Shannon Deegan: How Google's 20 Percent Time Fosters Innovation

Summary

Google encourages innovation through its 20% time policy, allowing engineers to work on personal passion projects outside their daily responsibilities. Employees can propose ideas, gather support from others, and collaborate on these projects. Examples include Google Sky, an app that helps users identify stars by pointing their phone at the sky, and Gmail, which started as an internal effort to improve email systems. This culture of innovation allows ideas to emerge organically, with the belief that future breakthroughs will come from these initiatives rather than top-down mandates.

Takeaways

• 💡 Google encourages its engineers to spend 20% of their time working on any project they find interesting outside of their regular tasks.
• 🚀 The 20% time initiative allows employees to pursue innovative ideas and collaborate with others who share similar passions.
• 📋 Google has an internal platform where employees can share their project ideas, and others can join in if they find the idea exciting.
• 🔭 An example of a successful 20% project is Google Sky, where engineers with a passion for astronomy created a tool that identifies stars when you point your phone to the sky.
• 🌌 Google Sky scans the horizon and tells users about the stars and their connections, showcasing innovation born from engineers’ personal interests.
• 📧 Gmail is another example of a product that started as a 20% project, where engineers believed they could build a better email system than existing options.
• 🌟 These 20% projects often grow into some of Google's most well-known products, like Gmail and Google Sky.
• 👥 Google fosters an environment where innovation can emerge organically, rather than from top-down directives.
• 🤝 The culture encourages engineers and employees from different parts of the company to collaborate on projects they find interesting.
• 🔑 The 20% time philosophy has become an important source of Google's major innovations, where employees' 'wouldn't it be cool if' ideas turn into real products.

Q & A

What is the purpose of 20% time at Google?

20% time allows Google engineers to work on projects they find interesting outside of their day-to-day responsibilities. It encourages innovation by giving them the freedom to pursue ideas they think are cool and collaborate with others who share similar interests.

How do Google employees share and collaborate on 20% time ideas?

Google employees can post their ideas on internal platforms, where others can give feedback and show support by offering their skills. This system fosters collaboration across departments, as engineers and others join projects that they find interesting.

Can you give an example of a project that came out of 20% time?

Google Sky is an example of a project developed during 20% time. Engineers who were passionate about astronomy collaborated to turn the Google Earth cameras toward the sky, creating a product that allows users to identify stars and constellations using their phones.

How does Google Sky work?

Google Sky allows users to hold their phone up to the sky and view information about the stars they are looking at. As they move their phone, the app identifies different stars and constellations, providing details about what they are seeing.

What role does collaboration play in 20% time projects?

Collaboration is key to 20% time projects. Employees often team up with others from different parts of the company who have the necessary skills to develop the ideas into products. The internal platform helps them find partners who are interested in contributing.

What is another notable product that originated from 20% time at Google?

Gmail is another major product that originated from 20% time. A group of engineers and employees believed they could create a better email system than what was available at the time, and their project eventually became one of Google's most well-known services.

What is the broader impact of 20% time at Google on innovation?

20% time has a significant impact on innovation at Google, as it encourages employees to experiment and come up with new ideas. Many of Google's major products have emerged from these initiatives, and the company sees this as a key driver of future breakthroughs.

How does the 20% time approach differ from a traditional corporate R&D strategy?

Unlike traditional R&D, which is typically planned and structured by management, 20% time is driven by individual employees' passions and ideas. Google believes that this grassroots approach leads to more organic and creative innovation.

What mindset does Google encourage among employees through 20% time?

Google encourages a mindset of exploration and creativity. The 'wouldn't it be cool if' attitude is central to 20% time, allowing employees to think freely and work on projects they find inspiring, even if they aren't part of their assigned duties.

Why does Google believe that the next big ideas will come from 20% time projects?

Google believes that the next big ideas will emerge from 20% time projects because they are driven by employees' genuine interests and passions, not by top-down directives. This freedom leads to more innovative and unexpected solutions.