Big Shots: Nothing but Net: Business the Cisco Way [Hardcover]

David Stauffer (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 22, 2001

Make Your Passion Your Business. Preach It Always Everywhere
Win the World with E-commerce
Use the Net to Revolutionize Internal Operations
But People Before Products, Profits, and Everything Else
Listen Constantly to Customers
Serve Your Core Customers from Start to End-to-End
Look to Lead in Every Line of Business
Buy Right to Grow like Gangbusters
If You Don't Buy 'Em, Join 'Em
Resist Complacency that can Accompany Success
"An expert writer expertly unravels an expert company. Stauffer's Nothing But Net provides powerful insights and practical wisdom for achieving greatness in today's wild marketplace."
CHIP R. BELL Co-Author, Beep Beep! Competing in the Age of the Road Runner
"If you want to succeed in business today, there are a handful of companies you need to emulate. Dell, Intel, Oracle and most important of all, Cisco. David Stauffer tells the Cisco story in a memorable way."
AL RIES , Author of Focus and The 22 Immutable Laws of Branding

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Business the Cisco Way is accessible and highly readable. You know immediately what the company stands for and how it sees its role in the wider world." (Accounting and Business, July 2000) --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

From the Inside Flap

Nothing But net Cisco Systems is a true business phenomenon. As a major provider of the products that drive wired networks, Cisco is literally creating the Internet. Look at the facts:

• Cisco Systems reached $100 billion in market value faster than any company in history. Today, its market capitalization of nearly $190 billion places it among the most highly valued companies in the world.
• President and CEO John Chambers, in less than five years as head of Cisco, has led Cisco to a ten-fold increase in market value. He has achieved this primarily by becoming the world’s foremost acquirer of companies, with some 35 buyouts to date and more being added at a rate of nearly one per month.
• John Chambers exhibits outstanding leadership qualities. He is known in particular for his success in challenging, empowering, and keeping good employees, and for his relentless concern for total customer satisfaction.

In Nothing But Net, David Stauffer offers a unique analysis of this remarkable success story. He looks at how Cisco has made a virtue of being the right company (possibly the fastest growing in history), in the right business at the right time. As the Internet continues to transform lives and economies, Cisco is at the heart of the revolution. Nothing But Net reveals how any manager, entrepreneur or investor can learn and profit from the Cisco story. It is at once an inspiring story of success and an invaluable source of lessons for the next generation of winners.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 256 pages
• Publisher: Capstone; 1 edition (February 22, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1841120871
• ISBN-13: 978-1841120874
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 5.8 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,874,373 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Executing on all routers..., January 24, 2001

By 

M. Ragen "searagen" (Seattle, WA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Big Shots: Nothing but Net: Business the Cisco Way (Hardcover)

This is a good, solid book detailing many of the basic management attributes that have made Cisco successful. The combination of consistent management principles joins a unique company culture instilled by John Chambers with the result that Cisco has enjoyed remarkable success through the last fifteen years.

Core lessons include: 1. Put people first before products, profits and everything else. Cisco has had only 7% attrition while typical Silicon Valley turnover is closer to 25%. 2. Listen constantly to customers. Serve your core customers from start to end. Rumor has it that John Chambers gives his home phone number to every customer he speaks with! 3. Cisco's philosophy towards growing the business through acquisition in order to reduce time-to-market while also maintaining a technology leadership position. And more!

Good lessons.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Highly Recommended!, March 22, 2001

By 

Rolf Dobelli "getAbstract" (Switzerland) - See all my reviews
(HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Big Shots: Nothing but Net: Business the Cisco Way (Hardcover)

David Stauffer's impressive new book seeks to explain why Cisco is one of the world's most important companies. At the heart of the book - and perhaps the company - is the management style of Cisco CEO John Chambers, who once worked for IBM and Wang. The book illustrates how Chambers noted the problems at both of his former employers and resolved that they would never show up at Cisco. The author also covers Cisco's famed acquisition strategy, and explains how the company targets employees, rather than profits, in its acquisition sights. Although the author seems enamored with the company, it's tough to argue with his main points, especially when he cites other companies, such as Oracle and Microsoft, that have replicated Cisco strategies. We [...] recommend this definitive and entertaining book as an insightful look into a pivotal new-economy company, and the strategies that got it to where it is today.

4.0 out of 5 stars Business the Cisco Way, October 25, 2001

By 

Paul Yang (City University, Hong Kong) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Big Shots: Nothing but Net: Business the Cisco Way (Hardcover)

The author, David Stauffer, illustrate a clear picture of Cisco's business and management to readers.

Stauffer refreshes our view of today's business world. Stepping into internet age, IT should become an important issue for every business. "Internet Ecosystem", created by John Chamber, helps Cisco to be an sucessful international organization. By this internet ecosystem, Cisco forms a diversified and close relationship with it's suppliers/customers/partners, etc. leads to "last minute management", which is widely adopted by most business.

Apart from IT, Cisco treats innovative employees as their valuable assets. Cisco creates a superior working environment for them to enhance their performance/team work spirit/self-esteem, etc. Cisco makes many acquisitions for new technologies, but more specific, they acquire people for knowledge/creativity, say for the next generation products.

This book would help you to know more about the fast changing business world. Be well-prepared, are you ready?