Title: How Google works
Author: Eric Schmidt
& Jonathan Rosenberg
Publication: John
Murray – Hachette UK company
First the disclaimer…I admire the Google as a company and
many of its products, so my review of this book could be little biased! - And
this is not a book review, it is book summary! – I’ll be sharing some
highlights which are interesting to know from the book.
A book which is authored by former CEO (Eric) and Product
head (Jonathan) and which gives you a fine inside into how Google grew from
start-up to behemoth having at center very strong value system which two geeks
named Lawrence Page and Surgey Brin inculcated from day one and remained that
way…is definitely must read! ( I told you I am biased!)
Coming to this book – it has eight sub-themes or chapters
which talks about how Google works.
Chaos is the way: First few pages describe the feeling Eric had
when he joined Google & saw complete chaos…in terms of there was NO defined
workplace or cabins (Eric being the CEO- still was sharing his space initially)….seemed
everyone was working on everything….lot of creative buzz all around the place. Interestingly,
Eric says in the book there is order in chaos and chaos is the thing which is
needed to create superb creative products with strong technical insights. So
Google was a chaotic place to work in a good way!
Unique culture: I
admit, I was awestruck when I read about culture, talent–hiring and decision
making at Google. Many of the so called great companies always talk about their
unique culture, having open-two way communication, decentralized decision
making & equal –opportunity org., opportunities to voice out dissenting
opinions even against top Mgt. & promoters etc. Well, you and I, we all
know in most of the cases, exactly opposite of the above is true and that’s how
it is! BUT in this book, authors share many real experiences where employees
can openly disagree with founders or top mgt. in their regular famous TGIF open
meetings on Fridays. At Google, lot of top Mgt. (including founders) spend a good
amount of time in hiring the right talent (brilliant, passionate & creative
with strong technical background) and that is the reason it is the PEOPLE which
make Google different. The authors say Google always believe in hiring SMART
CREATIVES – and who are these? They are very smart, creative, flexible, quick
learners, exhibiting strong expertise in his or her area of interest, never look at the time
when involved in their work of passion, self-directed & motivated and so
on….
Decision making: The book nicely sums up the decision
making process at Google and that is – User first. The majority of critical
decisions are discussed and debated and employees are encouraged to dissent
with valid points and then consensus is built and decision is taken. Many
incidences authors quote in the book where instead of focusing on revenue or
customers (companies) who are placing their ads with Google products, they
focus on users. Right from the founders everyone is always thinking about the user
first (that is the culture they built from the start) – all those who are using
variety of Google products.
Note about authors:
1. Eric Schmidt – was CEO of Google Inc.
from 2001 to 2011. When he joined in 2001 as a CEO, Google was still a start-up-
founded in 1998 only. Eric being himself a veteran in the technology industry
and worked with many established companies at top level joined Google when it
was start-up, talks lot about Google as a company & its’ two founders.
2. Jonathan Rosenberg-
again veteran joined Google in 2002 overseeing design & developments of
products at Google.
