Go to main content
Harvard Business School
HBS Home
  • About
  • Academic Programs
  • Alumni
  • Faculty & Research
  • Baker Library
  • Harvard Business Review
  • Initiatives
  • News
  • Recruit
  • Map / Directions

Faculty & Research

  • HOME
  • FACULTY
  • RESEARCH
    • Global Research Centers
    • HBS Case Collection
    • HBS Case Development
    • Initiatives & Projects
    • Publications
    • Research Associate (RA) Positions
    • Research Services
    • Seminars & Conferences
    Close
  • FEATURED TOPICS
    • Business and Environment
    • Business History
    • Entrepreneurship
    • Finance
    • Globalization
    • Health Care
    • Human Behavior and Decision-Making
    • Leadership
    • Social Enterprise
    • Technology and Innovation
    Close
  • ACADEMIC UNITS
    • Accounting and Management
    • Business, Government and the International Economy
    • Entrepreneurial Management
    • Finance
    • General Management
    • Marketing
    • Negotiation, Organizations & Markets
    • Organizational Behavior
    • Strategy
    • Technology and Operations Management
    Close

Case | HBS Case Collection | December 2014 (Revised October 2017)

Dow: Breakthroughs to World Challenges

by Michael E. Porter, Mark R. Kramer and Annelena Lobb

  • Print
  • Email

Abstract

Dow had adopted the "Breakthroughs to World Challenges" (BWC) program as part of its ten-year 2015 Sustainability Goals. BWC was an internal award recognizing products that effectively addressed one of five world challenges: energy and climate change, sustainable water supply, decent affordable housing, personal health, and food supply. By late summer 2014, two products had been designated as BWCs and two others were set to be announced in the fall. Dow senior executives believed that Dow was creating shared value through its BWC products. As management began drafting the company's sustainability plan for 2015 and beyond, CEO Andrew Liveris confronted the question of whether to maintain, modify or terminate the BWC program.

Keywords: strategy; Value Creation; Strategy; Social Issues; Entrepreneurship;

Language: English Format: Print 20 pages EducatorsPurchase

Citation:

Porter, Michael E., Mark R. Kramer, and Annelena Lobb. "Dow: Breakthroughs to World Challenges." Harvard Business School Case 715-403, December 2014. (Revised October 2017.)

Related Work

  1. Case | HBS Case Collection | December 2014 (Revised October 2017)

    Dow: Breakthroughs to World Challenges

    Michael E. Porter, Mark R. Kramer and Annelena Lobb

    Dow had adopted the "Breakthroughs to World Challenges" (BWC) program as part of its ten-year 2015 Sustainability Goals. BWC was an internal award recognizing products that effectively addressed one of five world challenges: energy and climate change, sustainable water supply, decent affordable housing, personal health, and food supply. By late summer 2014, two products had been designated as BWCs and two others were set to be announced in the fall. Dow senior executives believed that Dow was creating shared value through its BWC products. As management began drafting the company's sustainability plan for 2015 and beyond, CEO Andrew Liveris confronted the question of whether to maintain, modify or terminate the BWC program.

    Keywords: strategy; Value Creation; Strategy; Social Issues; Entrepreneurship;

    Citation:

    Porter, Michael E., Mark R. Kramer, and Annelena Lobb. "Dow: Breakthroughs to World Challenges." Harvard Business School Case 715-403, December 2014. (Revised October 2017.)  View Details
    CiteView DetailsEducatorsPurchase Related

About the Authors

Photo
Michael E. Porter
Bishop William Lawrence University Professor
Strategy

View Profile »
View Publications »

 
Photo
Mark R. Kramer
Senior Lecturer of Business Administration

View Profile »
View Publications »

 

More from these Authors

  • Case | HBS Case Collection | October 2019 (Revised December 2019)

    Swizz Beatz

    Boris Groysberg, Annelena Lobb and Sarah Mehta

    This case explores the life and career of rapper and music producer Swizz Beatz. Set in 2019, it covers the evolution of Swizz’s musical career and his new venture into the commercial art market.

