AUSTIN, Texas - September 2007, updated November 16, 2007

To celebrate the lead donation by Michael and Susan Dell Foundation in support of the construction of Dell Computer Science Hall, the Department of Computer Sciences, the College of Natural Sciences and the University of Texas at Austin have jointly inaugurated the Dell Distinguished Lecture Series. Each year, the university will invite an international leader of the digital revolution to come to the university to give a public lecture. After the lecture a small, private reception and dinner will be held to give university, city and state leaders the chance to meet the speaker.

The first speaker in the Dell Distinguished Lecture series was Narayana Murthy, co-founder and former CEO of Infosys, one of the largest software firms in the world. The recipient of numerous awards and recognized as one of the most influential executives internationally, Mr. Murthy made globalization of software outsourcing a viable business.

Talk Title: "Do we need a Flat World?"

Download the lecture (156k PDF file).
Watch the movie (Quicktime format).

Talk Abstract:

Today, we live in the era of globalization where competencies, resources, and market opportunities can come from any part of the world. This, according to Thomas Friedman - the noted author, is the movement towards a flat world. The general belief is that globalization helps corporations to become more efficient in highly competitive markets. This lecture covers the formal thoughts behind the concept of globalization, and the benefits and challenges in embracing globalization. The lecture also discusses views of several protagonists and skeptics of the globalization phenomenon. The lessons in globalization from the advanced countries like the US for the aspirant nations are also discussed.

• Hosts: UT Office of the President, College of Natural Sciences and Department of Computer Sciences
• When: Thursday, November 15, 2007, 5:00 — 6:00 p.m.
• Where: Welch Hall, Room 2.224
• Parking: San Jacinto and San Antonio Parking Garages
• Who: Narayana Murthy, Chairman of the board of Infosys Technologies Limited, Bangalore, INDIA