Every organization has a unique culture or personality. The culture is often hard to define.  Culture is made up of the values, beliefs, underlying assumptions, attitudes, and behaviors shared by a group of people.  Culture is the behavior that results when a group arrives at a set of – generally unspoken and unwritten – rules for working together.

An organization’s culture is made up of all of the life experiences each employee brings to the organization. Culture is especially influenced by the organization’s founder, executives, and other managerial staff because of their role in decision making and strategic direction.

One company that has an interesting culture is Google.  Please take a look at the following photos of Google’s Headquarters which is called the Googleplex.

BE YOURSELF Desktop gizmos and lava lamps express Google’s laid-back ethos.

ASK THE HELP DESK Laptop on the fritz? Google keeps experts on site to fix computers and other digital gadgets.

HANDS-ON CARE The work-weary can unwind with a Google-subsidized professional massage.

DOGS ALLOWED Googlers are permitted to bring their dogs (but not cats) to the workplace.

GOOGLER WITH GOGGLES A lifeguard sits on duty as an employee works out in one of two swim-in-place pools at Google’s headquarters.

GOOGLE GRAFFITI Two employees break for coffee beside the “idea board,” a canvas for playfully grand designs like Google spaceships.

HANGING OUT Googlers can shoot pool while taking a break in one of several employee lounges.

 

GOOD-HAIR DAYS Google contracts with stylists to give its employees cut-rate haircuts.

 

RULING THE NET

Google employees take an afternoon volley ball break. The corporation’s Mountain View campus is at once a flurry of playful activity and creative technological innovation.

 

MARCHING ON ITS STOMACH Google is obsessive about food, offering its employees three free gourmet meals a day that can be eaten in a cafeteria adorned by artwork created by Google employees.

KIDS’ PLAY There are toys for employees’ children and for the young-at-heart Googlers like this one.

Please watch the following video snippet about Google.  After watching the video create please post a Discussion Response that describes what you have observed about the corporate culture of Google.  Is Google the type of company that you would like to work for?  Why or why not?