Control mechanisms: principles, types, and applications

¶ … CONTROL MECHANIMS IN GOOGLE AND EXAMINE THE POSITIVE & NEGATIVE REACTIONS TO THE USE OF THESE CONTROLS IN THE GOOGLE ORGANIZATION.

One of the most unique aspects of Google as a company is the way it uses positive control mechanisms, rather than negative control mechanisms, to regulate employee behavior. Consider the prospect of 'time theft' or employees cheating their employers of hours worked at the company during the day. Some companies, to prevent employees from slipping out the door before their allotted time, instate an elaborate mechanism such as a time clock to force employees to punch in and punch out at a specific hour. Google instead strives to create such a positive atmosphere that employees do not want to go home.

Google employees have free transportation from major transportation hubs, to ensure they get to work on time and do not leave early. All of employees' personal needs are served at 'Camp Google,' as the Google workplace is called, from dry-cleaning to fitness classes. Even the Google cafeterias are free, encouraging employees to remain at work during their break times, and to eat with one another. Additionally, Google treats its employees with respect, and offers them attractive benefit packages that makes them want to remain with the company: "We provide individually-tailored compensation packages that can be comprised of competitive salary, bonus, and equity components, along with the opportunity to earn further financial bonuses and rewards' (Life at Google, 2010, Google).