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Is Google success because it's a well run company in the first place? It's obviously not terrible (I'd personally love to work there) but life is a lot easier when you have the biggest cash cow ever plus a few smaller ones.

In general I'm skeptical whenever anyone wants to copy Google as their advantages and disadvantages are so far removed from a typical company and always were. I don't think they're a particularly good company to model for most companies.




Back when it was popular to have a flat structure or no managers or whatever I started suggesting "Every type of management works until money gets tight." I think the principle still applies, but a more useful/general version is pick your structures and processes around resource availability (good vs bad times):

Good Times: pick something that can amplify abundant resources. There is going to be less bureaucracy around decisions and spending so move quickly and place lots of bets while you can.

Bad Times: pick something that works with meagre resources. You're going to spend more time justifying spending.




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