Cisco IT's Service-Led Execution

Aaron is the former editor of ProjectsAtWork.com

  Governance   Portfolio Management   ProjectsAtWork  

Cisco IT employs architecture-led planning and service-led execution to connect corporate strategy to project portfolio execution. Here, senior manager Gustav Toppenberg explains how these core processes work, and discusses some of the challenges and benefits.

At any given time Cisco IT is working on more than 500 projects supporting an estimated 200 programs. That’s a lot of moving parts to prioritize and connect. The group takes on this huge challenge with an “architecture-led mindset” and “service-led execution,” according to senior manager Gustav Toppenberg, PMP, who leads the Connected IT Architecture Practice.

Toppenberg joined Cisco in 2008 as part of the Customer Value Chain Management IT team, where he was instrumental in the early transition to a service-aligned organization. Today, as part of the Communication & Collaboration IT group, he and his team are focused on supporting the IT strategy, planning and architecture communities; operationalizing Enterprise Architecture; and leading the architecture-led planning vision.

Toppenberg has extensive experience in leading transformational efforts and holds a double BSc. in Business Administration and MIS, as well as an MBA from Thunderbird School of Global Management. Currently engaged in a joint PhD program at Stanford & Copenhagen School of Business in IT Strategy …

Please log in or sign up below to read the rest of the article.