Organization and Management at Google

After my last post I've taken some time to reflect on the structure of Google as a creative company. Its interesting to look back to our discussion of the organization and management of the CCI's in lecture and seminar in the first term and apply those theories to what I've observed here at Google.

Much of the team organization at Google supports Chris Bilton's work on the CCI's and his concept of 'Release and Control'. He has argued that managers are rejecting control and hierarchy for simpler individualized projects and ways of working - what he refers to as 'soft control'. The idea is that employees are more productive in a laissez-fare workplace. Although some control is still inevitable, managers are encouraged to motivate their employees by giving them the freedom of flexibility and fostering creativity. This change in management styles is evident in every aspect of Google. The entire company is project-driven: teams are put in place on one project - for instance our Zeitgeist event coming up in May has 3 people from events, 3 from marketing, 2 from sales, etc. They will work on this project through its completion, and then be assigned to a new project by their manager. This form of working encourages teams to work together and focus on one unified goal.

In addition to the project-based aspect of Google, the working environment also encourages a laid-back atmosphere. The offices are fun and interactive - a boat sits in the middle of a huge atrium on the 4th floor with trees, deck chairs, and massage chairs. A full sized double-decker London bus sits on the 3rd floor. Employees are encouraged to take their laptops along to relax and work in these spaces in between meetings. And even the fact that every employee has a laptop is a testament to Google's commitment to mobility, flexibility and creativity. We can work from home, from another country, or from an event just as easily as we can from our assigned desks (Bilton, 2007).

The First Day

The first day of Google was, as expected, overwhelming and full of new faces, new systems and an onslaught of information. I think, however, the most useful thing to discuss would be the glaring differences between my former companies - record labels - and Google.

Most of the differences were related to monetary issues, as would be expected. The record industry is in turmoil due to the digital revolution, whereas Google has been a key player in causing that very revolution. I received a new mac laptop, an android phone and a desktop within my first hour of being on-site at Google. At Universal Records, it took me two years of begging to get a company blackberry. Each of the floors at Google is equipped with 5 photocopy machines which print, scan and copy documents in the blink of an eye, whereas I had to lobby Virgin Records' finance department for 6 months to get a $110 scanner for the publicity department.

The importance and significance of these is not in the material aspect, but rather the concepts behind the companies. Google believes that if employees are enabled with the most current products, they will be free to innovate and create. They manage the company in teams and there is very little hierarchy involved. Record labels, on the other hand, have been slower to adapt to this concept of freedom for their employees. Beauracracy still reigns supreme in the music industry, and while inventive start-ups such as Google have risen to the top, music giants Sony, EMI, Universal and Warner Brothers, who have failed to reform their structure, are very rapidly sinking.

Official Start Date

Just a quick update this week as I have my official start date of April 18th all confirmed. Unfortunately this comes at a bad time with term papers and final exams around the corner, but Google's largest event of the year, Zeitgeist Europe, will be taking place on May 15th, 16th and 17th and I'll need to meet the team and prep before the big event!

Just a quick thought to comment on the importance of flexibility in this industry. Even though this start date is incredibly inconvenient for me, I know that being flexible and meeting the company's needs is of the utmost importance. Because of the competitive nature of the industry, you must remain flexible and adjust your schedule to the wants and needs of your employer. There is no doubt of the reality that there are 100's of people in line to take my place who would offer to start on April 18th had I not been able to!