Restructuring / Turnaround Strategies Case Study

Cisco's Turnaround: John T. Chambers' Strategy

Abstract:
Cisco had outperformed the market’s expectations for 43 years consecutively and had overlooked the increasing problem that the company was facing. It also underestimated the effects of a major economic recession and was soon facing financial crisis. At such trouble time the company found in John T. Chambers a visionary leader that could turn the company around to a profitable future.

Pedagogical Objectives:

• To discuss that 'nothing is certain in business' and also that it requires an effort of three gorges magnitude to save oneself from 100 years flood (sudden and steep recession)
• To discuss Chamber's leadership style
• To discuss Cisco’s turnaround strategy.

Keywords : Cisco Systems turnaround; John T Chamber's strategy; Mergers and acquisitions; Industry-wide network protocols; Enterprise resource planning (ERP); Restructuring / Turnaround Strategies Case Study; Mike Volpi, Lary Carter, Ed Kozel; Eye of the Storm; Dotcom bust; Telecommunications; Virtual close; Vendor financing model; E-customer; Internet capabilities review; Networking equipment; American hardware industry