F. Microsoft s Working Connections partnership with the American Association of Community Colleges
(AACC) is a good example of a shared-value opportunity arising from investments in context. The shortage
of information technology workers is a significant constraint on Microsoft’s growth; currently, there are
more than 450,000 unfilled IT positions in the United States alone. Community colleges, with an enrollment
of 11.6 million students, representing 45% of all U.S. undergraduates, could be a major solution. Microsoft
recognizes, however, that community colleges face special challenges: IT curricula are not standardized,
technology used in classrooms is often outdated, and there are no systematic professional development
programs to keep faculty up to date. Microsoft’s $50 million five-year initiative was aimed at all three
problems. In addition to contributing money and products, Microsoft sent employee volunteers to colleges to
assess needs, contribute to curriculum development, and create faculty development institutes. Microsoft has
achieved results that have benefited many communities while having a direct-and potentially significant-
impact on the company.
G. At the heart of any strategy is a unique value proposition: a set of needs a company can meet for its
chosen customers that others cannot. The most strategic CSR occurs when a company adds a social
dimension to its value proposition, making social impact integral to the overall strategy. Consider Whole
Foods Market, whose value proposition is to sell organic, natural, and healthy food products to customers
who are passionate about food and the environment. The company’s sourcing emphasises purchases from
local farmers through each store’s procurement process. Buyers screen out foods containing any of nearly
100 common ingredients that the company considers unhealthy or environmentally damaging. The same
standards apply to products made internally. Whole Foods’ commitment to natural and environmentally
friendly operating practices extends well beyond sourcing. Stores are constructed using a minimum of virgin
raw materials. Recently, the company purchased renewable wind energy credits equal to 100% of its
electricity use in all of its stores and facilities, the only Fortune 500 company to offset its electricity
consumption entirely. Spoiled produce and biodegradable waste are trucked to regional centers for
composting. Whole Foods’ vehicles are being converted to run on biofuels. Even the cleaning products used
in its stores are environmentally friendly. And through its philanthropy, the company has created the Animal
Compassion Foundation to develop more natural and humane ways of raising farm animals. In short, nearly
every aspect of the company’s value chain reinforces the social dimensions of its value proposition,
distinguishing Whole Foods from its competitors.