“Don’t be evil” is a phrase I read the other day for the first time. It’s Google’s former corporate code of conduct, originally introduced when the company went public in 2004. However, the tech titan decided to ditch it in October 2015 in favor of “Do the right thing” after corporate restructuring under its parent company Alphabet.
Mottos, taglines, and mission statements are good for employee focus and customer perception, but in the case of Google, I do wonder.
Often, companies with an outlandish market share or questionable business practices — such as tax avoidance or a desire to change their business practices without notifying their customers — endlessly promote their good intentions, their world-saving and community-driven business models. Or, as in the case of Google, having such a morally upright motto can leave you open to criticisms of hypocrisy…
finish reading this article on Forbes