Thread regarding Alphabet Inc. (Google) layoffs

Google needs to do more than just advertising, and it’s 2023 so people have wised up and they don’t like the fact that their data is everywhere or that it is being monetized by Google. The only reason that Google is pivoting away from ads is because of that fact, not because Google has some better idea. It probably doesn’t have a choice. And every other time that Google has tried to do something with social media or devices it’s shown that it’s just a “me too” company and failed.

It's ironic that Google initially believed they could be different from old-school companies like Microsoft or IBM just because they "understood." Over time,...

Google was never different from these companies. Just like them they grew through acquisitions.

Their ad business is because of their acquisition of Doubleclick. Without it, they'd be the next Yahoo.

They acquired their most visible property, YouTube.

Google Docs is the result of an acquisition.

Their aura of mystique is because of their marketing. The perks and interview process maintain that mystique. Once people realize they are no different from any other company, the perks and hiring criteria are gone.

@OP+1pIW4dad you will be the next brown nose to lose the job

a lot of people laidoff was pure politics and nothing related to performance.

underperforming employees during good years. This temporary fix poses unnecessary risk and could jeopardize the company.

Ehm, that makes a lot of sense. Well, Google would have gotten less bad press had they PIPed these slackers.

As a newcomer and disruptor, the goal is to stand out. You're daring, have a clear vision, and often say things like "we're creating a new type of company" or "the user is our top priority." However, once you dominate the market, your focus must change. It's no longer about asking "why not try this" or "let's do what's right." Instead, it becomes "why risk what's working well?" It's not just about profits; people's careers and livelihoods are on the line.

In addition to lower risk tolerance, your organizational structure becomes rigid. When individuals have been running processes or departments a certain way for fifteen or twenty years, they are resistant to starting over. This isn't necessarily negative, as the alternative could be a ruthless corporate environment where job security is uncertain.
It's ironic that Google initially believed they could be different from old-school companies like Microsoft or IBM just because they "understood." Over time, they realized why these older companies operate in a specific manner.