Cisco Systems Uses Its Culture for Competitive Advantage
Cisco Systems Uses Its Culture for Competitive Advantage
Case Study
Cisco Systems Uses Its Culture for Competitive Advantage
Introduction
Cisco Systems, Inc. is the worldwide leader in providing hardware, software and related services to enable networking for the Internet. Today, networks are an essential part of business, education, government, and home communications. Cisco hardware, software, and service offerings are used to create the Internet solutions that make these networks possible, giving individuals, companies, and countries easy access to information anywhere, at any time (Cisco website, 2012). Cisco was widely regarded as an industry expert and uses its cutting edge technology to run every aspects of its business on the web. We will try to analyze how Cisco uses its culture for competitive advantage by answering the follow questions: 1. What are the observable artifacts, espoused values, and basic assumptions associated with Cisco’s culture? Explain. 2. Use the competing values framework to diagnose Cisco’s culture. To what extent does it possess characteristics associated with clan, adhocracy, market, and hierarchy cultures? 3. Begin by looking up Cisco's mission or vision statement on the company's Web site. Now answer the following question: To what extent is the culture type you identified in question 2 consistent with the accomplishment of this mission or vision? Explain. 4. What techniques for changing organizational culture has Cisco used to form its culture? 5. Refer to the hypothetical organization structure below and reference Organization Structures found in Unit 1: Getting Started under Content. The Situation: Employees responsible for Cisco’s web presence are feeling isolated and ineffective. Many would like to do more, but feel they work within a silo. Unfortunately there is little or no collaboration among the employees. You are responsible for recommending a new organization structure that promotes communication,
Case Study
Cisco Systems Uses Its Culture for Competitive Advantage
Introduction
Cisco Systems, Inc. is the worldwide leader in providing hardware, software and related services to enable networking for the Internet. Today, networks are an essential part of business, education, government, and home communications. Cisco hardware, software, and service offerings are used to create the Internet solutions that make these networks possible, giving individuals, companies, and countries easy access to information anywhere, at any time (Cisco website, 2012). Cisco was widely regarded as an industry expert and uses its cutting edge technology to run every aspects of its business on the web. We will try to analyze how Cisco uses its culture for competitive advantage by answering the follow questions: 1. What are the observable artifacts, espoused values, and basic assumptions associated with Cisco’s culture? Explain. 2. Use the competing values framework to diagnose Cisco’s culture. To what extent does it possess characteristics associated with clan, adhocracy, market, and hierarchy cultures? 3. Begin by looking up Cisco's mission or vision statement on the company's Web site. Now answer the following question: To what extent is the culture type you identified in question 2 consistent with the accomplishment of this mission or vision? Explain. 4. What techniques for changing organizational culture has Cisco used to form its culture? 5. Refer to the hypothetical organization structure below and reference Organization Structures found in Unit 1: Getting Started under Content. The Situation: Employees responsible for Cisco’s web presence are feeling isolated and ineffective. Many would like to do more, but feel they work within a silo. Unfortunately there is little or no collaboration among the employees. You are responsible for recommending a new organization structure that promotes communication,
References: Case Study 3. (2012). Cisco systems uses its culture for competitive advantage. Metropolitan state university d2l website retrieved July 19, 2012 from https://metrostate.ims.mnscu.edu/content/2012/1713756-20131000054/Case%20Studies/Cisco%20Case%20Study%20Three.pdf?_&d2lSessionVal=j8yLfO5A7jM9HsDB0WXpwAb65 Charles, M. (2012). Hybrid structure advantages and disadvantages. Ehow website retrieved July 19, 2012 from http://www.ehow.com/info_8596099_hybrid-structure-advantages-disadvantages.html Cisco Website. (2012). Retrieved on July 19, 2012 from www.cisco.com Kreitner, R., & Kinicki, A. (2008). Organizational Behavior (8 ed.). New York, NY: McGraw-Hill. Webber, P. (2012). Management 320-51: Organizational management. Metropolitan state university d2l website retrieved July 19, 2012 from https://metrostate.ims.mnscu.edu/d2l/lms/content/viewer/main_frame.d2l?ou=1713756&tId=13733104 Yorton, T. (2003). ASAE: The center for association and leadership. ASAE website retrieved July 19, 2012 from http://www.asaecenter.org/Resources/EUArticle.cfm?ItemNumber=11785