NNSquad - Network Neutrality Squad
[ NNSquad ] My thoughts on the accidentally leaked "Google Platforms" memo
My thoughts on the accidentally leaked "Google Platforms" memo http://j.mp/oGuCb4 (This message on Google+) - - - The memo: http://j.mp/qjTjuK (Silicon Angle) - - - My thoughts: First, while it may not be obvious to most outside observers, it has become clear to me (via my many interactions with Google over the years), that there is enormous open discussion and soul-searching on many important issues within Google itself, including a relatively enormous range of internal discussion lists and such. This is a Good Thing. It is a crucial component that many other large firms do not foster to the same (or in many cases to any) degree. As for the meat of the memo itself -- there was nothing there that struck me as really surprising, and certainly not earth-shattering. In fact, it tended to confirm observational evidence in mostly very positive ways. Finally, it's is my strong belief that the sorts of engineering-related issues (to the extent that they are actual matters of concern) identified in the memo can be dealt with in a straightforward manner given the will to do so. (I say this even though I've had my own run-ins with the Chrome browser team related to their philosophy regarding options!) Perhaps most importantly, the kind of autocratic "employees as consumables" attitude noted in regard to Amazon (and this is a not at all an uncommon people handling methodology at many firms) would seem much more difficult to alter for the better, especially in the short to medium term. It's people, not servers and screens, that make or break a company in the end. Treat your people like human beings and you have an immediate advantage overall, even when there are other issues that could benefit from improvement. This is a major strength for Google, a truth that the existence of this memo strongly reinforces. --Lauren-- Lauren Weinstein (lauren@vortex.com): http://www.vortex.com/lauren Co-Founder: People For Internet Responsibility: http://www.pfir.org Founder: - Network Neutrality Squad: http://www.nnsquad.org - Global Coalition for Transparent Internet Performance: http://www.gctip.org - PRIVACY Forum: http://www.vortex.com Member: ACM Committee on Computers and Public Policy Blog: http://lauren.vortex.com Google+: http://vortex.com/g+lauren Twitter: https://twitter.com/laurenweinstein Tel: +1 (818) 225-2800 / Skype: vortex.com