Google leverages its talent base and Open source to its advantage and IT can do the same

Implications: 1.  Hiring top talent and giving them flexibility to create is Key 2.  What are your competitive strengths as an IT organization?

Analysis: Google has done a great job in building a reputation as a place to work.  As I understand it now, more people want to work for Google now that Microsoft.  Until 2007, Microsoft was seen as the top technology company where all college students wanted to work.  This is key to any company to attract top talent.  Google has done even a better job in providing this top talent with a way to unleash their creativity. 

The flexibility of Open source is a huge opportunity.  The fact that Google has hired some of the top Open source programmers creates another environment advantages.  It creates a culture where you can get exposed to the best minds in certain areas.  This has the tendency to raise all of the workers capabilities.  It is the same adage that people have always used.  "A" players hire "A" player.  "B" player hire "C" players.

I admire Google for all that they have accomplished is a relatively short time.  They are not only succeeding in a new market, but they are putting pressure on some of the key players in the industry.  We should all aspire to make our companies as effective as Google has become.

There is a lesson here for those of in IT.  2008 promises to be a difficult time to hire good candidates into your organization.  Google provides us with a glimpse of what we can do to attract and keep top talent.  What we have to know is what are our competitive capabilities within our organization to attract top talent.  Do we have new technologies that will attract the techies who like to keep up on new capabilities?  Does your company have cool products that IT can relate to?  Does your team get to interact with your companies suppliers and customers and does this create a growth opportunity for your staff?  Does your organization create opportunities for your staff to excel?

Sometimes IT people need to see thier organization as a company and ask what you need to do to grow your business.  This does not always mean adding more staff.  Sometimes it means re-orienting your staff to better meet the business challenges.  2008 may be one of those years because there is a shortage of talent.