Cisco Systems: Telepresence and the Future of Collaboration

1)      What are the main business benefits of the collaboration technologies described in the case? How do these go beyond saving on corporate travel? Provide several specific examples.

The main business benefits that can be accumulated from collaboration technologies are listed below:

·         Easy of use and minimizes the geographical distance between places, bringing everybody throughout the world in one common screen.

·         Cost effective because it saves the cost for group of people to come together at a specific place and conduct meeting.

·         Saves time and increases effectiveness of decision making, making the whole process more interactive and participative.

·         Enhances the efficiency and productivity of the organization.

·         Systematic and scientific trend to go for that makes people to do business much easier.

If an organization is using collaboration technologies its not just that organization is saving a corporate travel, it is also saving the most precious resource that is time and making it possible for all the concerned parties to attend meeting throughout the world. For example if an multinational company like coca-cola has to conduct a meeting regarding its product distribution strategy, then its not possible for all the people round the globe, related with coke to meet at same common place and conduct it, but with collaboration technologies like telepresence from Cisco 2.0 it can bring all the related parties in a common screen, without their moving anywhere and conduct a meeting. With it, Organization is also enhancing its decision making ability by letting everybody to speak and come together. A better idea comes up with more people interaction and innovation is possible.

2)      Michelle Dam row of Polycom notes Cisco is betting on a proprietary standard for its telepresence product, while competitors are going with interoperability. Do you agree with Cisco’s strategy? Why or why not? Defend your answer.

Cisco has been a big brand today. People would buy Cisco products just by seeing the name tag. Polycom official Michelle Damrow could be right, that by making proprietary standard may be Cisco is loosing its users, i.e.  If the people who have been using some product from some another brand and if he likes a product from Cisco then he should change his previous system and make it a whole Cisco certified one. When there is a standard and cannot be functioned with everything then may.......click below to read all.

be consumer would not take the risk of high cost of replacement. But we also cannot deny that since Cisco has every system component that is required and that its brand image is very good people would go for Cisco than others. i.e. if Cisco ids providing everything then why go for others. Quality with a brand name is the best combo so may be strategy of Cisco is to provide everything to people and make them loyal capturing whole the market share. And I must say its not just Cisco apple has also got the same strategy and its working very good. If an organization is offering something good then they have a right to create their standard.

3)      Think about the I-Zone wiki described in the case, Cisco’s forum for new business ideas, and it seeming success in the regard. Why do you think that is the case? Do these technologies foster creativity; provide an opportunity to communicate already existing ideas, or both? Defend your answer.

Ideas are the heart of anything. Idea is not just about thinking out of a blue, it about having strong assumptions and logics to the thoughts. Somewhere I heard that an idea can change your life and I do believe that its idea that can change and make everything possible. Business is a creative task and today’s business environment is a dynamic business environment. If we want to survive and grow in this competitive business place then we should have some strong business ideas that others don’t have. Having an idea is about having a vision and a person with concrete vision never fails. So in order to help business organizations with business ideas regarding every aspects of organization and to alarm them about opportunities and threats, Technological innovations and collaborations are not just enough. Hard core idea about how, where and what is very important. What to use is important but when, where and how is more important.

I think this technology does the work of collecting ideas and sharing those ideas. Sharing is having a broad perspective. This technology helps people think creatively about the scenario wherein and give the opinion which boosts the effectiveness of idea and provide alternatives to those in need. So I think this is a better way to develop business these days.

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