Bridging the Digital Divide, Engaging Communities through Cross Sector Collaboration

Lupi A¹*, Winters J²* and Scope P³*

1. Positive Outcomes, Petersham, NSW, Australia
2. Cisco Systems, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
3. Cisco Systems, North Sydney, NSW, Australia

In Australia Cisco’s community program has been directed at efforts to bridge the “digital divide”. With its belief that the ‘Internet and education (are) the two great equalisers in life’, Cisco has grown its community investment program from two way partnerships to a collaborative program spanning other corporates, community organisations and government. A particular community investment focus in Australia has been collaborative partnerships to bridge the digital divide in indigenous communities.

In this paper we outline Cisco’s “learning journey” through this collaboration.

The most significant “learning” and the most durable community outcomes have been achieved when Cisco has been patient enough to stand in the shoes of its partners to appreciate how the world looks from their perspective. We describe and explain this approach as “attentive collaboration” and demonstrate that it has also led to lasting relationships that are good for business.

Cisco Systems is the worldwide leader in networking for the Internet. Cisco develops hardware and software solutions to link computers and computer networks, enabling people to access and transfer information. It was formed in 1984 by a small group of computer scientists from Stanford University. Cisco Systems has more than 34,000 employees worldwide, with 690 (approx) employees in Australia.

Cisco’s vision is to change the way people work, live, play and learn through the power of the Internet.

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