In: Operations Management
Examine organizational culture at Alphabet Inc. and the impact the culture has on innovation? 500 words min
Alphabet Company is previously known as Google Company and it includes many other companies. Therefore, Google company culture is analyzed. The culture of company reveals that it creates a motivating environment to its employees. Google provides challenging assignments as well as employees’ empowerment. Many types of benefits that are generally not found in companies are provided to the employees such as free fitness centers, gym facilities, car and bike washing, etc. to retain talented employees within the organization and keep them happy, the company provides vacation package, health benefits, insurance benefits. Google Company also offers reimbursement to the employees for legal expense. Google Company also provides monetary assistance to adopt child, and facility of online doctors. These initiatives are taken to make employees not only happy but motivated to commit to achieve organizational goals. The company makes small teams for better coordination. Span of control in the company is wide thus offering more autonomy and flexible decision making. Alphabet company culture does not promote uncertainty avoidance. Thus, it enhances innovative decision making among the employees. The company also has a philosophy of never settle for best and this reveals that company always strives to promote innovative products. To enhance the employees’ performance, Google EDU, TGIF and open forums are being used by the company. These initiatives help company to recognize development needs of its employees. Google Company regularly takes feedback of all employees. Employees are continuously surveyed by management people. Google Company also provides many channels to them to provide feedbacks. Thus, Google Company’s culture reveals that it supports wellbeing of the employees. Google Company provides opportunity for employees to choose their own work hours. Its work culture also demonstrates values such as empathy and care that are motivating factors for employees. Participative management approach is reflected by the management people who encourage employees to innovate new things. To know the feelings of employees towards seniors, Google Company uses 360 degree appraisal method. With this method, employees provide feedback about their seniors. Such appraisal system assists senior managers to recognize their shortcomings and improve their skill sets. These entire initiatives make Google Company to become one of most preferred place to work. The Google or Alphabet company work culture is thus identified as happiest work place.
With such a friendly work culture, the company facilitates innovation. By offering challenging assignment, and encouraging employees to innovate, it can be said that Google promotes innovation. The cultural features encourage employees to think out of box and find something new. Participative management, skill development, diversity promotion all these initiatives of Google support innovation. TGIF meeting is an excellent way to enhance innovative abilities of employees where senior management provides information to the employees. Google Company gives sufficient liberty for its employees to make independent decisions. Top management welcomes ideas from employees such as the motto don’t be evil is suggested by employees. Another notable thing of Alphabet culture is customer centricity that also drives efforts of employees to create better products and services. It can be said that Alphabet organizational culture actively promotes innovative thinking.