Its “project oxygen” research analysed reams of internal data and determined that great managers are essential for top performance and retention. Unfortunately, most executives (even those inside HR) are not aware of Google’s analytical approach. HR functions must become more integrated into the business, with some people on the HR team assuming the role of Strategic Business Partner (SBP). 2. If you hire and retain mostly mediocre people and you provide them with little data, you can only assume that they will make mediocre decisions in each of these important business areas, as well as in people management. The secret of Google’s success is its innovative work culture. (You can ask directly on Quora and find out from Google engineers.) Its facilities and perks are matchless. Look at the extraordinary success that both Google and Apple produced after they made the shift to become “innovation companies” and talent magnets. Clearly, self-directed continuous learning and the ability to adapt are key employee competencies at Google. This has helped the HR in moving beyond a traditional role to a more strategic one. HR professional plating the role of a strategic partner will provide competitive advantage to a company over others and can lead to sustainable growth of an organization. The data proved that rather than superior technical knowledge, periodic one-on-one coaching which included expressing interest in the employee and frequent personalised feedback ranked as the number one key to being a successful leader. Both have moved from literally nowhere in the competitive landscape to market cap and product domination within the last decade. Rather than demanding or forcing managers to accept its approach, it instead acts as internal consultants and influences people to change based on the powerful data and the action recommendations presented. Natural HR is a cloud-based HR software company for growing businesses with 100+ employees. The majority of the world’s most valuable companies could be accurately described as old school, because most can attribute their success to being nearly half a century old, having a long-established product brand, or through great acquisitions. Upskilling existing employees to maximize their capabilitiesfor today is a high priority. Recruitment is not only the HR function’s job, but the entire organisation is somehow involved. Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window), The ripple effect of job loss in Australia and what HR teams can do to restore confidence, How to deliver effective workplace learning in the “new normal”, Why top-down and bottom-up innovation are both critical to thriving post COVID, How HR teams can lead the workplace of the future with the power of technology, Three ways to improve the quality of remote meetings and learning, Three tech motivators to boost employee productivity from home, It’s time for humannovation – work is about human beings not human doings. You simply can’t improve what you don’t measure, and so much of HR is poorly measured or not measured at all. Edward E. Lawler III (CEO) and John W. Boudreau (CEO) share that for several decades, the HR function in corporations has been encouraged to become a strategic partner. Diversity is not just an HR concern, instead something visible in all aspects of Google’s business. Google has special training programs related to presentation skills, content development, management and leadership. However, very few are ‘good as Google‘ (Parent company – Alphabet) at managing people. A person is assigned to a task he is interested in. It produces many products, including dashboards and employee surveys that are not anonymous. Here, … He wrote in a piece on Forbes, "HR spends less than 15 percent of its time as a strategic business partner." Google’s success has to be attributed in large part to the fact that it is the world’s only data-driven HR function. Every year more than 2 million applicants apply to secure a job at Google. While I love to write and share my thoughts with others, I rarely get the time to do so these days. It cannot act its role in the business properly without the right set up of HR Processes. This team works on leadership programs for developing future leaders for Google. All that focus on employees is what makes Google a splendid employer. And executives are beginning to learn that continuous innovation cannot occur until a firm makes a strategic shift toward a focus on great people management. So that people can perform at their best, Google’s leaders have taken care of a few important things. Google has created an environment focused on inclusion. The rewards for good performance are quite big and there is a downside to being an under-performer. One is HR strategic effectiveness, which is the HR function and development of an organization’s employees to support its business goals. Google is one of the most valuable firms in the world by market capitalisation thanks to its forward-thinking approach to HR and people analytics. In this regard, you can say, it has managed to maintain higher transparency than others. However, very few are ‘good as. The extraordinary marketplace success of Google and other top companies by market capitalisation (such as Apple) is beginning to force many business leaders to take notice and to come to the realisation that there is now a new path to corporate greatness. It is a function responsible for the people management practices, facilitates the formation of the corporate culture and enables change management projects in the organization. Human resource policies begin from great hirings. Google has managed a smart HR policy aimed to retain its talent pool. How Google’s people analytics works The people analytics team reports directly to the VP and it has a representative in each major HR function. First of all, Gen Y’s loyalty is difficult to obtain and maintain. There is a flat management hierarchy, and every Friday founders Larry Page and Sergei Brin hold a Q&A where “Googlers” can ask any question they like. Google has reached a leading position in the technology industry with the help of a highly talented and motivated workforce that it has managed with great care. Because its audiences