Cisco board directors are at the epicenter of the Microsoft and Yahoo! deal

Two members of the Cisco board of directors also sit on the Yahoo! board of directors.

The key decision makers behind this week's announcement of the Microsoft - Yahoo! deal are also making the key decisions at Cisco Systems.

How so?

Well, 2 key members of the 12 member Yahoo! Board of Directors - Carol Bartz and Jerry Yang, are also 2 key members of the 12 member Cisco Board of Directors:

Cisco Directors on the Yahoo! Board:

Interestingly, this week Network World listed 3 reasons why the Microsoft - Yahoo! deal made sense. And another writer believes the deal is all about competing with Google.

Yahoo! Directors on the Cisco Board:

View the video below where Cisco Board Director and Yahoo! CEO Carol Bartz, discusses the merits of the Microsoft - Yahoo! deal:

Alarmingly, blogger Jason Calacanis believes Yahoo! has made a fatal mistake by outsourcing its search technology to Microsoft. Adding fuel to the fire, some analysts believe Yahoo! has sold its soul, while another pundit believes Yahoo! has sent itself down the road to insignificance and also wonders what will become of Yahoo?. Meanwhile, it appears Google will be raising antitrust concerns about the Microsoft - Yahoo! deal with the Department of Justice. View the terms of the Microsoft - Yahoo! deal filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

Finally, it's my opinion that the Microsoft - Yahoo! deal has broad implications for Cisco Systems.

And why is that?

Because as 2 key members of Cisco's 12 member Board of Directors, Carol Bartz and Jerry Yang will be making key decisions about Cisco's future and I believe their decision to do the Microsoft - Yahoo! deal provides revealing insight into their decision making skill. And if this is indeed a strategic blunder for Yahoo!, it raises my concern that as members of Cisco's Board of Directors, Carol Bartz and Jerry Yang could also potentially inflict incalculable damage to Cisco in the future by agreeing to make a strategic blunder for Cisco.

What's your take, does the Microsoft - Yahoo! deal provide insight into the decision skill of 2 key members of Cisco's board of directors?

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• Cisco
• Data Center
• LANs / WANs
• Security
• VoIP / Convergence
• Wireless / Mobile
• 2 key members of the 12 member Yahoo! Board of Directors - Carol Bartz and Jerry Yang
• Blogger Jason Calacanis believes Yahoo! has made a fatal mistake
• Carol Bartz and Jerry Yang will be making key decisions about Cisco's future
• Cisco Board Director and Yahoo! CEO Carol Bartz
• Cisco Directors on the Yahoo! Board
• Decision to do the Microsoft - Yahoo! deal
• Does the Microsoft - Yahoo! deal provide insight into the decision skill of 2 key members of Cisco's board of directors?
• Making the key decisions at Cisco Systems
• Merits of the Microsoft - Yahoo! deal
• Network World listed 3 reasons why the Microsoft - Yahoo! deal made sense
• The key decision makers behind this week's announcement of the Microsoft - Yahoo! deal
• The Microsoft - Yahoo! deal has broad implications for Cisco Systems
• Two members of the Cisco board of directors also sit on the Yahoo! board of directors
• Yahoo! Directors on the Cisco Board
• Yahoo! has made a fatal mistake by outsourcing its search technology to Microsoft