Foreword to Net Ready by John Chambers

The Internet is driving an economy that is creating unprecedented opportunities for countries, companies, and individuals around the world. In just five years since the introduction of the World Wide Web, the Internet economy already rivals the size of century-old sectors such as energy, automotive, and telecommunications.

The Internet economy's impact is global, reaching both business and government. Business leaders worldwide recognize the strategic role that the Internet plays in their company's ability to survive and compete in the future. To be competitive in this new economy, companies need to harness the power of the Internet.

Through Internet solutions, Cisco has maintained its agility and competitive advantage. All of our business operations-from supply chain management to employee communications-are Internet-based. Today, 80 percent of our orders and more than 80 percent of our customer inquiries are transacted over the Web.

As a result, we are growing faster than all of our key competitors, have been rewarded with one of the top ten market capitalizations in the world, and are recognized as the fastest growing, most profitable company in the history of the computer industry.

Many of the business practices we have employed to become the leading example of an Internet economy company can be found in Net Ready, which analyzes the practices that will move businesses along the road to success in the Internet Economy. This book helps build a roadmap that can guide companies to take advantage of six key areas that I believe are fundamental in building an Internet-based business.

Customers. Customers in the Internet economy are well informed and their expectations continue to increase. Therefore, the ability to respond rapidly to customer demands and deliver value is imperative.

Globalization. The Internet economy is leveling the playing field for big and small companies which is resulting in the globalization of businesses. Being able to deliver consistent value irrespective of geographic proximity is necessary to be successful in today's constantly changing competitive landscape.

Partnerships. The rise of the Internet economy can be tied to an emerging "Internet ecosystem"¾a new business model for Internet-connected businesses to serve Internet-connected customers. The open nature of the Internet encourages complementary business alliances that create a unique set of interwoven dependencies and relationships.

Employees. A key change that the Internet is driving is how companies share information with their employees. In an Internet economy company, employees are empowered to make the decisions that are in the best interest of the customers. Only when employees have access to information are they truly empowered.

Culture. The ability to turn change into competitive advantage for your company and for your customers is critical for success in the Internet economy. Of course, at the center of any successful company's culture, is also dedication to customer satisfaction.

Access. In the past, information and internal systems have been viewed as strategic assets to be selectively shared. Today, companies must balance the need for both security and open access to information.

The Internet economy is creating tremendous opportunities and we are seeing individuals, businesses and countries use Internet technology to re-educate and reinvent themselves. The overwhelming acceptance of the Internet is one of the biggest stories of the 1990s and this book outlines the lessons and the steps that many companies have experienced in their quest to become Net Ready. My challenge to you is, "Are You Ready?"

John Chambers
President and Chief Executive Officer
Cisco Systems

Contact Team Net Ready

Amir Hartman ahartman@cisco.com serves as Managing Director of Cisco's Internet Business Solutions Group, working with customers and their E-business transformation. Amir is also on the faculty at the Haas School of Business, UC-Berkeley where he specializes in classes on e-business strategy. A well known consultant and speaker, he is the coauthor of The Search For Digital Excellence.

John Sifonis jsifonis@cisco.com is Managing Director at Cisco's Internet Business Solutions Group. A renowned information technology consultant and former senior partner in the Management Consulting Group of Ernst & Young, Sifonis is the co-author of two other books: Corporation on a Tightrope and Dynamic Planning.

John Kador jkador@jkador.com is an independent business writer in Geneva, Illinois. He reports on developments in e-commerce and the emerging technologies that support eBusiness. His previous books include Internet Jobs: The Complete Guide for Finding the Hottest Jobs on the Internet, Developing Analytical Database Applications, and The Manager's Book of Questions.

Net Ready
by Amir Hartman and John Sifonis
with John Kador

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