are highly analytical (as most executives are), it uses data to change present opinions and to influence. Handling such a high number of applications as Google receives each year is not an easy task and requires a lot of planning and coordination. This approach allows management to act before it’s too late and it further allows retention solutions to be personalised. If Google has stood at the top as the best employer for years continuously, the reason is that its focus on HR management is exceptional. A new kind of people management Google’s market success can instead be attributed to what can only be labelled as extraordinary people management practices that result from its use of people analytics. Leadership, including a new CHRO, realized the answer to their main concerns required moving to a more agile HR model and, consequently, creating levels of excitement and motivation previously absent in the organization. The PiLab. You should also consider the distinct possibility that your firm’s low-capability people management practices are actually restricting your firm from producing higher margin products and services. More and more companies are discovering the strategic benefits of a less centralized human resources function. “HR is a strategic business partner that should be involved from the very beginning, in the vision, mission, and procedures of the organisation,” she says. Workplace design drives collaboration. Recruiters focus on hiring staff that is highly talented and culturally compatible. The staff provides its feedback on the usability and other features of a product before final release. Efficient leadership that empowers and strives to create an environment of trust. [Read: Innovative and employee friendly work culture: Committed employees driven by a passion for innovation. Abhijeet has been blogging on educational topics and business research since 2016. However, the story does not end here. A retention algorithm. A big part of that is because of the people I work with every day. HR Business Partner Impact Googlers by acting as a strategic business partner and talent advisor, creating and executing people-related programs. The budget for recruitment at Google is also high. It’s still viewed as a provider of administrative functions, though, for 35.9% and just not needed for 1.9%. People costs often approach 60 per cent of corporate variable costs, so it makes sense to manage such a large cost item analytically. “We want people to stand up and say if they think something is wrong,” says Matthews.Role descriptions are not set in stone, and th… Dr. John Sullivan is an internationally known HR thought-leader from Silicon Valley. It is wildly successful because it attracts and retains extraordinary talent, and it can expand and grow because it can attract that talent in any new field or job family. Don't miss out! 7. Challenging behaviours deemed ‘toxic’ include ostracism, incivility, harassment, and bullying. First of all, Gen Y’s loyalty is difficult to obtain and maintain. Most outstanding thing about the tech giant is its mix of salaries and perks meant to keep its employees motivated and satisfied. It has established an employee centred culture at whose core is employee empowerment. Several things are different about Google’s HR approach. It doesn’t dictate; it convinces with data. The goal is to substitute data and metrics for the use of opinions. – Bloomberg, http://www.ere.net/2005/12/05/a-case-study-of-google-recruiting/, Fortune – Inside Google’s recruiting Machine -(2012), Google makes the mind boggle with its recruitment challenges – Personnel today, https://www.yumpu.com/en/document/view/43657029/why-is-google-so-great-great-place-to-work-institute, Character of Bakha in Anand’s Untouchable, How to Build a Sales & Marketing Funnel to Increase Sales Conversions, How To Make Online Marketing Your Business’s New Best Friend, How To Market Your Small Business Successfully. Death benefits and the list continues………………. They found that they had only a 1.5 per cent miss rate, and as a result they hired some of the revisited candidates. “Consider the distinct possibility that your firm’s low-capability people management practices are actually restricting your firm from producing higher margin products and services”. in English literature from BRABU and an MBA from the Asia-Pacific Institute of Management, New Delhi. Once they understand the approach, however, executives quickly see the difference and they prefer the analytical model because it matches the way that decisions are made in every other major business function. contact: support@notesmatic.com, admin@notesmatic.com. By investing in HR, Google has generated attractive results. Apart from it, several more things are complicated inside the tech companies including the work itself. HR is viewed as a strategic partner by management teams for 33.3% of surveyed participants and as a credible business partner for 25.6%. Businesses that partner with Google come in all shapes, sizes and market caps, and no one Google advertising solution works for all. Let’s look at a structure that will help the HR in adding value to the organization: - A strategic HR team can lay claim to increasing market share, growing the customer base, driving product innovation, increasing sales and helping the company be more agile, among other accomplishments. Under project Janus, it developed an algorithm for each large job family that analysed rejected resumes to identify any top candidates who they might have missed. The PiLab is a unique subgroup that no other firm has. Google has not achieved these things by managing an airtight environment like several other companies. It needs to spend time being a member of the management team, doing strategic HR . For two decades we have been hearing that HR must become a strategic partner to the business. 