A New Management Primer

Some key lessons from Cisco Systems and other progressive companies:

NETWORK, NETWORK, NETWORK
Technology allows links with customers, suppliers, business partners, and employees. So take advantage of the speed and productivity it affords.

FOCUS ON THE CUSTOMER
Let your core customers determine your strategy. They know more about what they need than your top executives do.

BUY SMART
Pursue acquisitions not to speed growth or increase market share per se, but to capture intellectual assets and next-generation products.

TEAM UP FOR SUCCESS
Create alliances with partners based on trust and the potential for achieving mutual short- and long-term wins.

SHARE THE WEALTH
Use broad-based stock option plans to reward and retain key employees.

THAT PERSONAL TOUCH
Technology goes only so far. Face-time counts. Corporate leaders must spend lots of time coaching, mentoring, and communicating with employees in person.