Cisco Systems Inc. Implementing ERP

Executive Summary

It is the case study of the Cisco Systems Inc. in the field of world market of networking. The case reveals the fact of the company's initial achievements and accomplishments from the very first day of its existence. It is then overcome by the overconfidence and is found of committing major silly mistakes in the functional areas of the company. The main issue was the poor scenario of decision making in the company at all levels. However, the issues were resolved by implementing the ERP system and acquiring the use of Oracle software in the development of the company. The major recommended aspect id to apply the MIS (Management Information System) in the company at all levels, for further satisfy the customers' needs and requirements as always, and also achieving its former fame.

Executive Summaryii

Case Synopsis1

Analysis of Company's Goals and Strategy2

Analysis of the Problems Encountered in Business Processes and Operations3

Firm-Based Value Chain Model3

Model Application3

Implementation Opportunity Analysis4

Implementation Effectiveness6

Corporate Strategy6

Building Shareholders7

Access to New Product7

Venture Strategy8

Retaining Key Employees8

Recommendations9

Conclusion11

References12

CISCO SYSTEMS INC: Implementing ERP

Case Synopsis

Cisco is currently the global leader in networking and transforming the features in terms of connecting, communicating and collaborating with the people. It helps the company in working with its customers for identifying their needs to provide supporting solutions to them and getting success in the market among the customers. It has been working on this solution driven strategy since its foundation. Two Stanford computer scientists wanted to contact with each other through email, but were unable to do so because of inadequacy of technology. This led to the invention of multi-protocol router in 1984 and was traded publicly in 1990. Since then Cisco has been creating remarkable values and opportunities for its associated people (newsroom.cisco.com).

Its Router technology has boomed the progress of the company. During its first year, it was among the top five companies on the basis of revenues and assets return in 1997. In 1998, the company had passed the mark of 100 billion dollars in capitalization that was about 15 times of its last year's sales. It was continuously moving towards joining the Intel and Microsoft in revolutionizing the digital world. The chairman board Don Valentine had invested in the company when no one was willing to take such a risk, but he had secured 2.5 million dollars in bringing the professional management team into the company. For this purpose, he had hired John Morgridge as CEO of Cisco (Austin, et.al. 2002).

It was led by the departure of Cisco's founders resulting from the clashes with the professional management team as they had sold all their stocks. Now, Morgridge was at ease to manage a disciplined team structure. He emphasized the implication of a centralized system of organizational functions including customer support, human resources, sales, Information Technology, financing and manufacturing (Austin, et.al. 2002).

Then in 1993, Pete Solvik joined Cisco and wanted to raise the company from 500 million dollars to more than 5 billion dollars. The company was running the software package based on ...