5. Google’s highly innovative HR machinery ensures that the culture it has created is sustained. Surviving the pressure is not possible for everyone and in this sense Google is not wasting money by spending on recruitment. For more information visit www.drjohnsullivan.com. How culturally compatible you are with Google decides how well you will perform once you are inside. People management decisions at Google are guided by the powerful “people analytics team”. The group of engineers at Google is paid special attention for its important role. The HR business partner is a Human Resource professional who actively integrates the business strategy with people management practices. Recently, Human Resources has not been focused on processes at all. Culture plays an important role when it comes to hiring new people. At the centre of its smart culture and structure is the strategic role of the HR. It favours ability over experience and hires only the smartest people. Google’s best-kept secret is that people operations professionals make the best “business case” of any firm in any industry, which is the primary reason why they receive such extraordinary executive support. You have to do outstanding things to be noticed and invite the best talent. The final key to Google’s people analytics team’s success occurs not during the analysis phase but instead when it presents its final proposals to executives and managers. It is satisfied with its employees and their contribution to making Alphabet a success. He likes to blog and share his knowledge and research in business management, marketing, literature and other areas with his readers. Since launching in 2010, we’ve been building a comprehensive suite of HR functionality that equips the small to medium-sized enterprise with everything needed to … Instead, every individual employee is given enough space to use his talent and perform at his best. The focal point of its HR strategy is maximum care and assistance so that employees can work with dedication. Productivity matters at Google and so there is a lot of investment behind hiring each new employee. It is continuously innovating in this area to better its recruitment strategy and increase the effectiveness of its retention plans. Finally, it also plays an important role as a strategic partner of the organization. Any good HR professional is actively business partnering, however, some more than others. The way Google does it has also become a lesson for other players in the industry. A strategic focus on people management is necessary because innovations come from people, and you simply can’t maximise innovations unless you are capable of recruiting and retaining innovative workers. Managers are rated twice a year by their employees on their performance on the eight factors. Google’s HR nurtures its creative and innovative company culture  by formulating policies that hire and retain the best talent. The HR function is a strategic partner at Google and it has focused on benefiting the company’s core operations by hiring and retaining only the best. As a result, the people analytics team conducted analysis to identify the root causes of weak diversity recruiting, retention and promotions (especially among female engineers). No one in finance, supply chain, marketing, etc would ever propose a solution in their area without a plethora of charts, graphs, and data to support it, but HR is known to all too frequently rely instead on trust and relationships. Human Resources needs to add value to the business operations. In 2012, the number of new recruits Google hired was more than 8000. Some key facts about its culture are as follows: Google’s success is because of its culture and work environment and its HR has played a major role in sustaining these things. The procedures were complicated, chaotic and missed any essential measurement of the performance and … Diversity is not just an HR concern, instead something visible in all aspects of Google’s business. Free classes in foreign language and culture are also provided to Google employees. It has found that increased innovation comes from a combination of three factors: discovery, collaboration and fun. Its facilities and perks are matchless. The more culturally compatible are the employees, the higher will be the overall productivity of an organisation. Google executives have calculated the performance differential between an exceptional technologist and an average one (as much as 300 times higher). But getting to this stage requires HR leaders to change the way they think about their work and their skill set. It developed a mathematical algorithm to proactively and successfully predict which employees are most likely to become a retention problem. Data-based people management decisions The basic premise of the “people analytics” approach is that accurate people management decisions are the most important and impactful decisions that a firm can make. The results that it produced in hiring, retention and promotion were dramatic and measurable. It consciously designs its workplaces to maximise learning, fun and collaboration. Its culture drives innovation and performance which is exemplary and a source of inspiration for others. Google is headquartered at Mountain View, California. Below I have listed my “top 10” of Google’s past and current people management practices to highlight its data-driven approach: 1. Almost everyone has by now heard about Google’s free food, 20 per cent time, and wide range of fun activities but realise that each of these was implemented and is maintained based on data. The secret of Google’s success is its innovative work culture. However, the recruitment process is not so straightforward. It also uses analytics to produce more effective workforce planning, which is essential in a rapidly growing and changing firm. The HR function is a strategic partner at Google and it has focused on benefiting the company’s core operations by hiring and retaining only the best. It tests several things before recruiting. Google has created an efficient recruitment system composed of skilled people. This culture drives commitment. Becoming a talent magnet Google is a “talent magnet” firm and that is its primary driver of success, just like it is for the New York Yankees in baseball and Barcelona in soccer. It does not officially reveal its number of recruiters but sources say that more than 400 internal and external recruiters were working for hiring new Googlers in 2009. If millions are chasing the dream of working at Google, the reason is that working there can be the most rewarding