Google: Very Right or Very Wrong
January 24, 2011
I remember the US history lesson about the Missouri Compromise. In grade school or the Calvert Course lesson about the “Great Compromiser,” I marveled at a Kentucky farmer who could find the middle way. I later learned that despite the talk about compromising and dealing with “shades of gray”, compromise is not exactly what most folks or companies aim to do.
I had a publisher who wanted me to write a book by a specific target date right after I had what my doctor described as a “heart event.” I was not too peppy, and I had other things on my mind that the publisher’s need to generate cash for his struggling business. There was no compromise for me. I wanted to take care of myself, and I don’t think the Great Compromiser or any business school baloney would have changed my mind. I am still in business and reasonably energetic for a 66 year old goose. The publisher? Well, not on a par with my business I fear.
Now what about the Three Amigos, the Digital Triumvirate, and the the less elevated groups of leaders, pundits, and film stars. Don’t honk that horn, please. I learned in the midst of a client report that the Digital Triumvirate at Google is still intact. Now one member of the Triumvirate has been elevated, not quite to Caesar’s status, but close. Other two remain at relatively lower levels, but one of the two who did not get promoted is now the top dog. If that strikes you as sort of anti-Triumvirate, you are not alone. I think we have a pecking order of sorts, with one of the three given the role of chief executive.
The Guardian, a UK publishing outfit with an affection for open source, described Google’s new CEO, Larry Page, as “intense.” I find that an interesting description of a person who has not been in the spotlight in my opinion. Yep, he is Silicon Valley royalty, but he might not be noticed as a Hollywood B list party.
Sergey Brin, the other founder of Google, is still in his original spot. So the way I see the reorganization is that the two founders elevated the “adult in charge”. The two founders appear to be content with the new set up. A $100 million “atta boy” for Eric Schmidt , the elevated member of the Triumvirate has 100 million more reasons to be happy as a Googler.
Management ballet aside, I think there is a clear signal that Google has taken steps to get the company back on track.
The view I have held since I wrote Google Version 2.0: The Calculating Predator is that Google tried to move beyond search and pretty much has accomplished that objective. Unfortunately, the company still has one revenue stream. I don’t count video ads and online ads as diversification. In the algebra of the addled goose, the revenue is advertising revenue. So after “discovering” the Overture/Yahoo model, Google has not been able to craft another derivative, let alone original, revenue stream that comes close to its advertising business.
The pivot year for me was 2006. What’s happened since that time?
Here are three of the items from my notes for a chapter in the still-in-progress Google Beyond Text, which I hope to finish after my new little book book about the big players in enterprise search.
Brand Visibility and Backlash
Google became one of the top brands and then fell into legal hassles and weird battles with big and little companies. So much for Henry Clay’s method.
Disruption Cements Opposition
Google has created the impression, in my opinion, of disrupting a sector to see what happens. The impact of these efforts has been like adding the hardener to the epoxy base. Flexibility is gone when the glue sets.
Product Goofs
Beginning with Orkut, Google has demonstrated an awareness of the importance of social but so far has been unable to be “social”. Facebook’s success is less a matter of its method as the absence of meaningful competition from Google. Heck, Facebook has lots of Googlers so the problem may boil down to management. Ah, management. The issue, not technology.
What’s Ahead?
One thing is for sure: lots of puffery and punditry. The mid tier consultants and the rentals working at cut rate outfits are going to have a field day. Not the goose. The goose does not care.
Google grew quickly and is now like a weed squirted with the now-unavailable 2-4-D. It overgrew and exhausted its resources. Tough to turn back the clock. Tough to rebuild trust. Tough to recapture the excitement of 2006.
I hope Google does get the old zip back. The clock is ticking. Will Google’s efforts be similar to those of Microsoft’s? Anyway. There are other outfits to monitor. Apple, Facebook, and a handful of others.
When’s the reunion concert?
Stephen E Arnold, January 24, 2011
Freebie. Who would pay for this goose stuff?
Comments
One Response to “Google: Very Right or Very Wrong”
-
- Subscribe to Beyond Search
Feature archive
News archive
-
[…] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Stephen E Arnold, Posts Google. Posts Google said: Google: Very Right or Very Wrong : Beyond Search: News and Information from ArnoldIT.com about Search and Conten… http://bit.ly/guYt6q […]