All About Google!
By: Deepjyot, Gurvir, and Michael
Overview
History
Current Initiatives | Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR)
To start off, Google has implemented a "Green" project in which they are trying to create a better environment. By using efficient alternative energy sources such as renewable power, Google has taken a correct step in order to achieve it's goals. Google has invested over $1 billion US dollars towards renewable energy projects and has created new facilities with "green power". Furthermore, Google is constantly looking for ways to minimize their environmental impacts, thus they are committed to being efficient as possible. Over the past decade, Google has cut down 50% of the energy used in their data servers. In fact, Google is the first major Internet service company to gain external certification of their environmental, workplace, and energy management standards. By receiving ISO 14001, ISO 50001, OHAS 18001 certifications, Google has kept it's word of creating a better environment. Read more on efficiency by clicking here. Ever since 2007, Google has eliminated their impact on climate change. They have committed to develop renewable energy cheaper than coal and have plans to switch to solar, geothermal, and wind power. Google has made sure that green initiatives are widespread across the entire organization and all its efforts. Even in their Toronto office, Green is an effort that is heavily focused on. For example, carpets are made out of recycled fishing line from the bottom of the sea and the majority of products used in the office are environmentally friendly. In fact just by using Google products, you are being better to the environment. Google’s efforts include: 100 billion search queries, 6 billion hours of YouTube videos a month, Support for 750 million Chrome users, Google Maps to 194 countries, Wi-Fi enabled balloons in the atmosphere, and self-driving cars. After all of these efforts, despite Google’s efficiency and renewable energy they still impact the environment a little bit. That’s where carbon offsets come in. A carbon offset reduces the total level of greenhouse gas emissions. For example, instead of releasing emissions; they can capture it and destroy it therefore not harming the environment and atmosphere. Therefore the efficiency, renewable energy, and carbon offsets allows Google to have a carbon footprint of zero.
Secondly, Google has partnered up with Government agencies, NGOs, and commercial organizations to provide support with any natural disasters. Since 2005, Google has started the “Crisis” program. Google knows that information is the key to a successful future, and they know that how fast information is relayed is the most important aspect. Google embraces these ideas and is socially responsible by playing its part in our global world. Google Crisis is where Google helps countries by making informational systems such as shelter locations, emergency numbers, and donation opportunities easily accessible on the web. Also, Google issues out periodic "Public Alerts" through their system to inform the public about any disasters causing damage and provide information on how to stay safe. Google uses its high level of technology expertise and all of its product platforms in order to help the world, countries, cities and communities. Google has assisted with nearly 35 natural disasters and has helped with response efforts.
Google Public Alerts is one aspect of this system. It’s a platform that has been set up to disseminate relevant emergency alerts to users. The system sends alerts using CAP (Common Alerting Protocol) which is an industry standard and most alert pushing tools support it already. This lets the users filter through results, and they are sent to the user through their phones or home device such as Search, Maps, and Google Now. Users are also able to send emergency alerts themselves using the Alert Hub. In case of any emergency Google Crisis and Google Public Alerts will notify any users that want to be notified and has been used many times to save many lives.
Google also has a Person Finder application which is usually used after a disaster where families or friends may be separated. Individuals can view to see the status of their missing person, and rescue units/personnel can also use this service to assist them with locating missing persons.
Google Crisis Map is a simple to use, platform for a wide audience to easily view areas that have been affected by a disaster. It is not a specialized program so it is easily accessible, easily shared via websites, emails, apps, to anyone in the world.
All of these programs and platforms are a part of Google’s Crisis initiative which is giving back to the world, and using its technologies to better enhance the living conditions for everyone.
Lastly, Google has helped thousands of non-profit organizations through its "Grants" program in which they support these organizations through its famous ad-word service. Here's a brief video that sums up the concept. Basically, Google supports these organizations to spread their message, mission, and initiatives through Google's search engine. In order to be eligible for the grant program, the organization must hold a valid charity status, agree to nondiscrimination, providing donation receipts and use, have a functioning website with substantial content, and must some sort of a non-profit organization. More details can be found here. Google knows that giving back is important, and they want to embrace their technological expertise as well as sharing it and sharing their success as a company with those who also look for success. Google gives back in different ways, one of them include Google Ad Grants. It is a program that gives eligible applicants free advertising on Google if they are a non-profit organization. Not everyone is eligible and even if they are the message of their ads must fit the guideline. For example, an appropriate ad message may say Shop and Fight Cancer, but one that simply says Buy Gifts Online is not appropriate and would not be shown.
Google funds a German engineer who designed a robot that is a learning tool; the Roberta robot. They provide funds for the development, design, construct, and program and then donate those educational robots to schools around the world. They immerse boys and girls as young as 10 with real robot kits.
Google has donated money towards a non-profit organization named Canvas in order to give 5000 Raspberry Pis to kids/schools in Japan. These are small tiny computers that can be used for everyday purposes including educational purposes. Google recognized that there was a gap in Japan when it came to its youth pursuing a future in sciences and consumer electronics. So by providing the youth with mini computers they allow them to have opportunities to program and learn about computers. Over 25,000 kids in Japan will receive this educational opportunity as well as the teachers.
Google also cares about local communities and its history, for example; Google has donated almost $1 million dollars in order to help restore the Bletchley Park. This is where the first electronic programmable computer was held, and it played a pivotal role in World War II where it helped crack codes, and it was a secret until it was declassified in the 1980s. Google has also donated over $1 million dollars to preserve the High Line which is a public park built on top of an old freight railway. They are investing into green construction and environmentally friendly preservation strategies to maintain this park and keep it a public space.
Ethical Behaviours
Life at Google
Employee Benefits
Google Headquarters
Data Centers of Google
Google Giving
See What Life at Google is all about!
Code of Ethics
Deepjyot
- Maintaining a healthy work environment: The concept is simple, the stronger the work life environment, the higher the productivity. This ethical concept should be practised in every organization in order to generate revenue. Organizations should understand the value of their employees and ensure that employee retention is high. This concept familiarizes organizations to promote a work-life balance as employees feel more valued and are more loyal towards an organizations. According to data, the higher the work-life balance the higher the productivity which ultimately will generate a higher income.
- Promote Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and raise awareness: This concept encourages all organizations to back to society. By law a company is obligated to give back to society through monetary or non-monetary methods. The higher the awareness, the more informative the customers will be. This will increase the loyalty and further develop a strong relationship between an organization and its customer(s). By raising awareness of corporate social responsibility companies can be considered to be moral and regarded as a ethical organization.
- Emphasize equal opportunity employment: During the process of hiring/termination it is crucial for the company to consider everyone as equal. Any type of discrimination including: .... should not be tolerated by any organization under any circumstances. By assuring fairness, organizations can keep itself diversified and equal. Equality is one of the major ethical issues in today's world. By eliminating discrimination companies can safeguard their reputation and stay ahead of the game.
- Obey the law and preserve confidentiality: It is important for all companies to comply with legal laws and regulations. Improper conduct will tarnish a company's reputation. Thus it is advised to comply with all legal laws and regulations. However, if there seems to be a conflict, the company's legal advisers should appropriately present their issues to a court of law. It is highly important that employees must preserve confidentiality. You might have heard the saying "Whatever happens in Vegas stays in Vegas", likewise companies should also incorporate that rule in their code of ethics. Thus, whatever happens in a company must remain in a company. Insider Trading, Whistle-blowing, Bribery, and others all violate the concept of integrity and ethics. Therefore, a company must make sure that this doesn't happen and must take serious actions in order to prevent these types of situations from occurring.