Friday, December 19, 2014

Getting Things Done with Quality

All About Efficiency


        Taking the idea of collaboration a step further, the concept of efficiency has emerged as one of the leading descriptors for today’s network society. Whether it is at a corporate of individual level, technology being made widespread has used algorithms and automated processes to replace the strenuous and self-reliant work of individuals, and shift towards a society based on a dependence of the Internet and others expertise for answers. Consequentially, critics of technology have asserted that this new era has destroyed the foundation of interpersonal communication and made individuals less capable of figuring things out on their own. In contrast, proponents of technology have explained that life is made easier, and in the meantime we are able to be more productive.

         In their novel, Brin and Page express how Google is successful because it enacts on the principle that society is looking for: simplicity. Google has not only cut down the time users need to take in order to find information, but they have also created a whole branch for online books, automated cars and also smartphones that extend the limits of what humans can do from their pockets. Like Leffingwell explained in his article on reengineering, a reorganization of principles should lead a company to understand “how to best open an envelope” (Head, 2003). Looking at this message from a larger scale, Leffingwell attempted at making things easier for a company in order to be more productive and capitalize on its strengths more frequently. By cutting down the time it takes the company to overcome obstacles and work out tedious tasks, Google has allowed itself to work at taking the most popular links on the Internet and ranking them in order of significance. As declared in the article entitled “Space of Flows”, “The information/global economy is organized around command” (Castells, 2012). In other words, the only way for Google to be successful is for them to provide its users with what they want, when they want it, as well as where. Understanding that knowledge equals power, Google has made sure they give individuals rapid access to the most valuable links on the Internet taking in to consideration convenience and quality.


       To become more efficient internally as a company, Google has prided itself on creating a family like community from the diverse employee base that its hiring officers strive to attain. In itself, Google views having a varied set of employees as being efficient because new ideas and viewpoints are constantly in circulation. Furthermore, in various speeches delivered at University graduations and keynote locations around the world, Page explains how Google tries to limit the work that any one department has to do on its own by getting everyone to work together and take responsibility. In addition, Google is efficient because Brin and Page are driven to succeed. Everyone in the company, from the top down, is told to reach tasks that have high return and reward.  Keeping in mind the service they provide, Google is never satisfied with their current standing and always focused on being a world leader in allowing its user to access information they insist on.

Castells, Manuel. "The Space of Flows." Blackwell Publishers 2 (2000): 409. Web. 17 Dec. 2014.

Head, Simon. "The RIse of the Reengineers." The New Ruthless Economy (2005): 8. Print.

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