Google

:For the search engine produced by Google Inc., see Google search; for the underlying technology, see Google platform; for other uses see Google (disambiguation).

Corporate culture

Philosophy

Google is known for its relaxed corporate culture, reminiscent of the Dot-com boom. Google's corporate philosophy is based on many casual principles including: "You can make money without doing evil", "You can be serious without a suit" and "Work should be challenging and the challenge should be fun." A complete list of corporate fundamentals is available on Google's web site http://www.google.com/corporate/tenthings.html. The company encourages equality within corporate levels. Twice a week there is a roller hockey game in the company parking lot.

Related Topics:
Dot-com - Roller hockey

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

"Twenty percent" time

Every Google engineer is encouraged to spend 20 percent (20%) of their work time on projects that interest them. Some of these end up as Google services (notably Adsense/Adwords - which provide the majority of the company's revenue, as well as Gmail and Google News).

Related Topics:
Adsense - Adwords - Gmail - Google News

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Googleplex

Google's headquarters is called the Googleplex. The lobby is decorated with a piano, lava lamps, and a real time projection of current search queries. The hallways are full of exercise balls and bicycles. Each employee has access to the corporate recreation center. Recreational amenities are scattered throughout the campus, and include a workout room with weights and rowing machines, locker rooms, washers and dryers, a massage room, assorted video games, Foosball, a baby grand piano, a pool table, and ping pong. In addition to the rec room, there are snack rooms stocked with various cereals, gummy bears, M&Ms, toffee, licorice, cashews, yogurt, carrots, fresh fruit, and dozens of different drinks including fresh juice, soda, and make-your-own cappuccino. After eating, people can relieve themselves on digital toilets similar to Japanese toilets.

Related Topics:
Googleplex - Lava lamps - Bicycle - Video game - Foosball - Baby grand piano - Ping pong - Rec room - Cereal - Gummy bear - M&Ms - Toffee - Licorice - Cashew - Yogurt - Carrot - Juice - Soda - Cappuccino - Japanese toilets

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

IPO and culture

Many people have suggested that after Google's IPO the corporate culture will not be able to stay so "fun" and focused on the future.http://www.wired.com/news/business/0,1367,63241,00.html?tw=wn_story_related http://www.ciol.com/content/news/2004/104043001.asp The company may be required to answer to its new shareholders who may press the company to reduce employee benefits and to focus on short term advances. Also, it may be more challenging for the company to maintain a collegial atmosphere when approximately 1,000 (30%) of the employees are paper-millionaires. In a report given to potential investors, co-founders Sergey Brin and Larry Page promised that the IPO would not change the company's culture. Later Mr. Page said, "We think a lot about how to maintain our culture and the fun elements."

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

In 2005, articles in The New York Times and other news sources http://www.smh.com.au/news/technology/search-giant-may-outgrow-its-fans/2005/08/25/1124562975596.html

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

began suggesting that Google had lost its anti-corporate, no evil philosophy. The New York Times article was headlined, "Relax, Bill Gates; It's Google's Turn as the Villain" http://www.nytimes.com/2005/08/24/technology/24valley.html.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~