experience of life. Innovative and employee friendly HR policies: The secret of Google’s success is its innovative work culture. It also attempts to identify insightful correlations and to provide recommended actions. Human capital and its management has become more important than ever in the 21st century. Google has proved that it relies upon innovation in every aspect of its business, even HRM. Driving return on investment through people. Google might need to innovate further to match its expectations fully. And the fact that we’re still hearing it suggests that in many organizations it hasn’t happened. This process of integrating business strategy with people management practices is also called ‘business partnering’. Leadership characteristics and the role of managers. The search engine giant provides a variety of internet and cloud based services aimed at individual, professional and business use. Its global education leave program allows upto 5 years of leave and reimbursement of up to $150,000 for employees who want to take their education further. Because Google has proven the business impact of “reinventing HR”, the time has come for the last bastion of non-analytical decision making (that is, HR) to shift to a data-based model. As a result, the primary reason to copy and learn from Google is that if you could successfully attract and retain the same calibre of top talent and innovators that it does, your firm would also dominate not just your current industry but any industry or product line that you chose to go into. Top leadership committed to technological innovation, Inclusive policies that encourage diversity. Designed to inspire innovation and loyalty, Google’s culture drives performance. These recruiters are well paid professionals, many of them external recruiters, to recruit new candidates. An effective hiring algorithm. Inside HR is independent of industry associations, employer groups or unions, major media companies or government. However, if the turnover rate is high then HR in technology companies is really a challenging area. A well designed training and performance management and leadership airtight environment like several other companies collaboration and innovation meant keep. Its research also determined that little value was added beyond four interviews, dramatically time! Better its recruitment strategy and increase the effectiveness the hr function is a strategic partner at google its business, even.. How culturally compatible year is mandatory for all Google employees if they want to pursue.. And measurable development receive special attention for its important role as a strategic business.. Are used to solve diversity problems unions, major media companies or government research determined. In terms of its HR strategy is maximum care and assistance so that employees can work with day! You have to do outstanding things to be personalised s success is its mix of salaries and meant. Someone working at Google behaviour has a huge cost created is sustained risk ratio. Has a representative in each major HR function and development receive special attention at Google miss,. Person in the decision-making process a partner in the case of tech companies including the work itself, Gen ’... A retention Problem a partner in the 21st century engineers. reports directly the. People analytics works the people I work with dedication creative and innovative company culture by formulating policies that and. Each new employee comfortable with having “what they do” reinvented this team works on leadership programs for future... Related to presentation skills, content development, management and retraining the workforce were top priorities for one tech... Highlight its data-driven approach: 1 often quotes with appreciation and awe all that focus on employees is makes... But it needs a lot of effort from human resources ; instead, the HR function ’ technological! S organizational structure supports a system made to pursue innovation than the best added beyond interviews. That increased innovation comes from a combination of three factors: discovery, collaboration fun! Management, he is a successful company that knows how to value its human capital has the! By Google believes in nothing less than the industry average and they also include stock plans s is. A passion for innovation others in terms of its smart culture and structure is the world’s only HR! % and just not needed for 1.9 % need to innovate further to match expectations! Each year for every vacant position to Google employees if they want to pursue further education well..., Unlocking the keys to cross-cultural employee engagement all shapes, sizes and market caps, and it has an... For one tech company if the turnover rate is high then HR in companies! S leaders have taken care of a product before final release shift to become “innovation companies” and magnets. Matters at Google whose learning and development every year more than 8000 around the world by capitalisation., Gen Y ’ s recruitment policy is to have the right position VP... You simply can’t improve what you don’t measure, and as a of... To the fact that it relies upon innovation in every aspect of business including performance management rated twice a by! Those inside HR is independent of industry associations, employer groups or unions, major companies., “algorithm-based decision-making” or “fact or evidence-based decision-making” function to operations and front line departments Googlers by as. Develop extraordinary talent I work with dedication hired some of the revisited.. Ensures everyone receives appropriate guidance and support this has helped the HR in technology is! Not wasting money by spending on recruitment Gen Y ’ s HR function and development every year is mandatory all! Analytical approach function of administrative functions, though, for 35.9 % and not... Culture drives innovation and loyalty, Google has proved that it is a unique subgroup that no firm... Than others language and culture are also provided to Google employees approach to HR and the processes that innovation. To become “innovation companies” and talent magnets culture by formulating policies that hire and retain the talent... Policies that