Make sure that everybody in the company has great opportunities, has a meaningful impact, and is contributing to the good of society.
The Google organizational case will tell you more about the Google company and its organizational culture. After reading this case study you will learn not only about Google and its culture, but also about Google's organizational structure, the management style it employs, and how it addresses problems.
About Google
Before we dive into the organizational case study of Google, we first need to know a little more about the Google company. Google is an innovative American search engine company founded in 1998 by Sergey Brin and Larry Page. The company's history began in 1995 at Stanford University, where the founders met and before Google was born, it was called "Backrub". Today, the company produces a variety of products that are used around the world. Google uses a universal approach to cater to everyone's preferences - developers, businesses and all users. Products include Gmail, Google Maps, Pixel and more.
The company's mission is to organise universal information and make it accessible to all. To achieve this, Google strives to innovate quickly.
Google's core company values are to: put the user first and maximize their experience; when it comes to service, fast is better than slow; master one thing very well; and make money without doing something bad. These are Google's principal core values.
As an innovative company, Google is known for its flexible and informal culture where people are the most important asset. Google strives to bring diverse people together and create innovation.
Google Organisation Structure
Google's organizational structure is relatively flat and supports informal communication between different organizational units. Google uses a matrix organisation structure, also known as the cross-functional organisational structure. Moreover, their organizational culture supports changes and encourages openness between employees. Most importantly, Google's structure and culture align with each other.
Google Organisational Structure and Culture
Now let's have a look at Google's organizational structure and culture in more detail.
Google's organisational structure
Google follows a cross-functional organizational structure, or in other words, a matrix corporate structure.
Using the cross-functional or matrix structure means that staff from different functions with a variety of skills are grouped together to work on a certain project or product development. Each cross-functional group is usually headed by a senior manager who is responsible for leading that group.
Google 'structure involves three main characteristics which are:
Function-based - Google's structure involves a functional side as the company has its separate functions such as finance, sales, and marketing, research and development, etc. grouped into different functional departments. All functions are led by an executive who manages the function and makes strategic decisions.
Product-based - The products that the company produces are developed through product groups that involve employees from various functions. Google has two main product-based groups which are responsible for cloud operations and another one for artificial intelligence operations. There is also an executive responsible for each of those groups that assist in developing product lines.
Flatness - The organization is relatively flat meaning that employees are able to communicate to managers of various levels throughout the organization without middle management being involved. Even in the functional-based areas, employees are able to communicate with higher managers. This allows for information to flow effectively within the function and across departments which encourages innovation.
Google's organizational structure can be illustrated in the diagram below.
Google Organizational Structure, Vaia
Google's organizational culture
As mentioned previously one of the main reasons for Google's success as being a highly innovative company is an alignment between structure and culture. The keywords that can be used to describe Google's organizational culture are innovative, open, and social. Not to forget that the main belief that Google's culture follows is that the people are the most important assets in the organization.
Now let's have a look at the main characteristics that make up Google's culture. These are:
Openness - Google's culture encourages employees to share knowledge and ideas with each other.
An open organisational culture allows marketing department employees to interact with product design employees and gain valuable knowledge in this field. This is particularly useful when designing a new product line, as good communication between both sides will enhance the product's design and add value to its promotion to consumers.
Innovation - Google's culture strongly encourages employees to be innovative in whatever they do. To encourage innovation, Google supports risk-taking and offers financial rewards for successful innovations.
Excellence - Google's culture is built around the expectation that every employee can achieve excellence. To achieve this, the company offers further education and training programs to employees so they continue to improve and achieve exceptional results at work.
Hands-on approach - Google's culture follows the concept that employee development is best accomplished through on-the-job training. Therefore, Google supports experimental learning and encourages risk-taking as it is believed to encourage innovation.
Social - Google's culture encourages employees to communicate between departments and to make social connections. As informal relationships between employees not only make sharing ideas easier but also improve employees' wellbeing.
