Running head: GOOGLE'S ORGANIZATIONAL COMMITMENT AND

Google's Organizational Commitment and Communication

Com/530

GOOGLE'S ORGANIZATIONAL COMMITMENT AND

Google's Organizational Commitment and Communication

There are many factors that could affect an organizations commitment and
communication. This paper will explain how different leadership styles can affect group
communication and how power can affect group and organizational communication at Google.
It will also identify a motivational theory that would be effective at Google. Then it will
describe the commitment of the workforce at Google and their relationship to the organizations
communication. Good introduction
There are many different leadership styles. Some of the leadership styles that would
affect group communication at Google are: transformational, transactional, and charismatic.
Transformational leaders motivate people to go beyond their own self-interests and have an
extraordinary effect on people. Charismatic leaders have a vision and are willing to take
personal risks to reach their vision. Transactional leaders guide people towards established goals
by giving role and task requirements (Robbins & Judge, Chapter 12, 2011). Googles group
communication is open and creative. Google encourages employees to come up with new ideas.
How do they do this? What are some examples? So, transformational and charismatic leadership
styles would be a positive influence on group communication at Google. Transactional
leadership style would affect group communication at Google in a negative way.
There are two general groupings of power they are formal and personal. Formal power is
centered on persons position within an organization and comes from the ability to coerce or
reward, or from formal authority. Coercive power comes from fear of the damaging results from
failing to conform. Reward power produces positive benefits and is the opposite of coercive
power. People value someone who distributes rewards. Legitimate power or formal authority is
the most common access to one or more power bases. It represents the formal authority to

GOOGLE'S ORGANIZATIONAL COMMITMENT AND

control and use organizational resources based on structural position in the organization.
Personal power comes from a persons unique characteristics and has two bases expert power
and referent power. Expert power comes from experience, special skill, or knowledge. Referent
power is based on a persons personal traits. Expert and referent have a positive impact on
employees satisfaction with supervision, organizational commitment, and employees
performance (Robbins & Judge, 2011). Google believes in a flat management structure.
According to Stacy Sullivan, a human-resources director and chief culture officer in Mountain
View, Calif., there is no vast hierarchy and no task to small for anyone to pitch in on
(Ransom, 2011, para. 7). Larry Page and Sergey Brin are active in the day-to-day activities at
Google Inc. They welcome the employees to speak their mind and offer new innovative ideas
daily. There are also weekly meetings with employees and the founders. The different sources
of power at Google have a very positive effect on the group and organizational communication
(Johansson, 2010).
Googles organizational culture is creative, open, and unique. The motivational theories
that would be effective at Google are the self-efficacy theory and the goal-setting theory. The
self-efficacy theory is when a person knows that they are capable of performing a task. The
goal-setting theory is a theory that states that precise and complex goals lead to higher
performance. Good statement These two motivational theories combined would be very
effective. The group communication would prosper simply because the communication channels
would be open and creative (Robbins & Judge, 2011).
Google employees say that the organizations culture is what makes them what they are
today. Employees are just as committed to Google as Google is to the employees. Employees
brag about the small team sizes and how it ensures that everybody can make an impact within the

GOOGLE'S ORGANIZATIONAL COMMITMENT AND

organization. Many employees boast about the sense of pride they get from knowing that what
they do at Google has a profound impact on Google users everywhere. Employees are
comfortable with the communication channels and speak freely to whomever in the organization
(Google, 2012).
In conclusion, some leadership styles have a positive effect on organizational
communication, as well as the different sources of power. The best motivational theories for
Google are the goal theory and the self-efficacy theory. Employees are very committed to
Googles organizational communication.

GOOGLE'S ORGANIZATIONAL COMMITMENT AND

References
Google. (2012, Fall). Google locations. Retrieved from
http://www.google.com/about/company/facts/locations/
Johansson, G. (2010, May). Google: The World's Most Successful Corporate Culture. suite 101,
(), why is this blank?. Retrieved from http://suite101.com/article/google-the-worlds-mostsuccessful-corporate-culture-a242303
Ransom, D. (2011, April). Finding Success by putting Company Culture First. Entrepreneur, (), .
Retrieved from http://www.entrepreneur.com/article/219509#
Robbins, S. P., & Judge, T. A. (2011). Organizational Behavior (14th ed.). Retrieved from The
University of Phoenix eBook collection database.
Good use of sources to support your paper.

Written Assignment Grading Form for Organizational Commitment and Communication

Paper, Due in Week Three

Content

Points
Points Additional Comments:
Available Earned

60 Percent
9

Explains how different leadership

styles would affect group
communication in the students
chosen
organization
Analyzes
the different sources of
power found in the organization
Identifies the motivational theories
that would be effective within the
chosen organizations culture
Evaluates the role of
communication as an element of

X/9
9/9
concepts used appropriately;
content supported effectively
by sources

GOOGLE'S ORGANIZATIONAL COMMITMENT AND

the motivational theories identified

Describes the commitment of the
workforce to the organization and
their relationship to the
organizations communication

Organization / Development

Points
Points Additional Comments:
Available Earned

20 Percent
3

The paper is 1,050 to 1,750 words in

length.

Paragraph transitions are present,

logical, and maintain the flow
throughout the paper.

The tone is appropriate to the content

and assignment.

Sentences are complete, clear, and

concise.

Sentences are well constructed, strong,

and varied.

Sentence transitions are present and

maintain the flow of thought.

Mechanics

X/3
A few areas noted for your
attention.

3/3

Points
Points Additional Comments:
Available Earned

20 Percent
3

X/3
3/3

The paper, including the title page,

reference page, tables, and appendixes,
follows APA formatting guidelines.

A few areas noted for your

attention.

GOOGLE'S ORGANIZATIONAL COMMITMENT AND

Citations of original works within the

body of the paper follow APA
guidelines.

The paper is laid out with effective use

of headings, font styles, and white
space.

Rules of grammar, usage, and

punctuation are followed.

Spelling is correct.

Total
Total
Available Earned
15

15/15

Heather, your paper is well

developed and you
appropriately applied
concepts from class. Thanks
for your work!