Cisco Systems is acknowledged as one of the most successful technology companies of the late 1990s. From its humble beginnings at Stanford University, Cisco has risen to play a leading role in shaping the infrastructure that underlies the vast network known as the Internet.

Cisco has outstripped its competition in a number of markets. Since shipping its first product in 1986, the company has grown into a global market leader holding first or second greatest market share in virtually every market segment in which it participates. Reflecting the general mood of the informed press and industry analysts, David Joachim states in a 1997 TechWeb feature, "Cisco has sped so far out in front with its electronic commerce efforts that the competition can't even see its dust anymore. And it's still pushing the pedal firmly to the floor."

This case specifically looks at Cisco's strategic approach for electronic business, focusing on the company's entrance into the global internetworking market, and includes in-depth analysis of the company's "networked commerce" initiative: Cisco Connection Online. More generally, the case examines the management reasons for Cisco's outstanding success.

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