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Google's Product Delivery Strategy Transition

In an interesting and well-written account titled Why I left Google, William Wen, a former Google engineer, lays out the reasons for his departure after 13 years with the company.

Mr. Wen describes changes in company culture, work culture, workplace traditions, workplace relationships, career advancement, fortuitous stock investments, stock options divestment, and other factors contributing to his decision.

As I am in product management, I took particular notice of certain statements in the article:

  • "Google has become a product company, not an engineering company."
  • "Product teams gained more power and influence over engineering teams.
  • "Engineering is not as valued as Product," Mr. Wen argues, is the current state of things at Google.


These statements reflect a change in Google's product delivery strategy from technology-driven to market-driven.

A technology-driven company is focused on better technology.

The engineering group is dominant in shaping product strategy, and product decisions made by engineers are from a technological or production perspective.


A market-driven company is an antithesis where the focus is on market problems and user needs.

The product management group is dominant in shaping product strategy, and product decisions made by product managers are made from a market-oriented and strategic perspective.


The change, which Mr. Wen describes, reflects a transition in Google's product delivery strategy.

Due to the transition, there is a reshuffling of responsibilities, ownership, and levels of control over the product.

If framed correctly with executive management and HR assisting, devaluation of any person or corporate function should not occur.


The Blackblot PMTK Methodology™ is a market-driven product management methodology.

Consequently, I have authored several articles and answered a host of questions on the pros and cons of different product delivery strategies and how to deal with transitions.

You will find them by searching the Powered by Blackblot™ Knowledge Base.