What competitive challenges motivated Dow Chemical to develop the Leadership in Action? Do you think the Leadership in Action contributes to Dow Chemical's business strategy and goals? Explain.

9:55 Chapter 2 Strategic Training 115 Case 1 Learning in Practice Dow Chemical Develops Leaders by Sending Them to Work in Unfamiliar Surroundings Dow Chemical's mission is "To passionately create in Accra, Ghana, where the company had recently innovation for our stakeholders at the intersection of opened its first office. The program is part of Dow's chemistry, biology, and physics." It intends to do so approach to meeting the world's basic needs by match- by maximizing long-term value per share by being the ing its employees with organizations that need sup- most valuable and respected science company in the port for sustainable development projects, especially world. Its strategy is to invest in a market-driven port- in business growth areas for Dow. Accra, the western folio of advantaged and technology-enabled businesses African country's capital, was chosen because it pro- that create value for its shareholders and customers. vided a way to get potential leaders to understand a As Dow Chemical expands its global presence, it new business territory, develop a new market, and needs employees who have the ability to network and establish relationships in the local community. Thirty- develop relationships with local commercial and gov- six high-potential employees were organized into seven ernment leaders. To develop global leaders, Dow had teams. Each team was assigned to work with a non- been sending high-potential employees to a week of government organization to help with a project that leadership development classes at its Midland, Mich- the community needed. Projects included determining igan, headquarters. After completing the classes, where to grow plants that could provide medicine for employees spent the next week in one of Dow's malaria and working with a trade school to develop an international locations such as Shanghai, China; Sao education curriculum including science, technology, Paulo, Brazil; or Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Each engineering, and math. Program participants spent of these locations had Dow regional headquarters five months virtually planning and collaborating from with work environments similar to what employees their home offices. This helped them develop their had experienced at corporate headquarters. consulting skills and adapt to unexpected events, such Dow's global manager for leadership develop- as the sudden loss of electricity or telephone service. ment and its vice president for human resources both After working virtually for five months, the group trav- recognized that the program had a major weakness. eled to Africa to examine their finished projects. The program was missing a hands-on experience that Participants in the second class worked in Addis would teach participants how to understand culture Ababa, Ethiopia, where Dow was considering opening context. Exposing participants to problems within an office. One of the teams worked with a team of IBM different cultural contexts helps get learners to self- employees to develop marketing to promote hygiene reflect and consider how they deal with uncertainty and sanitation practices. These participants gained and change. It also helps develop leaders who can valuable skills in collaborating with both humanitar- understand what needs to be done in doing business ian groups and corporate partners. The teams work- in a new culture. Dow wanted to change the program ing in Ghana and Ethiopia both had to learn how to to create a learning experience that would develop solve problems in a culture and community that was leadership skills, as well as the humility and integrity extremely different from the one to which they were needed for doing business in new markets. accustomed. They had to focus on understanding Dow developed a new leadership development social structures and values of the people in the com- program, Leadership in Action, with its first location munities to create meaningful, accepted, and useful 116 Part 1 The Context for Training and Development solutions. Both groups also represented Dow Chemi- Questions cal in news interviews, which enhanced their media relations skills and their understanding of how to best 1. What competitive challenges motivated Dow represent the company. Surveys completed after the Chemical to develop the Leadership in Action? program was completed show that participants feel 2. Do you think the Leadership in Action program they have a new view of the world. Almost all partici- contributes to Dow Chemical's business strategy pants wanted to continue to be involved in some way and goals? Explain. working on Dow's growth in Africa. 3. How would you determine if the Leadership in Dow employees have worked on a number of Action program has been effective? What metrics other projects in Ethiopia, such as identifying sustain- or outcomes would you collect? Why? able practices for converting solid and liquid waste 4. What are the advantages and disadvantages of the into fertilizer and helping local agricultural start-up Leadership in Action program, compared to more companies gain access to markets. These projects traditional ways of training leaders, such as for- have included partners such as Precise Consult mal courses (e.g., an MBA program) or increased International and Population Services International, job responsibility? as well as universities and colleges. Dow has since deployed the Leadership in Action program to Indo- Source: Based on K. Everson, "Dow Chemical's New nesia in 2015 and the Phillipines in 2016. In 2017, Formula for Global Leaders," Chief Learning Officer forty-three employees were sent to Hanoi and Hai (April 2015), pp. 42-43, 49; "Mission & Vision," from www Phong in Vietnam. Teams worked on projects such .dow.com, accessed April 10, 2018; "Leadership in Action: as restoring and protecting the West Lake ecosystem Ethiopia," from www.dow.com/en-us/careers/working-at- dow/learning-and-development, accessed April 10, 2018; and helping local citizens understand the importance "Vietnam 2017" from www.dow.com/en-us/science-and- of water resource monitoring to help address water sustainability/global-citizenship/dowcorps/leadership-in- pollution and flooding. action/vietnam, accessed April 10, 2018. mail-attachment.googleusercontent.com