenon

　　takingplaceinthenebulous“overthere”andthatitaffects

　　onlythelargestinternationalplayers,theBechtels

　　andtheKelloggBrown&Roots.Yetmanydomestic

　　firmscontentwithoperatingwithinU.S.bordersmust

　　stillcontendwithglobalforces.Anyonewhothinksthat

　　globalizationisfarremovedfromourshoresshould

　　thinkagain.

　　Therealityisthatglobalizationalreadyaffectsdesigners

　　andcontractorsinMiddleAmericaalmostasmuchas

　　itdoestheindustry’sbiggestplayers.Asforeignfirms

　　underbidfordomesticconstructionworkandpurchase

　　domesticcompanies—andasdomesticcompaniessubcontract

　　workoverseas—globalforcescanaffectalmost

　　anydesignorconstructionfirm.Whatglobalization

　　meansforthedomesticdesignerorcontractordepends

　　onseveralfactors.Veryfewindustrysectors,infact,are

　　immunetoglobalization.ThelargestU.S.contractors

　　mustcompetewiththeworld’slargest,amongthemLondon’s

　　AMECandtheDutchfirmNethconsult,while

　　medium-sizedcontractorsmustconstantlytakeadvantage

　　ofopportunitiesandcontinuetomanagechangeeffectively.

　　Evensmallfirmswillfindchallengesinretaining

　　loyalcustomersthatfindtheycancontractsimilar

　　servicesforlessmoney.

　　Sizeandlocationareimportantbutaredefinitelynot

　　theonlyvariables.Specialtyservices,marketposition,

　　corporateculture,andawillingnesstoacceptandmanage

　　changewillallhaveabearingonacompany’sability

　　tocompeteintheglobalizedfuture.Moreover,theglobal

　　productionofengineershassurpassed1millionperyear.

　　WhiletheUnitedStatesremainsaworldleaderincivil

　　engineeringeducation,manyothernationscanoffer

　　technicallyproficientpersonnelatafractionoftheU.S.cost.Electronicglobalcommunication,virtualplans,and

　　free-tradeinitiativeswillintensifythereachandscopeof

　　globalcompetition.Inthe21stcentury,itwillonlybecome

　　easiertosubcontractcertaindesignfunctionsto

　　less-costlyoverseasfirms,commonlyreferredtoasdesign

　　centers.

　　Asidefromcompetition,globalizationalsopresentsopportunity.

　　NoonedeniesthatthecurrentU.S.economic

　　boomhasbeengoodforthedesignandconstructionindustry.

　　Whilesomesectors,suchasretrofitting,have

　　lagged,mosthavebeenhealthy.Wethinkthat,aswith

　　allgoodthings,thisboomtoomustcometoanend.Or

　　mustit?WhentheU.S.economyslows,designandconstruction

　　firmslookinggloballycancontinuetoreapprofits.

　　FirmsbasedintheUnitedStatescanperf