Cisco’s organization culture

Cisco’s Organization Culture

Introduction

“Cisco has been described as a fast-paced, challenging, fun loving, exciting, dynamic, diverse, intense, happy, engaging, friendly, team-oriented, lively, flexible, interesting, open, and energetic place to work”

Introduction Cont.…. Incorporated in 1984, Cisco had a culture

based on the principles of customer focus, transparent communication, employee empowerment, integrity, and frugality

The case focuses on Cisco's organization culture and looks at Cisco's growth through the years, the drivers of Cisco culture, and the characteristics of work culture at Cisco.

CISCO has given its culture an innovative and futuristic approach with customer as the top priority.

Background From 1984 till now CISCO has designed and

launched many software's and internet based systems to be in regular touch with its employees and customers.

The main focus of cisco’s introducing various kinds of software’s and servers was to foster interactive relationships with existing, prospective customers, partners, suppliers and employees. This made customers to easily approach the company for any kind of support or placing orders.

Leader @ Cisco:JOHN CHAMBERS Leader @ CISCO

He played a significant role in building the culture at cisco with his hands-on-impact on it. . Under his leadership, Cisco dominated computer networking, expanded into critical new markets, and emerged as one of the world's most powerful and important businesses.

"Cisco culture is driven by high standards of corporate integrity and by giving back using our resources for a positive global impact. Through corporate philanthropy and public/private cooperation we are building strong and productive global communities in which every individual has the means to live, the opportunity to learn, and the chance to give back." John T. Chambers, President and CEO, Cisco Systems Inc.

What Drives Cisco’s Culture

Customer feedbackSuccess attributed to its relationship

with customers. According to the Cisco culture “Customer comes first”

Customer satisfaction is the assessment as a continuous process.

Focus on identifying problem area with customers.

Ensure sense of personal ownership in feedback.

Proper analysis is done in customer transaction which helps to understand the customer and maintain the loyalty.

Use of technologyAll the HR transactions were done

online. Employees get in touch through servers with each other as well as the customers.

The company used more than 40000 pages on web for internal use.

They used telecommunications in workplace.

Top management support It focused on internal competition

rather than external competition.Regular support with executive staff,

vice president, director, manager and other employees through internet.

Sessions like birthday breakfast , new hire session with Chambers and encouraged transparent communication.

Work Culture  Cisco developed the idea of employee

involvement.. “very often it’s the most efficient to work with just the person involved, without the formality of passing through every layer of management”

So it came up with the concept of Decision Making Team..Cisco lived by the employee empowerment motto of “Don’t ask for permissions, ask for forgiveness later” 

Work Culture Cont.…..

The Authority, Responsibility and the Accountability were kept at the same level.

Cisco had a 98% retention rate for ‘key personnel’ during acquisition It has been in the top 10 companies in the categories like workplace quality, personnel

When there is a problem--- it is taken up as a challenge; rather than a dictating task..

Employee Stock Purchase Program.. at a discount rate to 15% of the market pricelong term health insurance Quarterly newsletter ‘Work/Life’  covers professional as well as personal issues faced by the employees.

Events ranging from movie nights with family to seminars on financial planning

Flexible schedules and paid time-off Employees are encouraged to take care of the

company resources as if they were their own. “We are proud of the fact that we do more with less”

Learning Through Acquisition and Partnership

Continuous learning has been a part of Cisco culture.

Cisco bought those companies that had competencies in emerging technologies in order to update itself.

within 15 years Cisco bought 14 companies at investment of $5.5 billion.

Cisco’s Partners

Strategic Alliances at Cisco

Industry Leader

Multiple Touch Points Across Both Companies

Cross Value Chain Impact

Joint Solution And/or Technologies To address Customer Needs

Long Term Joint Investment Of Resources And IP

Anticipated Competitive Threats

Create New Global Markets And IP

Weave Multiple Partners Together To Target New Markets

Built To Last Cisco conducted team building events to

facilitate high level of interaction. It was serious about finding and keeping talent. Strong belief in communicating and preserving

the culture.

“We really are trying to built a great company that’s built to last”

-John Chambers

Recruitment @ Cisco Cisco’s recruitment process also reflected its

culture as it tried to find the best talent and it very well knew how to preserve the talent and use it to the fullest.

Company targeted passive applicants through websites like Dilbert which was very popular among the professionals.

It came out with some innovative features in its website like friends@Cisco. This feature helped applicants to get necessary information about the work and departments at Cisco.

Employees Comment On CISCO Culture

“Everyone at Cisco is committed to its open culture. Open communication, teamwork, frugality, and thriving for business excellence are among the values of Cisco culture. Giving back to the community is highly valued at Cisco. This is regarding supporting the team, being frugal, sharing knowledge and also getting involved in volunteering programs. Teamwork at Cisco is great”

THANK YOU…FOR YOUR TIME AND ATTENTION..