Cisco management knows that number one on most CEO’s lists isto break down the communication barriers between a companyand its customers, suppliers, and partners. According to Jim Grubb,Chambers’ long-time product-demo sidekick, “If we can acceleratethe productivity of scientists who are working on the next solartechnology because we’re hooking them together, we’re doinga great thing for the world.” Doing a great thing for the world—while at the same time selling a ton of routers and switches.But while routers and switches still account for most of Cisco’sbusiness, the really interesting stuff is far more cutting edge. ConsiderCisco’s involvement in what it calls the Smart Connected Communities initiative. Perhaps the best example of a smart andconnected community is New Songdo City in South Korea, a citythe size of downtown Boston being built from scratch on a manmade island in the Yellow Sea. Cisco was hired as the technology partner for this venture and is teaming up with the construction company, architects, 3M, and United Technologies as partners in the instant-city business.