After four years and a month since it was first launched, Google is now making known to the public that it will finally eliminate the requirement to create a Google+ account before one can sign in to other Google services such as the popular streaming site, YouTube. The said pre-requisite was greatly criticized as it indicated Google's insistence on people using their social network.
Google+'s take off was hammered to the executives by its Chief Architect, Vic Gundotra, in their meetings. Insiders described how Gundotra was able to convince Google's CEO and co-founder, Larry Page, to venture into such a cause. A former executive called the mind behind the social network to be "this constant bug in Larry's ear: 'Facebook is going to kill us. Facebook is going to kill us.'" He went on to say that, "I am pretty sure Vic managed to frighten Larry into action." It was from hereon that Google+ was created.
People working for the company, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, pictured the period between 2010-2011 as a progressive threat that Facebook might steal employees, advertisers and users. Google was then swift to act, but with much clumsiness.
The internet giant introduced Google Plus, but without a clear draft on how its service would be different from that of Facebook. This is a classic story on how a by-name in technology attempts, often only to fail, in coming up with changes whenever it feels intimidated. While it managed to create new services, the social network still failed to beat its rival, Facebook, which has 1.4 billion users. Moreover, FB runs on a market capitalization that is equivalent to more than half of what Google has. It likewise continues to pirate employees from Google.
Paul Adams, who used to be a part of the user experience team of Google+ as well as inspired the concept for having Circles, but is now working for Facebook, once commented, "There was a bit of a fallout from Google Buzz - how did we get it so wrong and what do we do now? Facebook is still this existential threat."
John Baldoni of CBS MoneyWatch thinks Google may have fallen into something many managers become prey to--hubris, or excessive pride or self-confidence.
Baldoni also sees Google as becoming a victim of myopia for failing to see the company "through the thousands of pairs of eyes of men and women who are paid to observe, analyze and comment on its corporate performance." He ended his analysis on Google's case by saying that, "Respect for customers rests on respect for the truth. And that's true for companies big and small."
