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Don't taint Team USA uniforms with politics
By Michael R. Czinkota and Jiashan Cui |
July 28, 2012, Saturday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
AS the Olympics deliver another sports highlight to the world, some Americans remain highly irate with the uniforms worn by the United States team. The reason: the team uniforms are made in China.
It seems as if the debate over the labels on the uniforms draws more attention than the actual preparation of Team USA or the London games themselves.
If there were to be a debate, the quality of the uniforms rather than the source of production should receive public attention.
The Olympics are all about effectiveness and efficiency. The economic argument should focus on a cost benefit analysis of those uniforms. Does the outsourcing of stitching tasks to China lower the costs, and how does such international procurement affect quality?
There is no need for a patriotic argument here, but rather the simple exploration of whether the team gets what has been paid for. If there has to be some flag waving about Olympics clothes, then it might be during the entrance of the Chinese team, since its national basketball team and six other Chinese sports teams will compete in outfits featuring the swoosh of Nike.
The current debate over the Olympics clothes reflects much bigger issues such as the upcoming US presidential election and the subsequent formulation of national policy, but also the future direction of all major economies around the world.
How should one deal with and respond to international competition both in terms of process and activity?
We all like to win, but the Olympics indicates that we should be willing to let everyone put up their best efforts and honor the highest performers.
Comments made by some politicians about the Olympics and about the economy may sound silly and outrageous.
After all, outsourcing low-value manufacturing provides consumers in wealthy nations with low price products, particularly valuable to low-income segments. We should also remember that as originators of the Olympic Games, (and of the word "economy") the Greeks get to be first in presenting their flag during the opening march, but when it comes to performance, they are on equal footing with all other nations. Economies also need to refresh their innovation every day.
Right after the opening ceremony, the impact of the dress uniform's origin will begin to fade. It deserves perhaps mention that the Olympic Games athletes of yore were competing in the buff, which reinforces the idea that it is the context and performance that matter, rather than the clothes.
With the athletic performances the Olympic athletes do set an economic example for all of us: We need to embrace change, observe the best, and learn from all for future improvements. The clothes may differ, but the competition continues.
Professor Michael R. Czinkota and research assistant Jiashan Cui work at Georgetown University, Hariri School of Business. Blog: michaelczinkota.com. Shanghai Daily condensed the article.
It seems as if the debate over the labels on the uniforms draws more attention than the actual preparation of Team USA or the London games themselves.
If there were to be a debate, the quality of the uniforms rather than the source of production should receive public attention.
The Olympics are all about effectiveness and efficiency. The economic argument should focus on a cost benefit analysis of those uniforms. Does the outsourcing of stitching tasks to China lower the costs, and how does such international procurement affect quality?
There is no need for a patriotic argument here, but rather the simple exploration of whether the team gets what has been paid for. If there has to be some flag waving about Olympics clothes, then it might be during the entrance of the Chinese team, since its national basketball team and six other Chinese sports teams will compete in outfits featuring the swoosh of Nike.
The current debate over the Olympics clothes reflects much bigger issues such as the upcoming US presidential election and the subsequent formulation of national policy, but also the future direction of all major economies around the world.
How should one deal with and respond to international competition both in terms of process and activity?
We all like to win, but the Olympics indicates that we should be willing to let everyone put up their best efforts and honor the highest performers.
Comments made by some politicians about the Olympics and about the economy may sound silly and outrageous.
After all, outsourcing low-value manufacturing provides consumers in wealthy nations with low price products, particularly valuable to low-income segments. We should also remember that as originators of the Olympic Games, (and of the word "economy") the Greeks get to be first in presenting their flag during the opening march, but when it comes to performance, they are on equal footing with all other nations. Economies also need to refresh their innovation every day.
Right after the opening ceremony, the impact of the dress uniform's origin will begin to fade. It deserves perhaps mention that the Olympic Games athletes of yore were competing in the buff, which reinforces the idea that it is the context and performance that matter, rather than the clothes.
With the athletic performances the Olympic athletes do set an economic example for all of us: We need to embrace change, observe the best, and learn from all for future improvements. The clothes may differ, but the competition continues.
Professor Michael R. Czinkota and research assistant Jiashan Cui work at Georgetown University, Hariri School of Business. Blog: michaelczinkota.com. Shanghai Daily condensed the article.
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