Observations on Google

Some insights I observed out of my visit to Googleplex in Mountain View, California. This blog entry will go beyond the usual observations about the physical structure of Google and how they have a fabulous, eat-and-drink all you can cafeteria :)

• Time is Money. Sounds cliche, but many aspects of the Google workplace focus on minimizing time-wasters and maximizing brainwork. For example, most of the meeting rooms I visited had Macbook power cords plugged in and ready. I just hooked it up to my Macbook and I was set up.
• Moreoever, the meeting rooms had projectors (often two projectors). The projectors would always be ready -- cables waiting for you to just plug in. There were even simple instruction cards to help you do a quick setup.
  
• Maximize brain power. There are hints and reminders everywhere that Google values your ideas. It encourages writing down ideas to "recycle your thoughts" (which is also a time-saving device. It values creativity and talent -- it set up corners and walls devoted to exhibiting the extra-curricular work of the employees.
• Healthy workplace. Google is obsessive-compulsive on this. It's legendary No Name Cafe is stuffed with organic food. It's got sports facilities around campus (in Bldg 43, where we went, there was a billiard table on 2nd floor and a volleyball court in the middle of the garden (same garden that had a completely assembled skeleton set of a T-Rex).
• Well-rounded people. I don't mean rotund :) The Googlers I met were all programmers, but they could also manage an event, facilitate workshops and program too! They were not uptight and aloof the way Microsofties are (I've had my share of arrogant Microserfs).
• Action oriented. This was a big revelation for me. The Googlers who handled the Mentors Summit were aware of the time constraint governing the one-day event and they kept pushing more towards action. No time was wasted on complex debates -- these were often "parked" or a quick vote was made to decide. If no vote seemed to emerge, the Googler in charge would just decide randomly and say we can change this decision later.

View photos of the Google Mentors Summit.