Product details

This case describes the evolution of Cisco Systems of San Jose, California, from a narrowly-focused routing and switching equipment vendor with a highly effective competitive strategy, into a diversified networking and IT giant. Cisco's rapid growth is fuelled by multiple acquisitions, the rationale for which develops over time in response to the opportunities and challenges it encounters. The case is set in early 2007, as Cisco considers the acquisition of IronPort, a security software company. The purchase of IronPort represents a further divergence from Cisco's tried-and-tested strategy of acquiring young entrepreneurial firms to complement its internal development efforts and become a one-stop shop for its networking customers. This divergence dates back to the acquisition of Linksys and Scientific Atlanta several years earlier, dubbed 'platform deals' by Cisco's management.