VentureBeat - Latest Comments in Cisco attempts to prove that big companies can still innovate

Re: Cisco attempts to prove that big companies can still innovate

Guest — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 02:24:59 -0000

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Re: Cisco attempts to prove that big companies can still innovate

Chris Morrison — Tue, 14 Oct 2008 16:59:48 -0000

Yes, and it's great for you guys to be able to do that. I think the advantages are obvious. I believe David Hsieh and Guido when they tell me it has worked so far.

I think the best model is probably for you guys to be almost autonomous from Cisco, but able to affect the company and draw from its resources. The worst idea seems to be allowing other execs at the company to reach into the ETG, for nearly any reason. Hopefully they'll resist the temptation.

Re: Cisco attempts to prove that big companies can still innovate

Steve R. — Tue, 14 Oct 2008 16:49:07 -0000

I work in ETG and could have left to go to a startup, but the idea of having a big company provide you air cover is appealing. In addition to internal incubation, you can also leverage Cisco's M&A arm to help accelerate your growth, you get Cisco's very large sales force and marketing arm to help sell the product and have a big company name to help with your credibility.

Re: Cisco attempts to prove that big companies can still innovate

Chris Morrison — Tue, 14 Oct 2008 16:14:52 -0000

I say it's "attempting" to prove itself because, until this unit gets four or five years and several big successes, it will remain an experiment. Unfortunately for the ETG people (who do seem very competent) they're still at a big company, and historically, that seems far more likely to cause problems than the venture model. Not that the latter is perfect.

Re: Cisco attempts to prove that big companies can still innovate

Matt — Tue, 14 Oct 2008 15:07:46 -0000

Our company worked with Cisco on I-Prize. I was very impressed with the people at ETG. Many of them are ex-start-up and ETG is basically an execution machine. They crank out new-to-the-world technologies at an unbelieveable rate. When you couple that with Cisco's global reach in terms of Sales, Marketing and Distribution it's a powerful one-two punch. IMO, rather than 'attempting to prove' big companies can still innovate, Cisco is leading the way on how many companies will innovate in this 21st century.

Open Innovation is the future and, as the articles states, the losers will be the VCs.

Matt
twitter: @brightidea

Re: Cisco attempts to prove that big companies can still innovate

Candice — Tue, 14 Oct 2008 13:27:41 -0000

Cisco has the right idea in generating ideas outside the silicon valley. Crowd sourcing is the next wave of technology building...