Cisco Systems, Inc.

The Basic Story Regarding Cisco Systems

Cisco Systems is the world's largest supplier of high-performance computer internetworking systems. Its routers and other communication
products allow users to connect different computer networks using different hardware and software across offices, countries, and continents.
Cisco's Internetworking Operating System (Cisco IOS) software lets networks running under differant standards interoperate, creating a seamless
information and communications system Being in the business that it is, Cisco is also determined to be its own best user of networking systems.
It has placed a great deal of emphasis on making the Cisco Connection an outstanding example of network-based customer support.

Cisco Systems

• Cisco Web Page
  
• The Global Networked Business: A Model for Success
  
• Cisco 1997 Annual Report
  
• Cisco Voted Best Place to Work
  
• Cisco Systems: The Internetworking Company of the Future
  
• "Computing’s Next Superpower" Fortune Magazine, May 12, 1997.
• Cisco's Greatness (9/98 article)
  
• "High-Tech Edge Gives U.S. Firms Global Lead In Computer Networks," Wall Street Journal, Sept. 1994.
• Bay Networks Web Page
  
• 3Com Web Page
  
• Cabletron Systems, Inc. Web Page
  
• IBM Networking
  
• Lucent Technologies Web Page
  
• Cisco Explosvie Growth Continues
  
• Solvik on Electronic Commerce
  
• Cisco Leverages the Internet
  
• John Chambers, CEO of the Year
  
• "It’s Still the King of Networking, But now the field has turned Brutal," Business Week, April 28, 1997, page 88.
• "Pace of Change, Faster Than The Speed Of Data," Information Week, July 21, 1997, page 5.
• "Cisco Enhances Its Stable," Computerworld, June 30, 1997, page 32.

Industry Publications

• Telecommunications Online
  
• Communication News
  
• Spread Spectrum Scene
  

Cisco's Use of Information Teckhnology

• Information Systems within Cisco
  
• Cisco Connection
  
• Cisco EDI Program
  
• Cisco Demonstrates How to Conduct Business on the Internet
  
• Intranets Reach Critical Mass
  
• Cisco's $1 Billion Web Site
  
• Best Site for Business to Business Commerce
  
• Sites of Distinction
  

Key People within Cisco Systems

• John Chambers, CEO
  
• Edward R. Kozel, Chief Technology Officer (had a primary responsibility for acquisitions in the past but recently announced that he would become part-time)
• Douglas C. Allred, Vice President for Customer Advocacy.
• Pete Solvik, CIO
  

Some Tips in Doing an Analysis Paper on Cisco Systems

• While the term may not be in any industry code book, it makes sense to identify Cisco's industry as telecommunicaitions network equipment. Computer network equipment is another acceptable definition. Implied by this is both hardware and software. Contrast this to computer peripheral which is too general and not indicative of its business focus.
• Be careful not to confuse Cisco's effort to sell internetwork equipment with its USE of these devices in Section III of the paper.
• As indicated above, Cisco wants to lead the industry as the best provider of end-to-end network solutions to its customers, while also being the best example of how this approach is the best way for it to conduct its business.
• The success of Cisco has hardly gone unnoticed. Are there existing companies that can and will try to challenge Cisco as an internetworking provider? Is Lucent Technology a possible threat?

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