.floatimg-left-hort { float:left; } .floatimg-left-caption-hort { float:left; margin-bottom:10px; width:300px; margin-right:10px; clear:left;} .floatimg-left-vert { float:left; margin-top:10px; margin-right:15px; width:200px;} .floatimg-left-caption-vert { float:left; margin-right:10px; margin-bottom:10px; font-size: 12px; width:200px;} .floatimg-right-hort { float:right; margin-top:10px; margin-left:10px; margin-bottom:10px; width: 300px;} .floatimg-right-caption-hort { float:left; margin-right:10px; margin-bottom:10px; width: 300px; font-size: 12px; } .floatimg-right-vert { float:right; margin-top:10px; margin-left:10px; margin-bottom:10px; width: 200px;} .floatimg-right-caption-vert { float:left; margin-right:10px; margin-bottom:10px; width: 200px; font-size: 12px; } .floatimgright-sidebar { float:right; margin-top:10px; margin-left:10px; margin-bottom:10px; width: 200px; border-top-style: double; border-top-color: black; border-bottom-style: double; border-bottom-color: black;} .floatimgright-sidebar p { line-height: 115%; text-indent: 10px; } .floatimgright-sidebar h4 { font-variant:small-caps; } .pullquote { float:right; margin-top:10px; margin-left:10px; margin-bottom:10px; width: 150px; background: url(http://www.dmbusinessdaily.com/DAILY/editorial/extras/closequote.gif) no-repeat bottom right !important ; line-height: 150%; font-size: 125%; border-top: 1px solid; border-bottom: 1px solid;} .floatvidleft { float:left; margin-bottom:10px; width:325px; margin-right:10px; clear:left;} .floatvidright { float:right; margin-bottom:10px; width:325px; margin-right:10px; clear:left;}
The world might be flat, but finding sound footing is no easy task, panelists at last week’s Business Record Power Breakfast said.

About 200 people gathered on Sept. 9 at the Des Moines Club to discuss the implications for Iowa in Thomas Friedman’s best-selling book “The World Is Flat.”

Rob Denson, president of Des Moines Area Community College, directed the discussion of a panel made up of Jerry Deegan, president of Dowling Catholic High School; Rick Morain, publisher of the Jefferson Bee & Herald and president and executive director of the Greene County Economic Development Corp.; Elliott Smith, executive director of the Iowa Business Council; and Steve Smith, chairman of GCommerce Inc.

Friedman’s book identifies 10 “flatteners” that have made the world a smaller, faster-paced place in which to compete, whether for jobs or business or wealth.

There was little disagreement that the world is flatter than it was at the turn of the century. Education is key to competing and succeeding, panelists said.

Elliott Smith said he was concerned that the notion of educational quality in Iowa has been “tapped out” and that business depends on a rigorous education system.

Deegan said that after reading “The World Is Flat,” his faculty and staff identified three problems to overcome: a gap in motivation, a gap in numbers and a gap in education.

Dowling has increased the length of its school day, beefed up its core curriculum and required students at all grade levels to carry a heavy course load.

Morain said that several studies have shown that the nine-month school year that is linked to a farm calendar places Iowa students at a disadvantage.

However, changing to a 10-, 11- or 12-month school calendar would be a “huge cultural shock,” Deegan said.

Rural Iowa has a numbers problem in that its population is aging and its young people tend to gravitate to cities, Morain said.

Morain suggested tapping a percentage of the value of estates that are probated each year to establish a fund for quality-of-life improvements in rural areas.

GCommerce’s Steve Smith said that his company has helped flatten the world by providing workflow and supply-chain software to businesses. In addition, his company moved from New York City to Iowa.

When asked whether the world is at least a little bit “round,” Smith said, “Both statements are true. But the world is wired, it is flatter, it is tighter.”

The Power Breakfast was sponsored by Dowling Catholic High School, Des Moines Area Community College and the University of Northern Iowa.