Cisco Systems organizational culture and practices

Cisco Systems Culture

Organizational Goals for Recruiting and Retaining Employees

Cisco is a company that has a high rate of retention on its employees. According to Yves Lermusiaux, in his Recruiting at Cisco, the company's highest turnover rate in the 90s was 7.3%. In 1999, it only has 6.3% of turnovers. Randall Birkwood, Cisco's Director of Employment, states the following formulas with regards to retaining employees (Lermusiaux, 2000).

The right culture for Cisco's employees

Its focus on empowerment

Communication and team-centric organization

To have a customer-centric organization

Cisco values people skills. Its goal is to provide its employees with what they need in today's changing economy. It aims to meet employees' expectations. This includes security and opportunity to gain more experiences. Cisco considers people as its most important investment. Based from his interview with Randall, Lermusiaux (2000) indicates that Time has come for organizations to understand that the role of recruitment is more than just as a paper pusher; it is now a business enabler. Empowering the human capital department to become responsible and single points of contact, (as well as the point of complaints, if called for) is the way Randall sees that the integration at Cisco has started to work.

Philosophy, Mission, Vision, and Values

Cisco has a mission and values that were based on the following culture that it implements in its organization. According to Cisco Systems Online,

Cisco was founded on a culture based on the principles of open communication, empowerment, trust, integrity, and giving back to the community, and these same values thrive at Cisco today.

Further, the following are indicated as the company's mission.

The company focuses on three areas of corporate philanthropy: providing basic human needs, access to education, and responsible citizenship.

Cisco has been active in participating in mission-filled community services and charity programs such as the American Red Cross. Its employees are also active in participating to such programs. One program that Cisco shares in terms of education is the Cisco Networking Academy Program.