CISCO Systems: Bridging the gateway between Europe and India

This is a case about strategic management of innovation within a technological firm, CISCO Systems. The case focuses on managerial thinking and focuses on: (1) how to make sense, assess and develop a project based on the new paradigm of the Internet; (2) the change in CISCO strategy or its strategic intent; and, as a consequence, (3) how to design its globalization strategy. The case describes a story of Smart City Concepts focused on how to orchestrate resources of Europe and India where CISCO created its Globalization Center East, in practical terms, a second Headquarters in Bangalore. The case describes how the company's aim was to 'capture' both the GDP shift moving towards the East and new sources in the Asia Pacific, including the development of business models. However, it also questions if we are currently experiencing a major shift towards a non-USA centric future for Information Technology firms. In consequence, the case focuses on the phenomenal opportunity it represents to discuss the future of Internet as seen in traffic control; smart electric grids to gain efficiency and reduce CO2 emissions; and harbor management; and Unified Communications, among others.