Abstract

The case focuses on Cisco’s organization culture, which many feel, was responsible for Cisco bouncing back to profit after recording losses during the tech meltdown of 2001. The case looks at Cisco’s growth through the years, the drivers of Cisco culture, and the characteristics of work culture at Cisco. Incorporated in 1984, Cisco had a culture based on the principles of customer focus, transparent communication, employee empowerment, integrity, and frugality. The work culture, which epitomized fun and fostered a spirit of employee involvement, ensured that employee turnover was way below industry norms. Continuous Learning, an element of the Cisco culture, was taken care of even through acquisition and partnerships. The case also looks into the role played by the company’s CEO, John Chambers, in the evolution of the Cisco culture.

Learning Objectives

The case is structured to achieve the following Learning Objectives:

• How an organization can use its culture as a competitive advantage
• and The elements of an organizational culture.

Keywords

Cisco, Organization culture, John T. Chambers, friends@Cisco, Internet Culture,Networking Technology, Telecommuting, Cisco Culture, Work Culture, Organizational Structure, Employee Empowerment, Employee Stock Purchase Program, Organization Learning, Strategic Alliances, Cisco Leadership Series