Cisco has _always_ virtually shut down between Christmas and New Years IIRC. People always take time off during the holidays: it isn't worthwhile to keep the whole business running. It's always been their unofficial policy, if not official to do so.<p>IMHO this is a silly attempt to cause panic.
There is very little information in this article. In fact, the headline pretty much sums it all up. A quote or two to put this in context would have been nice. The article implies the shutdown is a cost saving measure, but provides absolutely nothing to back this up. It doesn't even mention whether or not employees will be paid for the four days. For all we know, they could just be giving employees a little more time off to enjoy the holidays.<p>[EDIT]
There's a better article on Reuters that least attributes the news to an email from a Cisco spokesperson.<p><a href="http://us.rd.yahoo.com/finance/external/reuters/SIG=1165jh9eu/*http://www.reuters.com/legacyArticle?duid=mtfh42372_2008-11-25_18-55-20_n25270787_newsml&rpc=44&type=marketsNews" rel="nofollow">http://us.rd.yahoo.com/finance/external/reuters/SIG=1165jh9e...</a>
Cisco is the closest thing technology has to an industrial company. At least a few regulars here have to have worked on Tasman before. It's not what you'd call an "agile" place.