Exploring the dynamics of globalization: supply chain vulnerability to natural disasters

Abstract

Global supply chains play an increasingly important role in the economy and should therefore be addressed within geography coursework, especially given concerns that geographers have not fully explored various angles of globalization. This article explores the use of an online case study on supply chains and their vulnerability to natural disasters in two entry-level, undergraduate courses. Results from a post-study survey suggest that students increasingly prefer online sources of information and that online case studies can foster a greater understanding of global economic processes such as supply chains and how these can be influenced by natural phenomena at different scales.

Keywords::

• supply chains
• case studies
• online education
• natural disasters
• geography education

Notes

^1. It should be mentioned that National Geography Standards also addresses this relationship in Geographic Standard 15 “How physical systems affect human systems.” See: http://education.nationalgeographic.com/education/standards/national-geography-standards/15/?ar_a = 1. In addition, this topic could be implemented in Advanced Placement Human Geography courses to cover material in Content Area VI “Industrialization and economic development.” See: http://media.collegeboard.com/digitalServices/pdf/ap/ap-human-geography-course-description.pdf

^2. See Solem, Klein, Muñiz-Solari, and Ray (2010) for detailed information regarding the CGGE program and the online modules.