In 2024, we embarked on a project to uncover what makes the UX Research team within the Security Business Group (SBG) at Cisco unique. We explored the values and culture and how they apply to Cisco. We called the project Appreciative Inquiry.

For context, SBG researchers at Cisco work with engineers, designers, and product managers using various research methods to align products with real user needs. If you've used solutions like Secure Firewall, Umbrella, Multicloud Defense, or Duo, you've met our work firsthand.

When we started the project, we had just finished our Cisco internships and joined as full-time employees. The UX research team had just been reorganized. Before, we were many smaller teams; now, we were one centralized team.

We reflected with our team about our purpose.

"Kinder than Necessary"

In our 25-minute interviews, we asked, "What are the core factors that give life to this organization when it is at its best?" One stood out: kinder than necessary.

Participants said:

• "The core factors are the way people treat each other with kindness, genuine interest, and the trust and autonomy to take risks and be creative."
• "The core factors are, like, a focus on impact over being too precious with process, being kinder than necessary, being silly as heck, and allowing people to be people at work."
• "Something that you've probably heard a lot of us say is 'kinder than necessary.' One of the core factors was we were all honest and straightforward with each other."

In 2023, Cisco was voted the#1 best workplace in the U.S. for the third year in a row. We think kinder than necessary may have something to do with that.

Digging into What That Really Means

In describing what kinder than necessary looks like in practice, we heard a few different ideas: free-flowing information, transparency, supporting each others' work.

• "... The ease at which folks talk to each other and are ready to bring each other in. How free-flowing information is ... No one guards information here."
• "Something I really appreciate about Cisco leadership is their transparency. Even if it's not good news. They announce it and give us time to process."
• "We really support each others' work. We cite each others' work. We bring up each others' work when it's relevant."

We got the sense that Cisco takes this aspect of the culture seriously, and it starts with hiring. One participant told us a story about a phone-screening interview where the behavioral question was all about a time they were kind.

Reflecting on Our Journey

Kayla: For me, having the opportunity to talk to all 32 people in our organization was great because I consider myself more of an introvert. I don't think I would've tried to do that otherwise. I might've talked to maybe 10 people. But, it helped me become more comfortable with everyone. Just in my own work, I'm not afraid to ask anybody for help or ask questions. This project made working with our team a lot easier.

Phil: Having participated in an appreciative inquiry program for the first time years ago, being trusted to lead this methodology with Kayla for the research team at Cisco SBG was special. We had support from leadership, and we were recognized for doing culture work, even as junior researchers.

It's clear that our team is diverse and talented, with many members previously living internationally and possessing unique skills and experiences from outside of Cisco, such as teaching, embroidery, and anthropology. This diversity fosters a creative environment where different perspectives converge, and magic happens.

Everyone genuinely wants to see their teammates succeed.

Looking Forward

We're excited to embrace these strengths and to explore areas for improvement, like staying connected as a newly centralized research organization. We're working with leadership to build relationships across the org and leveraging existing initiatives like Lunch and Learns, Research Seminars, Team Connect, and Tea(m) Time, to name a few.

While this research represents just one facet of Cisco, we hope it provides you valuable insights into our team and offers a glimpse into who we are, and what makes ususas a company. We believe in being kinder than necessary and fostering a culture of inclusion where everyone can succeed. This is what makes working here so special.

Want to take an even closer look at who we are at Cisco? Find all the details in our recently releasedPurpose Report.

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