Chaos Management in a Learning Organization: A Strategy and Approach of Google

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Acknowledgement

I would like to take this chance for thanking my research facilitator, friends & family for support they provided & their belief in me as well as guidance they provided without which I would have never been able to do this research.

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Abstract

In this study we try to explore the concept of Chaos Management in a holistic concept. The main focus is of this research is on Chaos Management and the approach Google has taken towards it. The research also analyses many aspects of Google's Chaos Management Style. Finally the research describes how Google's approach towards chaos as lead the organisation to the heights of success. The research is conducted using primary research method in which six managers of Google were interviewed in order to understand the management style practised at the organisation.

Table of Content

CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION1

The Uncertain Environment1

Research Aims and Objectives3

Significance of the Study4

Research Questions4

Ethical Considerations5

CHAPTER 2: LITERATURE REVIEW6

Chaos6

Edge of Chaos7

Chaos Theory8

Learning Organization16

Google's Brief History25

CHAPTER 3: METHODOLOGY28

Research Design28

Research Technique and Process30

Pros and cons of chosen methodology33

Instrument Design34

Participants34

Pilot Questionnaire35

CHAPTER 4: DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS36

Google's Management Style36

Google's Chaos Management Style40

CHAPTER 5: CONCLUSION44

REFERENCES46

Chapter 1: Introduction

The Uncertain Environment

Unexpected phenomena continually pierce the fabric of the 21st-century organizational context. Conner (1998) asserted that change processes initiated by events, both internal and external to organizations, are continuous. Leaders are fearful that they cannot keep up with the pace of change in their organizational environment. Yet, they know survival of their organization depends on its ability to adapt to its equivocal environment. With response times shorter and the stakes for failure ever rising, it is increasingly difficult to know and implement correct actions.

Bennis (2006) noted the traditional leadership ideal of the triumphant individual directing downward from the pinnacle of a bureaucratic hierarchy “is dysfunctional in today's world of blurring, spastic, hyper turbulent change and will get us into unspeakable trouble” (p. 131). Consequently, traditional models of leading organizations may be ineffective in a world of constant flux and unpredictability (Wheatley, 2006).

Appearing to make the traditional forms of organizing and leading obsolete, the chaotic times of the 21st century introduce a crisis of organizational form and leadership behavior. Scholars (Bhargava, 2006; Rischard, 2002) have identified humankind's most pressing global problems. A review of the literature reveals that perceptions of chaos are pervasive in contemporary society. The sources cited appear to have agreed on four propositions:

(a) There are a significant number of serious global issues confronting contemporary humanity,

(b) Current international approaches to these issues are inadequate,

(c) Serious consequences could follow inaction, and

(d) This state of affairs implies a lack of effective global leadership.

The literature has suggested that Western ...