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I think Google (and companies like Google) has learned this lesson well. As an organization, it appears to be focusing on keeping as flat of an organization as

I think Google (and companies like Google) has learned this lesson well. As an organization, it appears to be focusing on keeping as flat of an organization as possible. In addition they just simply cut to the chase, and hire middle-managers purely to act as liaisons rather than drivers, and save themselves the couple years of failure they are bound to endure while a new division gets organized "properly" (as in the old way). This has bad sides too, I've heard from numerous people that, when compared to other organizations, most of the engineers in Google have a very hard time understanding what their managers actually do. Additionally, it also can prevent unified visions from flowing down from the top in as structured a process as you might see in a traditional organization. But we now have more than a decade to observe companies like Google applying this sort of obvious management philosophy and now have lots of lessons learned we can apply going forward. I don't know enough about the internal organizational structure at Apple and Oracle, but I'd wager they are much more like the traditional management model than Google's semi-flat structure. Apple in particular is likely a very hierarchical organization (just a guess) due to the necessity in carrying out Jobs' vision.

BerislavLopac 17y ago
My favorite corporate structure is that of the Virgin Group. Instead of a single gigantic company with a single figure at the top, there is a plethora of small companies -- startups indeed -- each focusing on its own business and market. I like to think of it as the open source version of corporate culture, with Richard Branson playing the role of a BDFL.
- InclinedPlane 17y ago
  It's a shame more companies don't operate this way. There is such a lure toward empire building in the corporate world that it's difficult for people to see the downsides of the maga-corporation model of organization.

BerislavLopac 17y ago

My favorite corporate structure is that of the Virgin Group. Instead of a single gigantic company with a single figure at the top, there is a plethora of small companies -- startups indeed -- each focusing on its own business and market. I like to think of it as the open source version of corporate culture, with Richard Branson playing the role of a BDFL.

InclinedPlane 17y ago
It's a shame more companies don't operate this way. There is such a lure toward empire building in the corporate world that it's difficult for people to see the downsides of the maga-corporation model of organization.