Thread regarding Cisco Systems Inc. layoffs

Another paid-for blurb that Cisco won't actually measure up to when we look back this time next yeat. It doesn't say anything like "Cisco will LR a double digit percentage of its workforce in FY17 because some of our experienced employees are too expensive and we can get someone in Asia or a graduate for a fraction of the cost". Why's that not in there ?

But for those of us who are at the top of our game, Cisco sure lost out.

And they don't seem to realize it.

Many of the people let go this round were people most keeping their skills fresh. Unfortunately people able to do that are more expensive, but good management teams recognize their value.....and well this leadership team is incapable of doing that.

I've said it several times on various threads, there was a lot of knowledge lost during the last LR (and previous ones) and it's going to take a lot of time for the new replacements to get up to speed. In some cases, people were let go who were the only one with the knowledge that will be necessary down the road. It's not possible to document EVERYTHING no matter how hard you try. And if you did document the majority of it, it would be hard to find the important parts buried in the mass of documentation. And when things break, do you want to spend time searching documentation or do you want someone who knows how to fix it available?

It's not only skills that make a person valuable, but their "network" and reputation. Some people have/had been around so long that they knew people in every org/function & knew who to talk to get 'get things done'. The new guy will take years, assuming they last that long, to develop that network and "tribal knowledge".

My skills must have been "current" or I wouldn't have found another job so quickly at a better pay. I'm going to miss the flexible work schedule and ability to work from home as needed, but I'm not going to miss the stress of trying to get things done faster with less people when the processes are not enabling you to get the work done. Shifting priorities and changing guidance from management just seemed to make life harder. We were always running around putting out one fire only to shift to put out some other one. It's too hard to bring in new processes or technology because so much custom process was built around the legacy products.

My skills ARE up to date. In fact, they are more highly honed than what Cisco uses, marketing-wise. CIP: Cisco is 'just now' embracing marketing automation tools. (specifically, Eloqua). I was very surprised to learn when I began my time at Cisco that they were not using these tools.

I'm in marketing. I took offense reading a "Welcome our newest member (Jane Doe) to our team... she (as a millennial) will help us get up to speed on social media email." Um... as IF. If one works in marketing these days... and doesn't know about the latest greatest tools... they need to change their profession.

I'm NOT disgruntled. I appreciate the time I had at Cisco... learned a lot in a new (heavily matrixed orgn) environment and was able to thrive. I can pivot on a dime. I have a lot of tools in my toolbelt.

This said, I firmly believe that Cisco has thrown out many a baby out with the bathwater. They LRd many a talented soul when they could have easily repurposed them to other teams. I witnessed it happening before it happened to me and was flabbergasted. Stupidly, I focused on my increased workload after members of my affiliate teams were LRd - bc I am one who wants my charter to succeed.... and then BAM! I got hit with an LR, too. I kept in touch with other affiliate team members afterward and learned all the work I did was not getting done, due to lack of bandwidth and/or knowledge. Fast forward, now ALL my affiliate teams are gone. And I keep getting contacted by 3rd party staffing agencies for red badge roles that either mirror my previous role(s) or IS my most recent charter - at pennies on the dollar in compensation.

NOW... they are in a difficult state. Prior to Cisco, one of my roles was being a political campaign manager. It was then that I learned to appreciate what is called, "old hands." This is a phrase coined for those with experience and who have strong relationships / networks. Cisco has eliminated many 'old hands' for millenials. There's nothing wrong with having millenials in the mix. BUT... a company such as Cisco is remiss to replace their 'old hands' 100% with noobs. Valuable time is lost / wasted while the noobs get up to speed.

I'm not saying everyone who got LRd was in my shoes. I'm sure there were those were LRd who should have been. Saying this opens the door for another thread - bc Cisco top management should have had a finger on the pulse of their people's skills.

But for those of us who are at the top of our game, Cisco sure lost out.

Exactly - followed by basic people management & leadership 101. Don't put the bulk of the awful lr strategy on the backs of the ic's. they are NOT being let go due to skills. Many of the people let go this round were people most keeping their skills fresh. Unfortunately people able to do that are more expensive, but good management teams recognize their value.....and well this leadership team is incapable of doing that.

1azu, If Cisco's learning group wants to start developing business skills, they need to focus on the ELT and SLT. I suggest they start with Econ 101.

This point is very important and see why this site is buzzing with disgruntled employees who are unable cope to rapid changes in Cisco and not willing to upgrade their Skills.

Cisco will push its engineer base to learn new skills. Markets transition. That’s a fact. And when then do, the engineers who work with the technology need to change their skills. Most vendors don’t see the transition, won’t admit its happening or don’t want to upset their engineer base by forcing them to change. And that always ends up being a disaster.

Think of engineers who worked with mainframes, Token Ring, TDM voice, SNA and other trends. Most are gone, as are the vendors that sold the stuff.

One of Cisco’s competitive advantages is its huge base of engineers, many of whom are steeped in the way networking was done. Based on my discussions with Cisco executives, including Jeanne Dunn, who runs Cisco’s learning group, I believe Cisco wants to disrupt its engineer base and have them learn new skills—such as automation, data sciences, programming and business skills. Some won’t like the changes to the certification requirements, but the fact is Cisco engineers need to start developing skills for the digital era.

Zeus like most analysts are bought and paid for, he changed overnight his opinions when he left the Yankee group. Quote from my last company "he should have we spent enough on him". They get business like ghost writing white papers to keep them happy.

MSPU

Cisco IoT Leader joins Microsoft to lead its IoT business

2

by Sean Chan

Jan 3, 2017 at 23:00 GMT

Tony Shakib has recently joined Microsoft to lead its IoT business. Shakib was previously one of the leaders of Cisco’s IoT business, where he was the vice president of the company’s Internet of Everything Vertical Solutions Engineering organization. At Microsoft, Shakib will be the general manager of the software giant’s IoT and Intelligent Cloud business. According to a report from CRN, Shakb previously led Cisco’s IoT architecture and engineering effort where he was responsible for creating customer prototypes, pilots, and Cisco validated solutions.

It seems one VP of iot has left for a similar job in microsoft...report in media today

Sounds like it to me! What's wrong with a little propaganda? It worked for Hitler.