Assignment 1:
Innovation from Google’s Free Food Strategy
Google is widely
known for its workplace creativity and innovation within the technology field.
Its search engine is the most extensively used search tool in the world, its
data analytics are revolutionary, and it continues to raise the bar for
innovation and design with Google Glass, smart watches, and mobile phones.
Google has been featured in dozens of technology and business magazines.
Additionally,Fortune
Magazine’slist of the
“Best Companies to Work For 2014” has ranked Google number one (#1). This
ranking is largely due to employee benefits such as free meals, dry cleaning
services, video games, massage therapy, in-door gyms, shuttle services, and
affordable daycare services for employees.
In addition to
your textbook, review the following articles and videos about Google’s work
culture in preparation for this assignment:
·
“How the
Googleplex Works” by Jonathan Strickland, located athttp://computer.howstuffworks.com/googleplex2.htm
·
“Google
Employees Reveal Their Favorite Perks Working For The Company” by Kevin Smith,
located at http://www.businessinsider.com/google-employee-favorite-perks-2013-3?op=1
·
“At Google,
Hours Are Long, But the Consomme Is Free” by Sara Kehaulani Goo, located
athttp://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/01/23/AR2007012300334.html
·
“Google interns’
first week” (5 min 50 s). Video Source: Google. (2013, June 4). Google interns’
first week [Video file]. Retrieved from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9No-FiEInLA
·
“Google Great
Place to Work Entry” (2 min 46 s). Video Source: IABAustralia. (2008, April 30).
Google Great Place to Work Entry [Video file]. Retrieved fromhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n2nfZPsd794
Write
a four to six (4-6) page paper in which you:
1.
Briefly describe
Google, its mission, and its business model.
2.
Analyze the
types of people that work at Google, with respect to the business culture of
the organization. Indicate one to two (1-2) qualities that define a leader at
Google, and determine the typical background of a Google employee.
3.
Identify two (2)
examples of services or amenities that Google provides to its employees,
interns, partners, and visitors. Next, examine two to three (2-3) ways in which
such free services and amenities create an organizational culture that fosters
creativity and innovation. Note: In the context of business,
“creativity” means having the ability to conceive something new and original,
including ideas, imagination, and things that are outside of the box.
“Innovation” is the implementation and execution of something new, including
products, technology, services, and business models.
4.
Discuss Google’s
organizational culture, and determine whether or not you would prefer to work
in this type of environment. Indicate whether or not Google’s company culture
would help you to perform your tasks with a greater degree of creativity and
innovation. Provide a rationale for your response.
5.
Use at least
three (3) quality references. Note: Wikipedia and similar Websites
do not qualify as academic resources.
Your assignment
must follow these formatting requirements:
·
Be typed, double
spaced, using Times New Roman font (size 12), with one-inch margins on all
sides; citations and references must follow APA or school-specific format.
Check with your professor for any additional instructions.
·
Include a cover
page containing the title of the assignment, the student’s name, the
professor’s name, the course title, and the date. The cover page and the
reference page are not included in the required assignment page length.
The specific
course learning outcomes associated with this assignment are:
·
Describe the
primary functions of management (planning, organizing, leading, controlling)
and the associated skills, tools, and theoretical approaches that can be used
to accomplish these functions.
·
Explain the
principal theories and the various approaches to management that have evolved
over time and their application to current management situations.
·
Explain the
decision-making process management uses to develop viable courses of action to
a variety of management situations.
·
Use technology
and information resources to research issues in management concepts.
·
Write clearly
and concisely about management concepts using proper writing mechanics
