Cisco Systems: The Supply Chain Story1
1. Study the networked supply chain concept as implemented by Cisco. What are its strengths and weaknesses?
2. Analyze why Cisco landed in financial trouble in early 2001. Would you agree that Cisco’s problems were largely caused by inherent defects in the company’s systems? Or possibly was it just because they had failed to forecast a market downturn? Give reasons to justify your stand.
3. Aside from the information systems problems referred to above, what other specific problems did you see in the case?