    Keywords: Entertainment; Music Entertainment; Television Entertainment; Entrepreneurship; Entertainment and Recreation Industry; Fine Arts Industry; Music Industry; United States;

    Citation:

    Groysberg, Boris, Annelena Lobb, and Sarah Mehta. "Swizz Beatz." Harvard Business School Case 420-034, October 2019. (Revised December 2019.)  View Details
    CiteView DetailsEducators Related
  • Case | HBS Case Collection | October 2019 (Revised December 2019)

    Swizz Beatz and Alicia Keys: A Power Couple

    Boris Groysberg, Annelena Lobb and Sarah Mehta

    Set in 2018, this case follows married couple and music industry titans Swizz Beatz and Alicia Keys as they consider how best to use their platforms to achieve their goals. Since achieving professional success in the music industry early in their lives, Swizz and Keys had explored many different personal and professional pursuits. Swizz was particularly interested in the arts and had launched an initiative aimed at supporting emerging visual artists of color. Keys had taken on acting roles, written a children’s book, and had become an increasingly vocal advocate for social justice causes. Anchoring their professional work, Swizz and Keys had built a loving family rooted in communication and mutual respect. As one of the music industry’s most recognizable power couples, Swizz and Keys now considered how they might use their joint platform to continue to drive positive change for artists and creators of all stripes.

    Keywords: Entertainment; Music Entertainment; Television Entertainment; Entrepreneurship; Power and Influence; Entertainment and Recreation Industry; Music Industry; United States;

    Citation:

    Groysberg, Boris, Annelena Lobb, and Sarah Mehta. "Swizz Beatz and Alicia Keys: A Power Couple." Harvard Business School Case 420-035, October 2019. (Revised December 2019.)  View Details
    CiteView DetailsEducators Related
  • Case | HBS Case Collection | November 2019

    Martini Klinik: Prostate Cancer Care 2019

    Michael E. Porter, Jens Deerberg-Wittram and Thomas W. Feeley

    Since its establishment in 2005, Hamburg’s Martini Klinik had single-mindedly focused on prostate cancer care with a commitment to measure long term health outcomes for every patient. A wholly owned subsidiary of the University Hospital Hamburg, Martini Klinik was a “hospital in a hospital” in close proximity to other medical departments and services. By 2019, Martini Klinik had become the largest prostate cancer treatment program in the world with 8,000 outpatient cases and more than 2,500 surgical cases annually. Patients came from all over Germany and from around the world. A new and expanded facility was under construction to have the capacity to manage more patients with prostate cancer.

    Keywords: health care; Michael Porter; Jens Deerberg-Wittram; Clifford Marks; prostate cancer; health care policy; value agenda; integrated practice units; outcomes measurement; Health Care and Treatment; Value; Health Disorders; Insurance; Medical Specialties; Outcome or Result; Measurement and Metrics; Business Processes; Insurance Industry; Health Industry; Germany;

    Citation:

    Porter, Michael E., Jens Deerberg-Wittram, and Thomas W. Feeley. "Martini Klinik: Prostate Cancer Care 2019." Harvard Business School Case 720-359, November 2019.  View Details
    CiteView DetailsEducators Related
ǁ
Campus Map
Campus Map
Harvard Business School
Soldiers Field
Boston, MA 02163
→ Map & Directions
→ More Contact Information
→ More Contact Information
→ More Contact Information
→ More Contact Information
  • HBS Facebook
  • Alumni Facebook
  • Executive Education Facebook
  • Michael Porter Facebook
  • Working Knowledge Facebook
  • HBS Twitter
  • Executive Education Twitter
  • HBS Alumni Twitter
  • Michael Porter Twitter
  • Recruiting Twitter
  • Rock Center Twitter
  • Working Knowledge Twitter
  • Jobs Twitter
  • Social Enterprise Twitter
  • HBS Youtube
  • Michael Porter Youtube
  • Executive Education Youtube
  • HBS Linkedin
  • Alumni Linkedin
  • Executive Education Linkedin
  • MBA Linkedin
  • Linkedin
  • HBS Instagram
  • Alumni Instagram
  • Executive Education Instagram
  • Michael Porter Instagram
  • HBS iTunes
  • Executive Education iTunes
  • HBS Tumblr
  • Make a Gift
  • Site Map
  • Jobs
  • Harvard University
  • Trademarks
  • Policies
  • Accessibility
  • Privacy
  • Terms of Use
Copyright © President & Fellows of Harvard College