SWOT Analysis of Cisco Systems, Inc.

by: Kimberly Wylie

Table of Contents

Introduction 3

Strengths  3

Weaknesses 5

Opportunities 6

Threats  7

Alternatives 8

Recommenda 9

Evaluation 9

Conclusion  10
 

Introduction:

As technology changes business on a day-to-day basis, one thing continues to remain the same; the human component of any business is critical. Although processes and tasks can often be automated, saving valuable man-hours in the process, this automation means that each human employee who is left is just that much more important. For this reason, Human Resources and the functions they provide are critical to a company’s success. Without a strong, innovative Human Resources team, with the processes and procedures in place to allow them to work effectively, the best employees cannot be consistently hired or retained. A company can have the best product or service in the world, but if their staff is lacking, sooner or later their company will suffer. In the end, Human Resources has a dramatic effect on a company’s bottom line. Cisco Systems, Inc. is one of the companies that truly has an appreciation for this critical business component.

Founded in 1984, by a group of Stanford University computer scientists, Cisco Systems, Inc. is now the worldwide leader in networking for the Internet. (…) Since the company′s inception, Cisco engineers have been prominent in advancing the development of IP- the basic language to communicate over the Internet and in private networks. The company′s tradition of innovation continues today with Cisco creating leading products and key technologies that will make the Internet more useful and dynamic in the years ahead. These technologies include: advanced routing and switching, voice and video over IP, optical networking, wireless, storage networking, security, broadband, and content networking. (“Corporate Overview”) In addition to their leadership in the technology sector, Cisco Systems is also a leader in how business is conducted, thanks in part to their innovation in Human Resources. Strengths:

With it’s corporate headquarter in San Jose, California, “as of the end of Q4, FY2003 (July 26, 2003), Cisco has 34,466 employees worldwide” (“Corporate Fact”) and with this one of the finest Human Resource departments in the world. One of Cisco Systems’ strengths is the leadership of their Senior Vice President of Human Resources, Kate DCamp. With over twenty years of Human Resources and business experience, DCamp joined Cisco Systems in May of 2000, as Vice President of Global Compensation. She now “leads a global team of HR professionals responsible for the design and implementation of business strategies, programs and tools that focus on recruitment, retention, leadership, development programs, and productivity.” (“Kate DCamp”)

Prior to DCamp’s joining the Cisco team, she headed up GE Capital’s Global Leader Compensation and Executive Programs. She not only was recognized as a ‘GE Best Practices Expert’, but also “managed all executive, compensation, and recognition related programs for the company’s 130,000 employees and 28 businesses”. (“Kate DCamp”) During her career, DCamp also served as Director of Executive Programs at The Associated Group, in Indianapolis, and was an actuarial consultant at Aetna Life and Casualty. A Magna Cum Laude graduate of Ball State University, DCamp is now “a member of the National Advisory Board on Executive Compensation for World at Work, the professional society for Compensation and Benefits, and holds the professional designations of Certified Compensation Professional and Senior Professional in Human Resources”. (“Kate DCamp”) In addition to the fine leadership and direction of DCamp, Cisco Systems offers its employees a long list of employee benefits.

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