Google’s Organizational Behavior and Communication Lisa Delgado COM/530 Communications for Accountants April 16, 2012 Ismael Hau-Rosa

Google’s Organizational Behavior and Communication Google, Inc., a worldwide renowned search engine company that offers an array of project applications, including Internet search, cloud computing, and advertising, uses its espoused values to align with its enacted values. Google understands that the communication within its organization is strongly determined by their organizational culture. In developing a very distinctive and influential culture, such as Google’s, it allows their employees to be innovative and creative and they embody the company’s values and share the same aspiration for an unlimited amount of information. Since Google began in 1996 and became incorporated in 1998, Google’s mission is “to organize the world’s information and make it universally accessible and useful.” Google’s espoused values have been an intricate principle for the company because it has created a high standard of how top management envisions how the company should run. Google clearly presents its values with allowing casual dress code and encouraging employees to communicate upwardly with upper management in a relaxed manner. According to Google’s corporate website, they believe the following values to be true: (1) Focus on the user and all else will follow, (2) It’s best to do one thing really, really well, (3) Fast is better than slow, (4) Democracy on the web works, (5) You need to be at your desk to need an answer, (6) You can make money without doing evil, (7) There’s always more information out there, (8) The need for information crosses all borders, (9) You can be serious without a suit, and (10) Great just isn’t good enough.” Google’s espoused values are the product of its employees and through a culture of participation. As Google hires “people who are smart and determined,” they also acknowledge value of communication within its company. Google takes pride in their employees by involving them in discussions and decisions that are pertinent to the company. They hold town hall meetings that are broadcast all throughout Google’s 60 offices around the world. Google understands that lack of communication among its employees will result in lack of motivation which, in turn will result in lack of productivity. Conflicts are almost inevitable in group communication. “Perfect communication is unattainable” (Robbins & Judge, 2011, p. 365). People have different views and opinions on certain topics, whether they have experienced them in the past or not. Their views and opinions are made up of factors, such as childhood, educational, and life experiences and backgrounds. When groups communicate with each other, information is channeled through these filters to perceive the meaning of the information given. Understanding what motivates perception is significant to effective and successful communication. When effective communication is achieved, worker productivity increases. If Google’s espoused values are misaligned with its enacted values within the organization, employees’ and managements’ views and opinions would differ drastically, essentially affecting the company’s core values. It takes effective communication skills to identify management’s message he or she is trying to make. The role of conflict in group communication can test a group and its ideas. When conflict is not managed correctly, it can be harmful to group interaction and group decision making. One of Google’s most effective strategies is to work in groups rather than individually. Google could use conflict to improve communication with and among groups by “searching for areas of agreement while critically testing ideas and reducing ambiguity” (Beebe & Masterson, 2009, p. 181). They could also strive for consensus by recognizing precise issues that need to be resolved. Managers of Google should try to keep the group focused on goal, pay close attention to the ideas of others, and encourage open interaction and discussion. By following these steps, Google may achieve its goals and effectively communicate with its employees. Google’s espoused values are aligned with its enacted values. Its organizational culture and the perception of its values are an essential element to its success. Understanding how conflicts within groups affect the organization positively and negatively illustrates that Google takes immense pride in its communication tactics among its employees. In taking pride in its communication tactics, Google has remained number one on Fortune’s top 100 companies to work for along with number two on their most admired companies. Google’s distinctive way of conducting business attracts many. It is this kind of organizational culture that encourages individual creativity and motivation that leads to employee loyalty, respect, and overall success.

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