Tech companies like Apple, Microsoft, Amazon, Facebook, etc are kicking a–. The entire management team needs to go!
15 replies (most recent on top)
But, but, but...what about ACI? Wasn't that innovative? (Cue the crickets).
Strong government relationships will prevent Cisco from becoming Nortel. Remember all those backdoor security loopholes? Cisco networking equipment will continue to be deployed globally ;-)
Just don't expect strong growth from Cisco. We are essentially a public utility company, not an innovative technology company.
".. Cisco sells primarily to businesses. If one wants to compare Cisco to another company than make a comparison against a competitor..."
Let's see who else sells to businesses with new business models that are obsoleting Cisco's router and switch hardware first approach. Growing fast:
AWS. Azure. Zoom. 8x8. Google Cloud. Slack. Open networking initiatives and white box routing/switching.
The problem for Cisco is it blabbers about a new software model but can't afford to transition too quickly. And it lost the cloud battles ages ago, even in core business areas like collaboration. where it. does well it does why acquisition, and the new technology never gets fully integrated, making the management and operation complex and expensive.
I remember being reprimanded when in 2011 I suggested we should give the hardware of a $4B product line away to Intel in exchange for preferential volume discounts. 5 years later the same exec that attacked the idea advanced it and implemented it, but was way too late. Like always in Cisco the market moves too fast, and many top executives live in the past with the illusion they still dominate a market that is crumbling under them...
it will take still a few years, and Cisco is more diversified than say Nortel, but I have no doubt the company will be 25% of its current size when all settles.
it will be a security and whitebox company, selling IOS features as Linux VMs. it will likely sell the hardware brands like Catalyst or Nexus to China, or keep the brand and build everything as white boxes.
Chuck, do yourself a favor and conduct a management and technical skills test on all grade 12 or higher managers. The result will shock you!! You got C and D players all over the place.
I left CSCO in 2012 went to JNPR. Stayed there for 3 years and came back to CSCO. I don't wanna leave CSCO again.
you must be a cisco contractor.
Microsoft, AWS, Workday, and Salesforce are growing. Hardware networking equipment is not a growth sector.
I hate Cisco layoffs as much as everyone else but it's unfair to compare Cisco to the FAANG companies. Other than AWS most of their business is selling to consumers. Cisco sells primarily to businesses. If one wants to compare Cisco to another company than make a comparison against a competitor.
When financial analysts are walking around, calling themselves “CFOs,” you know this place is screwed.
When I joined Cisco there were 4 hops in b/w me and Chambers on org chart: mgr, dir, VP, SVP.
Now there are 7 to Robbins: mgr, 2nd line mgr, dir, sr dir, VP, SVP, ano SVP.
No wonder.
Absolutely no cloud or software strategy from the ELT. Quietly layoff a few thousand employees, and use the money to buyback more stock.
Struggling in a historic economy. Wait until a mere slowdown in economy hits. I suspect 30% will be laid off. RSU I got are now pretty much an uncertainty.
"Adding cpn-team and Anu."
"Anu can you look at this with high priority."
There is a mgr who does this everyone morning. I think he has those lines saved in notepad, he just does a copy 'n paste and changes the individual's name. He makes $140k+ and bonus.
Why is the ELT receiving bonuses and raises? Doesn't make sense.
In these companies, middle management knows how the codebase looks like, reviews pull requests, performs staging/build/release and risk assessment. At Cisco, middle mgmt adds people to email threads.