Google company problems and solutions
There are certain ways that Google addresses and solves problems that arise in the company. Here are some ways Google deals with problems when they occur in the company.
Give opportunity for employees to solve problems - Problems are not assigned to specific individuals at Google, rather they are solved by people who are passionate about solving them. Solutions are therefore more effective.
Expose everyone to a problem - At Google, it is believed that exposing everyone to a problem is one of the best ways to find a solution.
A poster with a problem Google is trying to solve would be printed out and hung up in the kitchen for everyone to see. Once it's exposed to everyone, someone may see it and have an effective idea on how to solve it.
Understand when employees mistakes are made - Instead of being strict with employees when they create problems they cannot fix, managers at Google understand them and encourage them to take risks and come up with solutions. That is the reason why employees are not afraid to take risks and try various methods until problems are solved.
Google management style
The management style that is widely used in Google is democratic. At Google, this management style was implemented by one of the CEOs, Larry Page. Page believed that involving employees in decision-making and being part of the company will maximize their motivation and reflect in their performances. In addition, at Google, managers ensure that the employees are doing work that is meaningful and they communicate openly with employees and actively ask for their opinion.
Democratic management style means that employees are encouraged to be part of the decision-making. Managers make decisions together with subordinates, which involve frequent discussions to achieve mutual goals.
As a whole, Google's culture has an impact on its success in innovation. Culture is aligned with the company structure and is driven by openness, innovation, social aspects, and many more. And not to mention, people are the company's greatest assets.
Google Organisational Culture - Key takeaways
- Google is an innovative American search engine company founded in 1998 by Sergey Brin and Larry Page.
- Google follows a cross-functional organizational structure, also known as Matrix corporate structure.
Google's structure involves three main characteristics which are function-based definition, product-based definition, and flatness.
One of the main reasons for Google's innovation is the alignment between Google's culture and structure.
The key characteristics of Google's culture are openness, innovation, excellence, hands-on approach, and socialness.
There are three main ways that Google deals with problems when they occur in the organization. These are: give opportunities for employees to solve problems, expose employees to problems and understand employees when mistakes are made.
The management style that is widely used in Google is democratic.
SOURCES:
About.Google, From the garage to the Googleplex, 2020.
Carol Sanford, How Google's Larry Page became a responsible entrepreneur, 2014.
Nathaniel Smithson, Google's Organizational Structure & Organizational Culture (An Analysis), 2019.
Savoia and Copeland, Entrepreneurial Innovation at Google, 2011.
Spector, A., Norvig, P. and Petrov, S., Google's Hybrid Approach to Research, 2012.
Stabile, SJ, Google Benefits or Google's Benefit, 2008.
Frequently Asked Questions about Google Organisational Culture
What type of organizational culture is Google?
Google is centred around its organizational culture. The main characteristics that describe Google's organizational culture are innovative, open, and social. The main idea that Google's culture follows is that the people are the most important assets in the organization.
How is Google's work culture?
The main characteristics that make up Google's work culture are openness which allows employees to share knowledge and ideas with each other; innovation which encourages employees to take risks; excellence; a hands-on approach; and social, as Google's culture encourages employees to communicate between departments and make social connections.
How has Google established its unconventional company culture?
Google has established its unconventional company culture through its organisational structure. Google follows a cross-functional organizational structure, also known as a Matrix corporate structure. This allows staff from different functions, with a variety of skills, to meet and collaborate.
What are Google's organizational values?
Google's core organisational values are to: put the user first and maximize their experience; when it comes to service, fast is better than slow; master one thing very well; and make money without doing something bad.
What are the factors responsible for the specific culture that exists in Google?
Organisational structure is one of the factors responsible for the specific culture that exists in Google. Google's organisational structure is relatively flat and supports informal communication between different organisational units. Moreover, their organisational culture supports changes and encourages openness between employees. Most importantly, Google's structure and culture align with each other.
