Creativity at Google Workplace - Assignment Example

Creativity at Google Workplace Name Course Name and Code Instructor’s Name Date Table of Contents Table of Contents 2 Introduction and Purpose of Report 3 Google Company Overview 3 Creative Tools Chosen 4 Use in organisation 6 Impact and usefulness 7 Reflection 10 Conclusions 11 References 11 Introduction and Purpose of Report Employees work in different environments because of nature of their roles and responsibilities. For example, building construction requires an environment, which fulfils easily its roles while a technological environment requires a workplace that allows completion of allocated tasks and responsibilities (Mumford & Simonton, 1997; Gumusluoglu & Ilsev, 2009). However, the demand for creativity at the workplace because of employees’ aspirations has resulted in organisations employing different strategies to ensure the organisation becomes efficient. An example of organisation that has maximised on creativity at the workplace is Google Company. The aim of this report is to analyse creativity at Google illustrating the creative tools utilised, application of these tools within the organisation, outcome of these tools within the organisation and reflection on the entire process of creativity at Google. Google Company Overview Google is a company that is located in American and deals in Internet-related products and services. Some of the services and products produced by Google Company include cloud computing, search, online advertising and software development. The company was registered as a privately held in 1998 and in 2004, the company was made public. The rapid growth of the organisation has resulted in acquisition of numerous products and organisations and majoring on communication based products such as messaging and creating software utilised in mobile phones such as Adroid operating system. Google Company presents an environment, which is creative. The aim of the organisation is to ensure the employees operate optimally and efficiently (Cohen-Meitar, Carmeli & Waldman, 2009). Google Company has introduced numerous games, services and products within the working environment, creating an environment different from traditional office. Thus, this creativity is analysed to understand the outcome of the entire process towards fulfilling organisation obligations. The following is Google business model canvas that illustrates the roles and responsibilities plus the outcome of the entire process. Creative Tools Chosen Creative furniture – The sitting arrangements is unique since employees sit on unique chairs and utilises tables that are creativity. Moreover, the employees are allowed to design their work environment based on a guideline. Fun/ games fittings – Within the headquarters and some offices across the world, Google Company has provided means in which employees can reduce stress and boredom through participating in games. For example, employees can play against each other within the working environment; games may include foosball, billiards or ping pong while others employees can play video based games. Flexibility in working – Google Company working environment is flexible. Employees are allowed to schedule for haircut at the workplace, do laundry and be able to work part time on their own jobs. For example, employees are supposed to work for only some hours in a week and the rest can be utilised in doing personal work that may not be related to organisation requirements. Innovative teams – different employees with specific qualifications come together to formulate and develop a project. Diversity among employees – hiring employees from different parts of the world into developing services and products that solves specific challenge. Moreover, employees employed are from different genders and from different professional backgrounds. Mind maps – this a diagram based strategy that is utilised in outlining information. An idea is placed inside the map and branches are created that are related with the idea. Use in organisation Creative furniture, fun/games fittings and flexibility in the workplace allow the organisation to work effectively. In addition, the organisation maximises on diversity among employees and innovation at the workplace. The tools mentioned are utilised as follows: Creative furniture – The organisation utilises creative furniture to ensure the employees are satisfied and can fulfil easily the organisational requirements. The employees utilises these furniture to think and develop products and services, which fulfils and meets the challenges in place. Moreover, the creative furniture ensures the working environment satisfies the requirements of modern working obligations. Fun/games fittings – The organisation utilises fun and games fittings and equipments to reduce the boredom that might be experienced by the employees. Moreover, the games bring bonding between and among the employees and this can improve on the teamwork obligations. Therefore, Google Company utilises fun and games equipments and fittings to build both teamwork and to reduce anxiety. Flexibility at work – a working environment, which is flexible, enables employees to concentrate on tasks at hand. Flexible working environment is beneficial for both the organisation and the employees. The organisation receives value for money through motivation while the employees are satisfied by the contribution of the organisation towards their employment and development requirements. Innovative teams – innovation within Google ensures the organisation develop new products and services required to solve a challenge(s). Therefore, the organisation utilises innovative teams towards fulfilling organisation objectives and goals, while also fulfilling the requirements stated on the mission and vision statements. Diversity among employees – Different environments and professional backgrounds require products and services specific to that requirement. Therefore, the organisation may maximise of the differences among the employees into developing products and services fulfilling mission statement of Google Company. Mind map – is a better strategy that is utilised during brainstorming sessions and to provide platform in which ideas can be visualised. Google Company utilises this tool to formulate and contribute towards factoring views of different stakeholders into the team work. Team members’ usually present different ideas and utilising this strategy ensures output of a team is maximised. Impact and usefulness The sitting arrangements and working environment conditions creates a positive working environment. An environment creating serious might prevent creativity and flexibility contributes to innovation. When employees have fun during work presents an opportunity for the employees to relax and through relaxation, the employees are better inspired into achieving wonderful ideas (Basadur, 1997). In addition, an environment that is depressing and stressful does not create a mood that may make an employee to think differently in doing things (Kwasniewska & Necka, 2004; Lewis, 2011). If an