GROUP 3

Organizing for Innovation at

Table of Contents

1.0 Summary of the Case Study

2.0 Question 1

3.0 Question 2

4.0 Question 3

5.0 Question 4

6.0 Question 5
1.0 Summary of the Case Study
Table of Contents

1.0 Introduction

2.0 Question 1

3.0 Question 2

4.0 Question 3

5.0 Question 4

6.0 Question 5
2.0 Question 1

What are the advantages and disadvantages of the

creative side of Google being run as a flexible and flat
“technocracy?”
2.0 Question 1 - Answers
Table of Contents

1.0 Introduction

2.0 Question 1

3.0 Question 2

4.0 Question 3

5.0 Question 4

6.0 Question 5
3.0 Question 2

How does Google’s culture influence the kind of

employees it can attract and retain?
3.0 Question 2 - Answers

• The culture is seen as “flexible” and “free”. This may attract

employees that are creative which would lead to more
innovative products and services
• As the organization requires you to spend 20% of your time
on innovative projects of your own choosing you will have a
more dynamic job than traditional jobs
• This will help to retain employees since they can choose this
themselves
• If they want to make a change they can do this very easily
within the company
Table of Contents

1.0 Introduction

2.0 Question 1

3.0 Question 2

4.0 Question 3

5.0 Question 4

6.0 Question 5
4.0 Question 3

What do you believe the challenges are in having very

different structure and controls for Google’s creative
side versus the other parts of the company?
4.0 Question 3 - Answers

• Since the structure within the company is different

(ambidextrous organization) the general management has to
take a lot of variables into account
• A general decision could be effective in one part and
ineffective in another part
• collaboration of the different departments could result in
conflict as they have a different work culture
• envy could occur since the “traditional” department might
think that those creative guys that sit on couches and do not
have a particular task probably make as much money as they
Table of Contents

1.0 Introduction

2.0 Question 1

3.0 Question 2

4.0 Question 3

5.0 Question 4

6.0 Question 5
5.0 Question 4

Some analysts have argued that Google’s free-form

structure and the 20 percent time to work on personal
projects is only possible because Google’s prior success
has created financial slack in the company. Do you agree
with this? Would Google be able to continue this
management style if it had closer competitors?
5.0 Question 4 - Answers
Thank You