Google's Precise Problem: Too Much Stuff

Google's strategy of launching lots and lots of things and seeing what works is good, if you're a R&D lab. But the fact is they are a public company, that needs to operate in the commercial world. I think they started that with a message to engineers to work on fewer things.

But there's a rumor moving today that The Google is going to do a big re-org. I don't know if this means lay-offs, but it certainly could mean a consolidation of product lines. To quote someone giving a leak:

"We don't want people to have to learn about 20 different products that work in 20 different ways," Brin was quoted as having said.

Yup. Precisely. The Google Brand has always run the risk of dilution as they invent, explore and challenge. Getting back to the core is exactly what they need to do, right now.