What Woud Google Do? is a a new book by Jeff Jarvis. It is not really a book about Google itself, except as a model for a new way of doing business, solving problems and interacting with customers. This is a world where companies build elegant networks, where they listen to and trust people. Business is built on openness and transparency. Success grows around platforms where the builders stay out of the way. Simplicity is a powerful idea. Through the book Jarvis examines a range of businesses, from print media to auto manufacturers, and proposes ways that googelism could be applied.
In considering universities, he looks at them from the dimensions of teaching, testing, research and social activity. While he recognizes the need for guidance in learning, he proposes a much more open structure. Why should students be limited to teachers at one institution, or for that matter professors limited to one group of students. An open marketplace with greater flexibility for students and teachers could provide improved learning opportunities. Educations shouldn’t be something that ends after 4 years of college. How about education as a subscription model with members sometimes teaching, sometimes being taught? Some of this already happens, but for most people the closest they get is job-related training. He raises some interesting ideas, but doesn’t really get into much depth in the scant 8 pages dedicated to the subject.
But the book is loaded with interesting ideas, and provocative proposals on how business and institutions need to change. You can follow the discussion on his blog, buzzmachine.com. I will say that by the end of the book I started to get a little sick of hearing how great Google is — but as a model for a new way of doing business and solving problems, they don’t get much better.
What Would Google Do? « BuzzMachine
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Randall Rode's online home for thoughts, notes, and experiments with a wide range of technology topics. Visit the about page for info on my recent projects and professional background. I welcome your comments!
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