Google Has Eliminated 35% of Managers Overseeing Small Teams in Past Year, Exec Says

Google Has Eliminated 35% of Managers Overseeing Small Teams in Past Year, Exec Says.

Google has eliminated more than one-third of its managers overseeing small teams, an executive told employees last week, as the company continues its focus on efficiencies across the organization.

This is good news. Google is getting back on track (as seen with their latest streak of great model releases).

“Right now, we have 35% fewer managers, with fewer direct reports” than at this time a year ago,

A few thoughts on this: Google had too many managers and probably still has. If they want to move faster, especially in the wake of AI, they need to have fewer barriers to shipping. I’ve heard over and over that LLMs turn programmers into managers, wrong. Great programmers don’t need managers and with LLMs a lot of the managers’ work can be simplified and automated.

I’m reminded of @dhh’s stance on this:

Small teams of highly competent managers of one can progress at an unbelievable pace. Left to just do their job, they get it done, and are in  turn rewarded with that precious job satisfaction of really making a direct, personal difference. There’s nothing better than shipping quickly alongside peers you respect highly.