environment is stressful and depressing, the employee main aim is looking forwarded towards the end of the day. Psychological researches have indicated positive mood contributes to creativity. A mood which is positive awards the organisation and employees flexibility in thinking since the minds and perspectives of the employees are widened. This means employees are open minded resulting in exploring alternatives. Therefore, incorporating fun activities makes an organisation to operate effectively. A creative working environment creates a scenario whereby creativity is rewarded. In a creative environment, the employees think out of the box since they appreciate the rewards obtained after fulfilment of specific obligations (Wang & Cheng, 2010). Creative environment allows employees to present suggestions in which it would result on effective organisation outcome (Zerbe, Hartel & Ashkanasy, 2010). For example, employees are tasked to create their working space based on their tastes and preferences. This freedom is viewed as a reward due to completing tasks effectively (Goodall, Goodall & Schiefelbein, 2009). In this basis, the employees are motivated towards achieving goals. At Google Company, employees are motivated through additional services such as laundry and free haircuts. Employees are motivated by different factors; either intrinsically or extrinsically by either monetary rewards or rewards in kind (Zhou & Su, 2010). Some minimal offerings may make employees at Google Company to concentrate fully on tasks at hand. Innovation teams are crucial in creating and promoting creativity that is sustainable and systematic. These innovative teams are credited with coming up with new ideas and formulating strategies on how to improve the work process of a specific aspect (Phelan & Young, 2003). In such scenarios, deadlines are important to determine the speed in which ideas are presented and excellence of these towards improving the organisation (Cangemi & Miller, 2007). Utilising such approach, the organisation signal creativity work related obligations. Google Company understands the importance of creativity and thus maximises on innovation to achieve the outcome of organisational effectiveness. At Google Company, engineers utilise technology towards solving the toughest challenges. Creativity and innovation is utilised to create an effective thinking environment that champions goals towards fulfilling specific organisation obligation (Strand, 2011). Ideas originate from diversity because exchange of ideas between individuals who are similar cannot present new perspectives. Similar employees are those who have comparable experience, qualifications and backgrounds and these employees create a working environment which is homogeneous. Employees who are homogeneous facilitate a team that has strong bond but does not encourage workplace creativity (Egan, 2005). This is because a team that is homogeneous is agreeable and uniform crowd that might not contribute to flourishing of new ideas. Google Company can fulfil this requirement through formulating and implementing recruitment prerequisites that champion criteria rather than the requirement of the job. Therefore, an organisation should employ employees from different background and knowledge and allow these employees contribute in development of projects and also participate in company events (Lang & Lee, 2010; Stamm, 2008). This means an organisation should organise frequent informal settings between employees that have profiles that are dissimilar to allow for productive thoughts exchange. Google Company is an organisation that deals with technological based activities (Lang & Lee, 2010). Utilisation of technology based software in completing organisation operations is important and thus Google Company utilises mind maps to visualise and lay foundation to different ideas from stakeholders. For example, a team leader may bring together the team members and ask them to contribute in expanding an idea. The team leader would utilise mind map in improving any idea presented. Reflection Creativity at the workplace is important in a modern organisation. Creativity assists an organisation in achieving set goals. Creativity is not only based on perception of the surrounding but also the culture encouraged within the organisation. Google Company, as an example, has presented maximisation of benefits through ensuring the organisation employs creativity in its operations. The furniture is the first place where creativity should be encouraged and this can be achieved through incorporating the views of the employees in designing the furniture. In addition, the interior and exterior of the building should be modified with the help of the employees into ensuring the building encourages creativity. Incorporating employees make the employee appreciate the renovations and at the same time makes the employees to feel that they own the creativity. Such approach contributes to motivation, which translates into efficiency of the organisation. Generally, creativity is important and should be encouraged across different organisations. Creativity has numerous benefits and also encourages employees to achieve organisational goals. In addition, creativity in the workplace should factor the aspirations of the employees to ensure the employees are involved in the entire process. Integration of employees to the operations of an organisation is important because the employees would not feel that they were left out. Therefore, creativity and factoring views of the employees and other stakeholders is crucial in creating an environment, which sustains innovativeness and efficiency. Creativity is also important in situations whereby environmental sustainability and best management practices are encouraged. Creativity based on championing environmental sustainability would also contribute to decrease in operations costs. For example, Google Company is deploying solar panel systems to produce additional energy rather than relying on electricity. This approach will result in reduction of costs and thus rise of Google revenues. Therefore, creativity should not only be viewed from the perspective of employees but the benefit to different stakeholders and processes such as environmental preservation. Conclusions Google Company is an example of organisation that has maximised on creativity at the workplace. The company was established in 1998 and specialises on Internet based technology. The company produces products and services aimed at alleviating challenges faced by organisations and people across the world. Google Company has employed numerous creativity tools include type of furniture, fun and games equipments and fittings, innovation and diversity. The organisation utilises these tools to benefit the organisation and also to encourage effectiveness and efficiency. Generally, creativity is important in modern society and working environment to enable sustaining both socioeconomic and environmental sustainability in these organisations. References Basadur, M. (1997). 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