Google's Organizational Behavior and Communication

An organizations culture can influence or determine how members behave or act towards customers or each other. This paper will describe Google's culture and values and explain the role communication plays in perception and organizational culture. It will also explain how Google might use conflict to improve communication within and among groups.

Organizational culture at Google is very open and casual. Their mission is "to organize the world's information and make it universally accessible and useful" (Thinking Leaders, 2010). The founders, Larry Page and Sergey Brin, believed if they provided a work environment where people had fun, and could dream big that they would attract the more talented and smart employees. Some of the features that play into the organizational culture at Google are: All offices are different, each office has murals and decorations expressing local personality; employees share cubes, yurts, and huddles; video games, pool tables, and pianos; cafes and kitchens stocked with healthy food for free to employees anytime of the day; and whiteboards for spur-of-the-moment brainstorming (Google, 2012). There are also numerous bikes and scooters around each campus to make traveling from office to office easier. Offering all the above to employees has created open communication throughout Google. Google's espoused values are:

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 don't 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.

10. Great just isn't good enough.

Because Google and their employees abide by these values the enacted values are aligned with the espoused values (TeamTopHat, 2011).

Conflict is when two or more people disagree about how to achieve a goal. Conflict is inevitable in group communication. Some conflict can be valuable because it makes groups test and challenge new ideas. Or it can be detrimental if it keeps the group from finishing a project on time. If conflict is caused by poor communication then the best thing to do is: ask others what they meant; establish a supportive rather than a defensive climate if misunderstandings occur; and become an active listener. If the conflict is a disagreement then clarify your perception and your partner's perception of the