I'm reading this book that corporate provided at my request, "The Future of Management" by Gary Hamel where my company is highlighted in a chapter. And then Google follows in a separate chapter. I like how the book gives a good comparison of the companies. I also like how the author recognizes that Google is still a very young company with much to prove in their ability to sustain the type of profits they've achieved thus far. As with many companies who start off strong in web-based development, there is always the risk of a new comer.. a new technology.. that completely flips the table. Anyway... that's not the point I was trying to make with this post...
I just thought one quote was kind of funny:
"Like so much of Google's culture, the source of the company's radical decentralization can be traced back to Brin and Page, both of whom attended Montessori schools and credit much of their intellectual independence to that experience. Sats Mayer: 'They don't like authority and they don't like being told what to do.' "
Just found that funny/ironic because I also attended a Montessori school until I had to graduate from the program (no further grades offered). I never have really thought to credit that school as perhaps the first source that fostered my need for less hierarchy/authority when working, and my preference to be in a leading role if I am in any sort of group situation. Hmmmm... but now it kinda makes sense.. considering how Montessori operates. It's a very 'free' learning situation where experimentation is encouraged. I recall *loving* that school (the little that I can remember of it now). It was constant play-time because I was always doing whatever interested me.
Lin *
Jason
Sarah
Phil