The Google Way : How One Company Is Revolutionizing Management As We Know It

When it comes to Google's management philosophies, people associate two ideas with the search giant. First, don't be evil. Second, let engineers spend part of their time on personal projects. But there's much more to Google's success than that. For readers seeking deeper insights, "The Google Way" investigates the history and unconventional strategies that make Google a very different (and very inspiring) company. But the question remains, "Can everyday companies follow this enlightened path?" By identifying the 12 key strategies in Google's quick rise to the top, author Bernard Girard offers readers a set of well-defined principles to help them emulate Google's success. viii, 247 p. ; 24cm Includes bibliographic references (p. 229-238) and index. Rebels with a cause -- A new economic model -- Three iconoclasts at the top -- Recruiting the best -- The 20 percent rule -- Colleagues are the best judges -- An innovation machine -- Like a Swiss army knife -- For the love of math -- Keep the teams small! -- Coordination through technology -- The secret is in the workplace -- Automating commerce -- Putting users in charge -- Sustainable growth -- Can Google evade conformity. Shortly after World War I, Ford and GM created the large modern corporation, with its financial and statistical controls, mass production, and assembly lines. In the 1980s, Toyota stood out for combining quality with continuous refinement. Today, Google is reinventing business yet again-the way we work, how organizations are controlled, and how employees are managed. Management consultant Bernard Girard has been analyzing Google since its founding in 1998, and now in The Google Way , he explores Google's innovations in depth-many of which are far removed from the best practices taught at the top business schools. As you read, you'll see how much of Google's success is due to its focus on users and automation. You'll also learn how eCommerce has profoundly changed the relationship between businesses and their customers, for the first time giving customers an important role to play in a major corporation's growth. Finally, Girard speculates about the limits of Google's business model and discusses the challenges it will face as it continues to grow. Google's culture is one of innovation. Why not make that spirit of innovation your own?

When it comes to Google's management philosophies, people associate two ideas with the search giant. First, don't be evil. Second, let engineers spend part of their time on personal projects. But there's much more to Google's success than that. For readers seeking deeper insights, "The Google Way" investigates the history and unconventional strategies that make Google a very different (and very inspiring) company. But the question remains, "Can everyday companies follow this enlightened path?" By identifying the 12 key strategies in Google's quick rise to the top, author Bernard Girard offers readers a set of well-defined principles to help them emulate Google's success.