Google and Business Practices Research Paper

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Best Practices in Business

Over the last several years, the workplace has been continually evolving. This is because there are different age groups and demographics. These shifts are forcing employers to utilize numerous strategies in order to improve motivation and performance. In the case of Google, the firm is one of the top technology companies in world. To remain competitive they will use their employees to assist the company in reaching key objectives. This enables it to adapt with the different changes inside the marketplace. [footnoteRef:2] To fully understand they way this occurs requires carefully examining their practices, the way they can be used by other businesses and the influence they are having on sectors. Together, these elements will illustrate how Google is able to utilize these factors to continually adjust with the challenges it is facing. [2: Janet Lowe, Google Speaks (Hoboken, NJ: Wiley, 2009), 29-73]

Background

Google is focused on providing everyone with products and services to organization information. This occurs in the form of a search engine, mobile phones, tablets, cloud storage solutions and smart technology. The company's basic philosophy is, "Don't be evil." This encompasses every single aspect of the organization. In the case of legal issues, the firm has been working to promote openness and transparency. During this process, they have fought to have access to copyrighted materials. At the same time, they have left locations where freedom of speech is threatened (such as: China).[footnoteRef:3] From a social perspective, they are working to meet the needs of their employees and support communities / ecologically friendly practices. Economically, the firm creates jobs and it ensures its staff members have a higher standard of living. [footnoteRef:4] [3: Peter Fisk, People Planet Profit (Philadelphia, PA: Kogan Page, 2010), 34 -57.] [4: Standard and Poor's, S&P Stock Guide (New York, NY: McGraw Hill, 2014), 239-243 ]

Specific Problems Impacting Google

The biggest managerial practices the firm is facing are from not having enough employees to address the organizations future needs. This is because the company is rapidly expanding into many different industries. The result is that it requires staff members, to meet the continuing needs of consumers in a variety of markets. From an operational perspective, the firm has to enforce the same policies in regions where certain practices are not embraced. This is leading to conflicts about doing business in these locations or focusing on areas which can meet the basic ideals of the firm. Financially, Google is competing in a marketplace that requires continuing innovation. In order to meet these objectives, they have to be the first to introduce new products. During this process, they will have to spend billions of dollars in researching and testing it. [footnoteRef:5] [5: Standard and Poor's, S&P Stock Guide, 2014, 239-243 ]

Google's Practices

Google is focused on reaching out to each employee in a unique way. This is accomplished by concentrating on job satisfaction and organizational commitment. Job satisfaction is when an employee will have positive or negative attitudes related to their work. Organizational commitment occurs after an individual feels a sense of respect, fairness and is willing to go the extra mile for the firm. These factors are interconnected, as both have a direct impact on the person's outlook, levels of motivation and if they will do more for their employer. [footnoteRef:6] [6: Paul Akanbi, "Exploring the Relationship between Job Satisfaction and Organizational Commitment," Journal of Business and Management Sciences, 2 (2013): 18 -- 22. ]

However, they are different, as job satisfaction is one step to help a person feel committed to the organization. This is because the two build off of each other and are necessary for establishing the strongest beliefs. These factors work in stages and continue to evolve with the individual using various thoughts and emotions to determine if satisfied they are with their work / position. Once someone has established favorable views, is the point this will make them more dedicated to the company in the longer term. This is when they are willing to help the organization achieve key objectives and is utilizing their talents to enhance its performance. [footnoteRef:7] [7: Paul Akanbi, "Exploring the Relationship between Job Satisfaction and Organizational Commitment," Journal of Business and Management Sciences, 2 (2013): 18 -- 22. ]

In the case of Google, both are equally important in helping the firm to reach its performance objectives. This is because the company needs innovators, who understand the marketplace and can make suggestions about how the organization should adjust.

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Google uses the two factors to encourage them to think creatively and introduce innovative solutions to address the needs of customers. [footnoteRef:8] [8: "Our Culture," Google, last modified 2014, accessed January 5, 2015, http://www.google.com/about/company/facts/culture/]

A good example of this can be seen with Google stating how job satisfaction and commitment work in conjunction with each other. Evidence of this can be seen with the company saying, "We strive to maintain the open culture often associated with startups, in which everyone is a hands-on contributor and feels comfortable sharing ideas and opinions. In our weekly all-hands (i.e. TGIF) meetings -- not to mention over email or in the cafe -- Googlers ask questions directly to Larry, Sergey and other execs about any number of company issues. Our offices and cafes are designed to encourage interactions between Googlers within and across teams, and to spark conversation about work as well as play." [footnoteRef:9]This is illustrating how Google is using commitment and satisfaction to encourage everyone to think creatively and do more. These objectives are achieved by helping employees to feel like they are part of something special. During the various meetings and course of performing numerous functions, is when they will have higher levels of satisfaction. This will work in conjunction with organizational commitment to do more. Over the course of time, the combination of these factors enhances performance. [footnoteRef:10] [9: "Our Culture," Google, last modified 2014, accessed January 5, 2015, http://www.google.com/about/company/facts/culture/] [10: Janet Lowe, Google Speaks (Hoboken, NJ: Wiley, 2009), 29-73]

Google is utilizing the humanistic motivational theory. It states that addressing different needs of the person will help them to feel more empowered and engage in higher levels of thinking. This is based off of Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs (i.e. psychological, security, social, esteem and self-actualization). These factors enable Google to address the requirements of employees and encourage them to think at higher levels. Once this happens, is the point they can enhance their performance in order to meet key objectives of the firm. [footnoteRef:11] [11: Michael Hackman, Leadership (Long Grove, IL: Waveland Press, 2013), 91-123]

What makes Google so unique is they go beyond what is offered by traditional employers. This is accomplished through creating an atmosphere which is open and inviting to everyone. At the same time, they provide benefits that are meeting all of the physical and emotional needs of staff members. The most notable include: flexible scheduling, health / life / travel insurance, in house healthcare / daycare, free / discounted legal services, nap pods, free meals and discounts on travel / events. These areas are addressing all the lower elements of Maslow's theory. It is at this point, when everyone reaches the highest stage of growth and will do more to help the organization to be successful (via self-actualization). As a result, this a good place to work for. These views are based upon: what Google provides to employees, how it motivates them and their strategies for encouraging higher levels of critical thinking which will benefit the firm. [footnoteRef:12] [12: Michael Hackman, Leadership (Long Grove, IL: Waveland Press, 2013), 91-123]

Project Timelines

The project timelines have a certain amount of flexibility. In this case, the managers will communicate with other team members about the challenges they are facing. If they need time to adjust them back, this will occur after providing a logical explanation. Moreover, executives will work with everyone to ensure any kind of problems is addressed early on. This helps the company to maintain its project schedules through discussing and listening to employees in the process. [footnoteRef:13] [13: Scott, Google, 2008, 61 -95]

The critical paths for Google are a working deadline to complete the project. This is taking place by having flexibility implemented into the time table to account for challenges which could arise during research and development. To protect the firm against unforeseen events, they have numerous locations which backup and store data. At the same time, they will continually monitor and update against any kind of breaches. The basic idea; is to use this as way to deal with, prevent and quickly recover from any kind of incidents. [footnoteRef:14] [14: Virginia Scott, Google (Westport, CT: Greenwood Publishing, 2008), 61-95]

The implementation of contingency plans could be triggered by specific events. For example, in 2007 Google had a strategy to take over San Francisco's municipal wifi in the event Earth Link went into bankruptcy. This is designed.....

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