In an increasingly global society, responsible corporate citizenship becomes both a social and a business imperative. Cisco's commitment to responsible corporate citizenship is an intrinsic part of the company's corporate culture, and is ongoing and evolving as new issues emerge and significant changes occur in the world economy.
Technology is perhaps the most significant change agent in the world today, as it helps to create a world in which national borders, geographic distances, and physical limitations become less relevant, and present ever-diminishing obstacles. The networking and Internet technology produced by Cisco Systems has the power to increase productivity opportunities and the associated standard of living of our customers and end users across the globe. We create technology that connects people and promotes the unfettered communication of ideas and information—to run businesses, to address emergencies, to inform communities, and to support education, science, and government.
Cisco focuses its technology innovation on where the market is going, not where it has been. We build intelligent systems that play an active role in helping organizations optimize their processes and rapidly react to changing conditions in their industries or environments. In the marketplace, service provider networks, our customer networks, the Internet, wireless, cable, the home, and other environments will be integrated virtually seamlessly.
Yet with the creation of this technology comes responsibility: to the communities in which we work and live, to the global community, to the environment, to our employees, customers, and stakeholders. Effective corporate citizenship can improve the communities in which we operate, build trust in our company, empower our employees, encourage innovations in product design, and promote engagement with customers, partners, and shareholders.
To that end, Cisco will continue to build on the achievements outlined in this document. We will continue to work to:
- Create better products: Commitment to product stewardship, with particular emphasis on improving product efficiency, is ongoing. We will continue to research ways to make our products more energy efficient and ecologically friendly, as well as more accessible to all potential users.
- Improve the workplace: To maintain Cisco as one of the best places to work, we will advance the progressive programs, policies, and benefits to help support our employees' work-life balance, and to foster professional and personal development. We also will continue to expand the Connected Workplace program to additional Cisco campuses. We believe that improved access to technology is both a business and a social investment. Connected workplaces enhance the mobility of the workforce, which reduces the effect on the environment; allows us to hire the best and the brightest employees, regardless of physical ability or mobility; and positions Cisco as an employer of the next-generation workforce.
- Contribute to safer and healthier communities: To continue to help reduce the company's impact on the environment, Cisco continues to design innovative programs to encourage cleaner, more productive and environmentally sensitive operations, such as powering more of our operations through more renewable energy sources. We also will continue to extend our partnerships to help improve social and economic experiences for our global community.
In keeping with Cisco values of openness, integrity, and transparency, we will continue to engage with our employees, customers, partners, shareholders, governments, and communities to improve our products, policies, and practices. We will continue to improve the disclosure and dialogue on our corporate citizenship goals, targets, and performance.
This report represents Cisco's first effort at documenting our corporate citizenship activities and strategies, their governance, and their importance to our business.
We thank you for taking the time to learn more about Cisco. If you have questions or comments on our Corporate Citizenship Report, please send an e-mail message to citizenship@cisco.com.
