- Why did Google restructure itself and create Alphabet? What is it hoping to accomplish? For additional insights, see Larry Page’s blog post announcing the restructuring at http://googleblog.blogspot.com/2015/08/google-alphabet.html.
- Do you think the reorganization is beneficial for Alphabet’s “moonshots,” now housed in their own business unit with profit-and-loss responsibility?
- As of the fall of 2015, Alphabet is a “one-trick pony,” with Google’s online search and advertising business bringing in basically all the profits. Why has Google “failed” to develop other profitable businesses? Is Google’s strategy process of planned emergence to blame? Why or why not?
- Given that Google is now a standalone business run by Sundar Pichai, do you expect that its strategy process will change? Why or why not? If so, how?