Pros

The company is a leader in their market space and being owned by Cisco only adds to credibility. Collaboration software is a growing division of Cisco and some customers can easily justify the cost of web conferencing over travel in the current economic enivironment. Cisco does provide good benefit options in regards to their 401k and health plans. I believe they are more progressive than most companies in this area.

Cons

Salaries tend to be below industry average. There isn't enough visibility into the operations of the rest of Cisco which limits opportunities to transfer internally. Current restriction of virtually all internal travel appears to be too restrictive given the company's huge cash position. There hasn't been enough investment in advertising for Webex relative to the competitition for web conferencing.

Advice to Senior Management

Keep reinvesting into the core business to maintain quality of service and spend more marketing dollars to help the market understand why Cisco bought Webex because the messaging is not clear.

Pros

In this market, having a product that saves companies money makes it easier sell. Also they are open to ideas from junior folks as well as senior. Being now under Cisco means its like working for a smaller company at Webex but with the great benefits of a bigger company like Cisco. I like how they are customer first and Cisco takes care of their folks and community.

Cons

I'd like to telcommute a day a week and that seems discouraged which is funny as we work for WebEx. They are struggling a little with Cisco alignment with territories but glad to see they are discussing it and making changes where necessary.

Advice to Senior Management

Ease up on the weekly commit bashings. We're on a yearly plan and its good to keep us motivated but if the deal comes in week after and we keep customer happier thats important.

Pros

Good place to start a career within IT. The company exist of very diverced mix of young people. Although the company is now part of Cisco Systems it still remains with an own identity. It´s also a positive to have the name of Cisco in the brand as more people take you serious.

Cons

As the product allows companies to collaborate online from any place and any os system they are not that flexible to their own employees allowing them working from home that much.
Another downside is that the EMEA-HQ mainly got US managers which is a disadvantage. It would be better if the management existed of european managers who understands the european diversity and complexity with regards to the different countries.

Advice to Senior Management

Listen more to the employees.

Pros

Work with great people, good benefits and a strong brand, and now part of Cisco. Great product and you feel like you are making a difference.

Cons

The sales environment is boiler room like, and can be a pressure cooker. Not for everyone. People are generally happy, but there was always something missing.

Advice to Senior Management

Listen more to the individuals.

Pros

WebEx is a SaaS leader - and has market leadership in web conferencing space. Lots of potential as SaaS model truly takes off. WebEx encourages rapid pace of innovation - and is somewhat gratifying to see things shape up without much of red tape. Most people are very talented. Ever since Cisco has bought WebEx, there is a marked increase in the quality of upper management - in terms of their ability to aim big and execute. Best thing about WebEx - you do not have to pay for Web meetings - and online meetings are so effective to bring together geographically distributed teams.

Cons

Lack of respect for people and their personal life, and lack of professionalism (Especially within the product organization).
WebEx culture can be described as somewhat chaotic. Disagreements / criticisms are discouraged - and the culture encourages people to rally around the Kool-aid of their bosses. Work-life balance is way tilted towards work, and the management takes it for granted. As an organization, WebEx tries to achieve more at the cost of quality of the product, and the quality of the life of the people who build the product. There are still remnants of fiefdoms from pre-Cisco time. Geographically dispersed teams can be challenging - in terms of working across different time zones, cultural differences and language differences.

Advice to Senior Management

Kudos to Senior Mgmt on excellent market leadership & technology leadership.
Advice? Please growup! (senior management from Cisco demonstrates far higher level of maturity.)

Pros

Good Office Space. Nice location. Close to postoffice. mall. restaurants, even a spa. Good technology exposure.

Cons

This particular office used to be Intranetics, then Intranet, then Webex, now Cisco. The team is young with inflated titles and egos. Lack of motivation. The two middle managers ineffective. Run around like headless chicken. People do whatever they want to, managers pretty much let everything slide. There is no respect for the team or the managers in California (Headquarters). The culture is like a middle school - tattlers everywhere!! Understaffed and Ineffective.

Advice to Senior Management

Senior Management need to whip this office in shape. They are totally disconnected from the real picture which is pretty grim.

Pros

Employees are permitted to work from home at least once a week. There is a snack table, and there are free sodas and coffees. Even though I don’t consume any of those things, I still like the fact that they have them.

Cons

Time and effort are often wasted because there is a lack of communication between departments and within each department. For example, 2 groups maybe working on the same thing at the same time. Also, there are too much politics; people spend more time in fighting for power than getting more works done.

Advice to Senior Management

Maybe less middle managements.

Pros

Now part of Cisco, things could get better

Cons

Lack of consistent process in Eng. Depatments
Do not take care of employees outside of CA

Advice to Senior Management

Better communication
Take better care of employees