Google

Overview

If you have ever used the phrase “I googled….” or any variation thereof, you have unconsciously been using the company, Google Inc., as a word to describe searching on the Internet. In fact, Google, Inc. has unknowingly turned their brand into an actual verb defined in the Merriam Webster Collegiate Dictionary as “to use the Google search engine to obtain information on the Internet.” Do not let this seemingly insignificant verb fool you. Google, in reality, represents the world’s largest Internet search engine, providing its users with the most useful and relevant information from over eight billion web pages (Hoover’s). Users may use www.google.com or dozens of Goggle’s other domains to perform free searches of anything from news bulletins, phone numbers, address locations or information on Saudi Arabia, Nordstrom or your neighbor next door.

Google generates revenue by providing cheap, yet cost effective online advertising for businesses wishing to promote their products or services. These ads, Google AdWords, are associated with the users’ search or keywords. In addition, Google sells ads “across a network of more than 200,000 affiliated Web sites,” called Google AdSense (Hoovers). Google offers a variety of other online services as well: Webmail, blogging, photo sharing, and instant messaging. They offer comparison shopping services (Froogle), an online image, video and book library (Google Images, Google Video, Google Books), general news stories (Google News), financial news (Google Finance), interactive maps (Google Maps) and Internet discussion groups (Google Groups) (Hoovers).

In a 2005 online poll conducted by Forbes entitled “Which Search Engine is the Best?” Google overwhelmingly exceeded its competitors in popularity. Google maintained seventy-four percent of the vote. Its online rivals like Yahoo! and MSN remained a distant favorite with ten and five percent (Forbes Online).

It may come as no surprise that Google continues to maintain its standing as the world’s leading search engine. Providing millions of people with a plethora of facts and figures. Google, Inc. has unequivocally transformed our culture through the world wide web’s search capabilities. Without a doubt ensured that “knowledge is only a вЂ?google’ away.”

Corporate Culture

The innovative culture at Google is founded on their core philosophy “To never settle for the best” and their values for “talent and intelligence, group spirit and diversity, creativity and idealism.” (www.google.com). Indeed, Google is a business that thrives on creativity and innovation. In order for Google to maintain their position as the world’s leading Internet search engine, they are continually in the pursuit of fresh, new technological approaches.

Douglas Merrill, VP of Google engineering, concludes that “Culture drives the way you do things.” Undeniably, a positive work environment or culture will provoke employees to work at their best potential and strive to see their goals succeed. (Claburn). For Google, their corporate culture is driven by a unique Google concept- the Googleplex. Googleplex is Google’s corporate headquarters and is the ultimate work environment. The progressive workplace makes for a fun and inviting environment, while offering challenging careers for innovative minds. Googleplex exemplifies the very ideal of a workplace environment that is relaxed, yet fun and energetic at the same time. Employees are able to enjoy their time at work and interact with fellow employees while “tackling the toughest problems in computer science and developing innovative products” (www.google.com).

In addition to its relaxed, stress-free atmosphere, Google functions as a “single, open social network, where every piece of work is laid bare on the company’s intranet.” (Conlin). This allows Googlers to look for those working on similar technologies, find relevant expertise or join projects.”

One such amenity that allows Google employees to work in this high functioning social environment is the Googleplex cafÐ"© known as “Charlie’s Place” (Claburn). It is a work cafÐ"© designed primarily to promote cross-functional communication and social interactions among the different departments. It allows all employees from the engineering department to human resources to come together, eat and socialize, while still generating and sharing new business ideas and goals. “If you want people to talk, if you want people to engage, how do you do that?” Merrill asks. “You give them lunch” (Claburn).

Motivation

Motivation, or the “processes that account for an individual’s intensity, direction, and persistence of effort toward attaining a goal,” is a crucial, yet fundamental aspect for any successful business. Management and even other employees stress the need to motivate their employees or coworkers to in order to promote “growth, responsibly, and involvement in the work itself” (Robbins 214). Google’s own website describes the “Top 10 Reasons to Work for Google.” They consider appreciation to be there best motivation. Therefore, Google believes the best means of motivating their employees is through positive reception and to demonstrate overall gratitude for being apart of the company and contributing to its success. As a sign of appreciation and also as a motivation factor, Google has created вЂ?The Googleplex,’ which is described as “a fun and inspiring workspace.” (www.google.com). It is designed to offer the space needed to help get creative juices flowing, which is an important aspect of their working culture.

Google executives understand the growing importance employees have to balance work and life. This is why they offer unique employee benefits that are numerous and innovative. The basic health and wellness programs are comparable to other technology firms. But to set themselves apart from other technology companies they offer an array of unique services. A few of the direct service benefits that sets them apart include the Google child care center (Kinderplex) located onsite at the Mountain View Googleplex, where employees can see their children during work hours and eat together during lunch. Also, free gourmet lunches