Google Case Study: Background

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On its website the company describes its culture: “Our commitment to innovation depends on everyone being comfortable sharing ideas and opinions… We are aggressively inclusive in our hiring, and we favor ability over experience.” Then the website describes the company’s offices around the world, “Bicycles or scooters for efficient travel between meetings; dogs; lava lamps; massage chairs; large inflatable balls. Googlers sharing cubes, yurts and huddle rooms – and very few solo offices. Laptops everywhere – standard issue for mobile coding, email on the go and note-taking. Foosball, pool tables, volleyball courts, assorted video games, pianos, ping pong tables and gyms that offer yoga and dance classes… Healthy lunches and dinners for all staff at a variety of cafes. Break rooms packed with a variety of snacks and drinks to keep Googlers going.”

Conscientiousness is also woven into the company culture, quite intentionally. Free bicycles are scattered around the “Googleplex” headquarters and plug-in hybrid cars are provided, on a shared basis, for short journeys. When not in use, they sit under a carport, charging with solar power. Biodiesel shuttles bring about 1,500 people to work every day, local food is served in the cafeterias, food waste is composted and Google buildings are showcases for green building materials and energy efficiency. Google employees are eligible for special discounts on solar equipment for their homes. People who use human power to commute, “bike, walk, pogo-stick, unicycle,” etc., earn points that Google translates into donations to the employee’s chosen charity.At the California headquarters, 9,000 solar panels produce about 1.6 megawatts of electricity.

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