Google, once synonymous with disruptive innovation and agile creativity, now faces existential questions about its ability to maintain pace with technological evolution. Over the past decade, the company’s transition from a nimble startup to a corporate behemoth has introduced structural, cultural, and strategic challenges that hinder its capacity for rapid adaptation. This report examines the multifaceted reasons behind Google’s perceived decline in innovation velocity, drawing on internal dynamics, market pressures, and comparative analyses with competitors.

The Weight of Bureaucracy: How Organizational Size Stifles Agility

Google’s transformation into Alphabet in 2015 marked a strategic shift toward managing a sprawling portfolio of subsidiaries. While this restructuring aimed to foster innovation, it inadvertently entrenched bureaucratic layers that slow decision-making. Today, product teams must navigate multiple tiers of approval, often prioritizing executive preferences over bold ideas. For instance, projects like Google Glass and Stadia faced premature termination despite their potential, partly due …