VPLS.US

So I’m reading a business book. “In search o Excellence”, Lessons from America’s best-run companies. By Thomas J. Peters & Robert H. Waterman, Jr.

They list 8 characteristics of a corporation that’s highly successful

1. a bias for action
   
2. close to the customer
   
3. autonomy and entrepreneurship
   
4. productivity through people
   
5. Hands-on value driven.
   
6. Stick to the knitting
   
7. Simple form, lean staff
   
8. Simultaneous loose-tight properties

It really is an interesting book. I’m only like 1/2 of the way through it, but it’s enlightening. I’m looking at my company and wondering what it would take for us to change. With the acquisition coming up I’m sure we are going to be going through lots of changes. That is probably for the better I know many of the groups have stagnated. We’ve become “used to doing it a certain way” Whenever you get “used” to do it one way, it can be awful tough to change to a different way.

How many of these is Cisco doing wrong? As an outsider looking into the company it can be hard for me to see some of these traits, and perhaps the groups I don’t deal with are exhibiting these traits, but I count at lest 4 of the traits they could improve upon.

If john needs my copy have him send me a quick note, I should be done with it in the next week or so. ]]>