Cisco

Opportunity to develop market-leading products. Lots of smart peers. Good benefits package. "Blue chip" company. Develop proficiency in the Cisco product line.

Long, hard hours.

Can be frustrating to try and improve things.

Too much politics.

I've been reading the other reviews here. There seem to be two major complaints that stand out.

One is the lack of upward mobility or promotions, the other is the enlarged know-nothing middle management and lots of turf wars.

These seem to be contradictory.

Those that want better promotions... to where?

So they can also be "useless" middle managers?

Technology companies need people that can actually build stuff.

You can't be promoting everybody to management; there is not enough to manage.

If you do, then you have the other complaint: "too many managers".

What is senior management to do?

Take a cue from IBM and get rid of the fat around the middle. Re-invent yourself as a technology innovator. Discourage nepotism. Focus on quality again.