Underwriters Laboratories: Bringing Confidence to the Brazilian Water Market

By John McMillan, Jean-Bernard Rolland
2003 | Case No. IB54
Brazil has the largest fresh water resources in the world, but the market of municipal water is inefficient because customers, both corporations and individuals, do not trust the water provided. Since customers have no way of evaluating the quality of the water and rewarding a difference in quality, consumption remains suboptimal. An multinational in the domain of quality control and certification. Underwriters laboratories (UL) has the potential to act as a trusted third party and introduce confidence in the market. What should be its approach to a potentially huge but very uncertain market in one of the major developing economies?
This material is available for download by current Stanford GSB students, faculty, and staff, as well as Stanford GSB alumni. For inquires, contact the Case Writing Office. Download
Available for Purchase