Being a boss at the most powerful tech company on the planet is a prized job. But it brings its own set of challenges as Google’s EMEA president has found out – from ethical dilemmas to facing questions from MPs about tax and his salary.
Had I been researching this article 20 years ago, it would have been a considerably more arduous process than it remains today. The task would have begun with a trek up to the Press Association library on London’s Fleet Street and a request for the files on Matt Brittin, Google and its commercial rivals. The brown manila folders would have taken half an hour to arrive from the filing cabinets and contained a large number of carefully folded newspaper articles. (All would have been in English.) I would carefully have unfolded each one, read it, and if it was of interest, placed it to one side for photocopying.
In 2017, I sit here in MT’s office and put the keywords into a search engine and hey presto. Google ‘Google’ and you get ‘about’ 11,470,000,000 results. Brittin himself merits 45,800. (Incidentally, when you type ‘God’ into the box you only get 1,630,000,000 results. So, Google is seven times bigger than God. At least in its own deep, algorithmic mind.)
Such numbers bring their own sifting problems. What is wheat and what is digital chaff? It is one thing having so much information at your fingertips but judging which bits are relevant to you, the reader, is another matter altogether. Who has decided which are the most important citations? Who knows what proportion of those results are post-truth, fake news? But you cannot take it away from Sergey and Larry. What Google has achieved since its creation in 1996 is quite amazing and, as such, it is probably the most important company to have been created since the Second World War.
この記事は Management Today の February/March 2017 版に掲載されています。
7 日間の Magzter GOLD 無料トライアルを開始して、何千もの厳選されたプレミアム ストーリー、9,000 以上の雑誌や新聞にアクセスしてください。
すでに購読者です ? サインイン
この記事は Management Today の February/March 2017 版に掲載されています。
7 日間の Magzter GOLD 無料トライアルを開始して、何千もの厳選されたプレミアム ストーリー、9,000 以上の雑誌や新聞にアクセスしてください。
すでに購読者です? サインイン
The Future Of Talent
As we face a fast-changing world of work, organisations will need new skills, capabilities and leadership. MT in association with CEB put together a panel of experts to discuss how best to attract and retain the best people.
Crispin Tweddell
The founder of Pitcher & Piano and private equity firm Piper has an enviable track record as an investor in growing consumer businesses. What’s the secret of his success?
Matt Brittin
Being a boss at the most powerful tech company on the planet is a prized job. But it brings its own set of challenges as Google’s EMEA president has found out – from ethical dilemmas to facing questions from MPs about tax and his salary.
Northern Ireland: Brexit, Borders And Back To The Future
The province faces damaging trade tariffs and a return to restrictions on movement between the north and the south after the uk leaves the eu. There may be trouble ahead, says matthew gwyther.
Living La Dolce Vita
Italian family-run farm, Fattoria La Vialla, has proved it’s possible to be successful and sustainable. Producing its own organic food and wine range, along with offering tourist accommodation, the business is carbon neutral too.
New Winners For A Post- Brexit Britain
As businesses deal with the impact of the UK’s decision to leave the EU, it’s all change at the top of Britain’s Most Admired Companies league table, with ARM becoming the first tech firm to take the number one spot.
Making Risk Work For You
From reputation damage to Brexit uncertainty, businesses face a host of daunting challenges to tackle. MT in association with DuPont assembled an expert panel to discuss how best to approach and even drive value from such risks.
