Google: Rudderless?
Danny Sullivan has a post at Search Engine Watch contrasting the two very different statements about Google’s strategies, or lack thereof. He points out that although in a recent Google Blog post, Google stressed that they were not just running around haphazardly, that there is certainly a plan. That would have to contrast with statements Eric Schmidt made in an interview with InformationWeek, where he seemed to take delight in pointing out Google’s (his words) “lack of strategy”. Schmidt also seems convinced there is no depth in the internet beyond search and communication:
InformationWeek: Is there a point at which the mission for Google needs to grow beyond simply finding the world’s information? Look at a company like ChoicePoint. They’re a search engine, in some sense. Is that a business you…Schmidt: I disagree with the premise. Look at what people do on the Net today. They search and they communicate. We’re in both businesses. Do you do anything besides searching and communicating on the Net?
About the “Internet Operating System:
I think it’s up to you and others to speculate about what’s going on. That’s not how we think. We don’t sit there and say, ‘Wait! We want to build an Internet operating system! Would you like to join me?’ That conversation does not occur.
About Google’s grand visions:
They’ve obviously not visited Google. We delight in the lack of such strategy.These teams show off all day when we do product reviews and I say just don’t talk to me about long-term strategy. I’m not interested. I want to know why is your product not shipping until next week. And then after this thing is released, tell me what you’re going to do about it.
There are a lot of interesting topics covered in the interview, with Thomas Claburn, the interviewer, asking some pretty loaded questions. Definitely worth reading.
So, is it a problem if Google doesn’t have a grand strategy? I think the answer is “of course”. Every company that has gone against Microsoft has lost because Microsoft plays to the long-term, and may lose the sprint but always win the marathon. The only companies that beat Microsoft are those that catch it sleeping, and MSN woke up months ago in a very big way.
No long term vision and a focus on the short term are the warning signs of a company that is going down the tubes.
Comment by Jeremy H | May 27, 2005
I found this quote quite telling:
This is, in fact, the opposite fo what is true. Trusted and safe algorithms are made entierly available to everyone, because the strength of the algorithm rests in the key chosen. You don’t hide details of the algorithm because those details will be reverse engineered by someone, somewhere. By making them public, you allow them to be studied and verified by the community. Hiding details of the algorithm only prevents it from recieving peer review, thereby weakening it.
The encryption industry has been filled with snake-oil sales-men who hide their algorithms and say “trust me, it’s secure.” They invariably are not, and the public algorithms stand up to years of constant attacks.
Comment by Jeremy H | May 27, 2005
Google Rudderless?
Google Rudderless? (No, not that Rudder.)
Trackback by Alex Barnett blog | May 27, 2005