“The world is flat” is now a standard phrase in the working vocabulary of any business person who is the least bit aware of what is going on in the world. The phrase is the title of Thomas Friedman’s book that describes ten, mostly technological, “flatteners” that are leveling the globally playing field. Thus we see a new world of global business where workflow and organizations are being transformed; competition and talent come from anywhere, and many nations are seeing their economies transformed.

But is the world really flat? Richard Florida of the Creative Class Group, a global think tank, thinks that it’s actually spiky. Florida is an expert on economic competitiveness, demographic trends, and cultural and technological innovation. He has written two best sellers, The Rise of the Creative Class and The Flight of the Creative Class, that look at how creativity is shaping the global economy.

In The World is Spiky (PDF, 3.7 MB), published in The Atlantic Monthly, Florida’s research shows that economic power, innovation, and creative talent is actually clustered in a few cities and regions and that these areas are growing higher while other areas languish. Globalization has greatly increased the returns made on innovation; therefore, global innovation centers attract the best talent and reinforce the uneven distribution of wealth and economic production.

Is the world flatter than before? Certainly. The developing world is growing its capabilities. Witness the emergence of India and China. But the world flattening is not like a rising tide lifting all of the boats. There are peaks and valleys. The peaks are getting stronger and more connected to each other. In some cases, people on the peaks are more closely connected to other peaks than to the local area.

Some Considerations in Light of the Spiky World

Consider the strategy implications – where your markets are, how you need to organize your business, where you need to establish your network of partners. How is your industry or profession being reshaped along this new global topography?

Consider the talent implications – where your top creative talent will come from and how they will work.

Consider the personal implications for your career – where you need to network, where you need to work and the places you need to be connected to. If you happen to be a student or recent graduate, study these maps as you consider where to intern or look for work.

Read The World is Spiky (PDF, 3.7 MB) as a companion to The World is Flat.