Cisco Systems Inc. Organizational Culture

Cisco Systems Inc. Organizational Culture

Introduction

Cisco Systems Inc. resides in the computer networking industry. Cisco develops networking devices such as switches, routers, network management software, and dial- up access servers. The corporation developed the technology that enabled computers to be connected, making the worldwide web. Cisco is the world's largest networking company, with revenues over 8.5 billion dollars each year. In the history of computers, Cisco has been noted as being the company to grow most rapidly and is continually the industry's market leader. In order to determine a future strategic alternative for Cisco, it is essential to look at the few characteristics of the company.

Cisco e-Marketing Strategy

Cisco has properly positioned itself to respond to market changes and--as shown above--is able to implement the latest tools and techniques to integrate their e-Business strategy with their standard line-of-business applications. The hardware and software solutions they employ are designed to provide cost-effective computing power, and can handle both horizontal and vertical growth without having to immediately change the applications or learn new technologies. Their infrastructure utilizes standard networking protocols, Web serving, and Web browsers. In addition, with a felicitously designed e-presence, Cisco is able to integrate comprehensive tools that allow for a quick response to new demands from their customers, and to new ideas as they emerge in the marketplace (www.cisco.com).

Promotion

Cisco uses varied print media. Their choices include targeting trade publications, business, financial publications, and several national newspapers & magazines. For each type of publication, the message is tailored for their target. In financial publications, they stress bottom line, while in trade publications the advanced nature of their products along with the reasoning that they are best. Television and radio are the least used due to the overly broad audience that they reach. Cisco has advertised during major sporting events, just to enhance their general awareness to who and what they are (Stock, 2007).

Product

The product line of Cisco Systems is vast but all related to connectivity. Cisco provides the broadest line of solutions for transporting data, voice, and video within buildings, across campuses, or around the world. There are 20 product categories, with several hundred hardware and software solutions. Additional products include training and product certification programs. An excellent equipment guide at Cisco - Quick Reference Guide (Cisco Systems, Inc., 2001) gives a complete overview and full product information on all hardware and software solutions (Pohlman et al, 2000).

Price

Product price is determined on a competitive and quantity based scheme. Economies of scale are always a factor in any equipment purchase. From the web page purchases can be made several ways each with a different pricing scheme, individual or corporate direct purchase from Cisco with proper credit approval, individual or corporate direct purchase authorized reseller, or authorized reseller purchase (McCall et al, 2001). Additionally Cisco has intergraded into their website links to finance purchases. With Cisco being a leader and at the forefront of interconnectivity technology there are few acceptable substitutes on their complex switching ...