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Explanations

"What emerges from months of interviews with employees ranging from fresh-out-of-college hires to the CEO is that Google firmly believes it has a framework for figuring out the future. It should come as no surprise that the plan is as irreverent, self-confident, and presumptuous as the company itself. Google’s executives don’t articulate it this way, but the framework can be found in the title of Shona Brown’s book: structured chaos. Indeed, along with Googleyness, chaos is among the most important aspects of Google’s self-image. Understanding how Google thinks about chaos — like Page’s teachable moment after Sandberg’s million-dollar mistake — is critical to divining where the company goes next. "Are lots of questions hanging out there in the market?" asks Sandberg. "Sure. Because we don’t always have an answer. We’re willing to tolerate that ambiguity and chaos because that’s where the room is for innovation." Good strategy — if it actually works."

One Response

  1. By JesseCiccone on September 27th, 2006 at 2:11 pm

    I’m intrigued by (and scared to death of) the whole Second Life thing. I applaud Text 100’s forray, but I’m not sure that video – or anything else I’ve read or scene – provide a good enough explanation of how this is going to help from a PR capacity. I’m getting there, but need more (I would, after all, have to explain this to clients!).

    Would love your thoughts on SL.

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