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At least in my corner of Google the direction seems pretty clear. We are trying make our storage stack cheaper and more efficient so we can pass the savings t

by tytso 9y ago

At least in my corner of Google the direction seems pretty clear. We are trying make our storage stack cheaper and more efficient so we can pass the savings to internal (other PA's) and external (Google Cloud Platform) customers. The big thing I see happening at Google is that as Google has grown, it has become more and more like a "big company". So that means different PA's (product areas) will have different experiences, and different cultures. I wouldn't call them autonomous and separate business units, but there is a trend in that direction. And honestly, I think that is a Good thing. It means the company is scaling. It does mean that the company is not going to have "one" direction. The last time we had something like that was one Vic pushed everything into Social, and it's clear that was a disaster. So Android is going to have its core direction, and You Tube is going to have its core direction, and Technical Infrastructure/Cloud is going to have its core direction..... and I'm OK with that. Finally, as far as "half the company don't really have anything to do" --- that certainly isn't my experience at TI. We have way too many things we would like to do, and we're hiring. :-) P.S. Google is not a dysfunctional big company. Eight years ago I left IBM, and so I know what dysfunctional big companies are like. I've also worked at VA Linux systems, so I also have a very good idea what dysfunctional small companies/startups are like. As far as I'm concerned, Google's is a place where I'm quite happy. Is it perfect? Of course not; but it's better than all of my other previous employment experiences.

jacques_chester 9y ago
Google has always had a single product area: grow and defend advertising revenue. Every major initiative can be cast in that light. Consider the "non profit" multi-billion dollar efforts. Chrome? Prevents Microsoft or Mozilla from strangling them at the browser. Android? Stops Apple from strangling them at the phone. Fiber? Was intended to stop ISPs strangling them at the premises. A rare misfire which they probably wish they'd pushed harder. The first consequential alternative revenue stream to appear in Google's lifetime is GCP. In Google's position I'd spend just about anything to get a double-digit marketshare. I suspect they have the best technology out of the three, but don't enjoy first-mover (Amazon) or sales channels & bundling power (Microsoft). Disclosure: I work for Pivotal, we work closely with Google. But also with Microsoft and a lot of other partners too.

by tytso 9y ago

jacques_chester 9y ago

Google has always had a single product area: grow and defend advertising revenue. Every major initiative can be cast in that light. Consider the "non profit" multi-billion dollar efforts. Chrome? Prevents Microsoft or Mozilla from strangling them at the browser. Android? Stops Apple from strangling them at the phone. Fiber? Was intended to stop ISPs strangling them at the premises. A rare misfire which they probably wish they'd pushed harder. The first consequential alternative revenue stream to appear in Google's lifetime is GCP. In Google's position I'd spend just about anything to get a double-digit marketshare. I suspect they have the best technology out of the three, but don't enjoy first-mover (Amazon) or sales channels & bundling power (Microsoft). Disclosure: I work for Pivotal, we work closely with Google. But also with Microsoft and a lot of other partners too.