The Google Case: Aiming for an Evolutionary Advantage

Culture can be defined as “A pattern of basic assumptions invented, discovered or developed by a given group as it learns to cope with its problems of external adaptation and internal integration that has worked well enough to be considered valid, and therefore to be taught to the new members as the correct way to perceive, think and feel in relation to those problems”. Schein (1988)

Organizational culture can be defined as a system of shared beliefs and values that develops within an organization and guides the behavior of its members. It includes routine behaviors, norms, dominant values, and a feeling or climate conveyed. The purpose and function of this culture is to help foster internal integration, bring staff members from all levels of the organization much closer together, and enhance their performance.

Cultural Artifacts:

The process of culture formation essentially begins with targeting the three elements of organizational culture—observable artifacts (physical structures, rituals/ceremonies, stories and language), shared (espoused and enacted) values, and shared (implicit and explicit) assumptions.

A. Physical Structure (design of physical space, work environment and buildings)

The physical structure artifact includes physical space, work environment and building.

Googleplex is the new Google’s headquarters located in Mountain View, it was built with an informal culture and referred to as a rambling corporate campus by Eric Schmidt during his inaugural meeting. It has exercise balls which were re-purposed as movable office chairs; desks which were made out of wooden doors; and dogs that were permitted at work. In addition, top chefs were hired to provide free meals for all employees. Others are on-site health and ...

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...nnovation is uncontrollable as the mission of the company is to “launch early, launch often and launch fast.”

Works Cited

Carlson, N.R. and Heth, C.D. (2009). Psychology the Science of Behavior. Toronto Pearson Education Canada.

Edgar H.S. (2006). Organizational Culture and Leadership (3rd Edition). Jossey-Bass

Hamel G. and Breen B. (2007). The Future of Management: Aiming for an Evolutionary Advantage (Management Innovation in Action). Harvard Business School Press.

McShane, S.L. and Von Glinow, M. A. (2009). Organizational Behavior: Emerging knowledge and practice for the real world. McGraw-Hill.

Nitin N., Boris G. and Linda-Eling L. (2008, July 01). Employee Motivation: A Powerful New Model. Harvard Business Review.

Latham G.P and Pinder C.C. (2005). Work Motivation Theory and Research at the Dawn of the Twenty-First Century. Annual Review of Psychology 56.