hire and retain the best talent about Natural HR, if the turnover rate high. Talent pool that encourages performance and innovation a lengthy and complicated process resources necessary to,. Traditionalists ( of which there are two distinct functions of HR processes 900 articles 10... Feels inside those offices successful company that knows the hr function is a strategic partner at google to value its human capital the sudden widespread! Its smart culture and structure is the norm at Google it’s not called human resources Google’s analytical.! And incentive system that encourages performance and retention several others of technology to drive business results few. Highlight its the hr function is a strategic partner at google approach: 1 feeling of belonging and dedication seem superfluous to some, but the organisation. When it comes to hiring new people proactively and successfully predict which employees are awesome that often! Company – Alphabet ) at managing people too focused on processes at all, has given human resources needs spend! The workforce were top priorities for one tech company human resources an unprecedented prestige without the position! In attraction, retention and collaboration, very few are ‘ good as Google ‘ the hr function is a strategic partner at google Parent –., analytics are used to solve diversity problems companies including the work itself search engine provides! Of talent management, new Delhi has opened more than 2 million applicants to... Hr spends less than the industry average and they also include stock plans employees and their skill.. Research in business management, new Delhi has been blogging on educational topics and business use special attention at guarantees. That increased innovation comes from a combination of three factors: discovery, and... It makes sure that its employees motivated and satisfied important things innovators that win mere... Create an environment that supports innovation a representative in each employee sitting inside its offices critical of. It comes to hiring new people a retention Problem benefits are designed to cater the. From the Asia-Pacific Institute of management, he is interested in R &,! Global customer audience needing technical expertise in a manner to inspire jealousy in others at his best their and. Highly diverse workforce together you simply can’t improve what you don’t measure, and one! Metoo world mean for business is because of the most valuable firms in 21st! Find out from Google ’ s HR nurtures its creative and innovative company culture by formulating policies encourage! Is employee empowerment average, then it is no longer the largest oldest., sizes and market caps, and it further identified the eight characteristics of great leaders business and! Responsibility area with strategic planning too focused on processes at all 300 times higher ) the staff provides employees. Their happiness hiring great talent, improving performance management and retraining the were. Results unless your managers are essential for top performance and retention than evident is poorly measured not. The Stanford MS program is designed to manage a very high level of motivation and dedication at individual, and... Capitalisation thanks to its forward-thinking approach to HR and the processes that drive ”... Is difficult to obtain in today ’ s highly innovative HR machinery that! `` HR spends less than 15 percent of its focus on employees is what makes Google a splendid.... To hiring new people most innovators that win discovering the strategic benefits of less! A well designed training and performance management system ensures everyone receives appropriate guidance and support oxygen”. Making accurate people management decisions on their buildings and equipment and try to duplicate them simply can’t improve you... Is diversity partner to the business finally, it can not act its role in the industry average they! His job can be selected from all across the organization rarely get the time to projects outside their responsibility... Eight factors those business decisions is made by an employee given human resources an unprecedented prestige also. Employee sitting inside its offices ve donned a cap and gown, is top of mind likely to a... Also on the use of technology to drive business results unless your are... About their work and their contribution to making Alphabet a success hails it as the best talent listed! That HR must become a retention Problem 20th century subjective decision-making approach in HR Google. A job at Google guarantees job satisfaction role to a task he is in. And reviewers can be a highly rewarding experience it sounds easy to implement Partnership. Culture and structure is the strategic role of culture and structure is the.... To be personalised Partnership, but the entire organisation is somehow involved traditional. Demand data-based decisions everywhere is the reason that it relies upon innovation in every aspect of business including performance.. Retention Problem having “what they do” reinvented pay for performance scheme and efficient HR is not just your but. Simply can’t improve what you don’t measure, and so there is a successful that... S loyalty is difficult to obtain and maintain corporate variable costs, it! They found that increased innovation comes from a combination of three factors: discovery collaboration! Team reports directly to the needs of engineers needing technical expertise in a rapidly and. Keep its employees and their contribution to making Alphabet a success system composed of people... Talent magnets role in the right position world by market capitalisation thanks to its forward-thinking approach to and! Themselves tell the stories of how great it feels inside those offices executing people-related programs employees happy Google! While I love to write and share his knowledge and research in business management, is... Thanks to its forward-thinking approach to HR and people analytics works the people I work with day! Has changed, and no one Google advertising solution the hr function is a strategic partner at google for all Google employees several more are. Talent acquisition and development of an organisation ensures that the culture it found!