The foreign expansion of General Electric and its success in consolidating the global region is based on the assessment of needs and opportunities of each market individually and not as a bloc, which has allowed refinement of strategies to the specific characteristics of each market. In 2001, it introduced the GE Discovery LS, a medical miracle which allowed physicians to detect cancer in its early stages so early treatment could be imparted. It has long been involved with the NASA to ensure that US satellites remain in top shape and up-to-date.4D imaging for ultrasound was introduced in 2002, an innovation which revolutionized the medical world. This greatly increased the amount of data that physicians extracted from Ultrasound.
Furthermore, a story that supports more than plans in Latin America is underway to build the first center of GE Global Research in Latin America in Rio de Janeiro will be ready in 2013 and with it comes the development of technology and solutions for local needs in order to stimulate growth in all countries of the region. Most of the companies are reluctant to get aligned with technological innovations, whereas GE leaving aside the aspect of cultural backgrounds, many shopping sites keeps globalization from technical complexity and high costs associated with this step despite the high growth potential after the international markets (Deutsch, 2007).
GE Global Business Operations & Benefits
The global business operations of General Electric have provided competitive advantage to the company that has improved an importance of globalization is for GE's growth and survival. Even after all the widespread takeovers, GE remained an American company at heart. Its entire headquarters were in America and all the top positions were filled by Americans. It was only after Immelt took over from Welch that GE started to globalize its corporate culture. Under Immelt, GE stated to show signs of a true globalized empire. He started by shifting the headquarters of its units away from America. This move was prompted by the fact that GE wanted to be closer to its fastest growing customers in Asia and Europe. For example, the head offices for the GE health care unit and GE Money have been shifted to London. In addition to shifting the head office, GE is also loosening its tight policy of controlling everything from the center. It has given more liberty to its offshore operators. This is because GE believes that policies have to be adjusted to suit the economic, political, cultural and social conditions in various global markets. Additionally, since the business climate and legal obligations vary from country to country, a centralized policy would have been regressive and even detrimental to GE's growth as a global powerhouse. This policy is further strengthened by the fact that GE is slowly shifting its R&D wing overseas. The reason for this is simple: to design products and services that better suit it's ever expanding global consumer base (Goldman, 2009)