Google Paper

In this paper I will discuss Google’s values, both espoused and enacted. I will also discuss the role communication plays in perception and organizational culture as well as identifying the role of conflict in group communication and how Google could use conflict to improve communication within and among groups.

Google’s espoused values are made up of the “Ten things we know to be true” (Google, n.d.) and their mission statement. The ten things they know to be true 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.” (Google, n.d.)

They use these ten statements as an outline on how to conduct their day to day business for their customers. The other part of their espoused values is their mission statement. The mission statement is defined as “a written declaration of an organization's core purpose and focus that normally remains unchanged over time.” (Business Dictionary, n.d.). Google states that their mission “is to organize the world’s information and make it universally accessible and useful” (Google, n.d.). Google’s values help to determine the communication in the organization. The culture promotes group communication by having very few solo offices, bikes and scooters placed all over campus to make travel around campus much easier, as well as laptops and internet access being found everywhere around campus so employees can work in any kind of setting and around many different individuals.

Communication plays an important role in individual’s perceptions and the organizational culture at Google. At Google they “strive to maintain an open culture...