Digital Winners and Losers

September 13, 2015

Read The Full Prompt

The basic thesis of our course is that digital technologies are upending many industries and companies. Think about Uber’s impact on the taxi business or Spotify’s impact on music downloads and the record industry.

For this module, we would like you to identify companies/organizations that you think are winning or losing. Just work on either winners or losers. Please focus on just one organization. Tell us why they are a winner or loser. Discuss elements of how they create and/or capture value that is leading you to call them a winner or loser.

Create an approximately 500-750 word post to make your contribution. Please create appropriate tags for your post including if it is a “winner” or “loser” Please also respond to and comment on three other posts per module. Feel free to use graphics, data, videos and links to other sites to corroborate your points.

Selected posts will be discussed in class and also featured on the HBS Digital Initiative website.

Submitted (145)

DraftKings – How a fantasy is changing the sports industry
Faisal
Last modified on September 13, 2015 at 3:10 pm
Through daily fantasy competitions, DraftKings is changing the way sports fans consume content.
The Dollar Shave Club: Redefining the Razor and Blade Business Model
Dani Johnson
Posted on September 14, 2015 at 3:54 pm
The Dollar Shave Club is disrupting industry giants by leveraging a new approach to providing shaving products
How Betterment Wins by Reducing the Cost Structure of Investment Management
Rob C.
Posted on September 13, 2015 at 4:47 pm
Betterment is disrupting investment management by leveraging software and automation to reduce the costs associated with investing and maintaining a balanced portfolio. It heralds a new world that promises to be more efficient, inclusive, and transparent.
Transforming your behavior into digital information
Angela Zhang
Last modified on September 13, 2015 at 2:42 pm
COGITO - transforming behavior into digital information
WeChat: How a Chinese Messaging App is Winning the Internet
hbs2016
Posted on September 14, 2015 at 4:45 pm
WeChat has pioneered the messaging-as-a-platform business model, generating massive revenue from its 600 million active users and capturing value across industries from banking to transportation. Where will it grow next?
Skin Deep Database: The Only Truth Behind Product Safety?
Jess
Last modified on September 14, 2015 at 7:46 pm
The @US_FDA does not regulate the ingredients in our #beauty products, so the @EWG #skindeep #database protects us. #digitalhealthrevolution
Slack, a Digital Open Office
David
Last modified on September 13, 2015 at 10:54 pm
I was first introduced to Slack during my internship this past summer at a very small startup that used Gmail as their email client of choice; an already significant step-up from my previous Outlook experiences.  A few weeks into the [...]
Blockbuster – From Blockbuster to Bomb: An Industry Leader’s Stunning Failure
HF
Last modified on September 14, 2015 at 12:31 am
What led to the downfall of the industry giant Blockbuster ? On its peak in 2002 it was valued $5 billion, 9 years later it was sold for only a little over $300 million and was shut down entirely in [...]
Polyvore: Consuming Traditional Fashion Retailers
mtv0302
Last modified on September 14, 2015 at 12:28 am
A post analyzing the impact of social commerce site, Polyvore, that has emerged as a digital winner by disrupting traditional e-commerce, the brick-and-mortar department store, and even major fashion publications.
Michael Page Recruiting – Do we still need headhunters?
CY
Last modified on September 14, 2015 at 1:05 am
Recruiting companies like Michael Page are losing out in this age of digital innovation. Disintermediation of the middle man is happening in many industries and looks set to disrupt the recruiting industry. The healthy margins that once made this industry [...]
USPS: Innovating at a Snail’s Pace
Elizabeth H
Posted on September 13, 2015 at 10:14 pm
Just about everyone has come in contact with the United States Postal Service in the past year.  And I’d bet that the interaction is largely the exact same as it was 10 years ago.  Eclipsed by the digital revolution, I [...]
Sephora – How to THRIVE as a retailer in the digital age
Bougainvillea
Posted on September 13, 2015 at 8:06 pm
Sephora's big bets on digital innovation are its keys to succeeding in the trouble-ridden brick-and-mortar retail space.
Connectivity and Coffee
Salem
Last modified on September 14, 2015 at 12:34 am
Starbucks is able to maintain its massive global position by investing in digital technologies like free wifi and a customer loyalty app
BlackBerry: Why Even the “CrackBerry” Addicts Quit
guillermop
Last modified on September 13, 2015 at 10:54 pm
BlackBerry once dominated the smart phone market, but is now clearly a "digital loser".
FacialNetwork: Why Big Brother will be a Big Winner
Y.S.H.
Last modified on September 13, 2015 at 8:12 pm
"FacialNetwork is at the confluence of three pivotal technology trends and is leveraging the latest advancements in mobile, cloud and big data to create practical facial recognition applications."
How Little Roku Dethroned the Big Apple… But Can They Stay On Top?
Austin
Last modified on October 19, 2015 at 6:03 pm
Roku's open platform, close relationship with Netflix, and seamless user experience catapulted them to King in the U.S. But will they persist?
Airbnb’s digital platform takes control of Paris short-term rental industry, and makes peace with the city administration
europeanfederalist
Posted on September 13, 2015 at 11:45 pm
Read about how Airbnb's online platform has taken over the Paris' short-term real estate business and sealed an agreement with the City of Paris.
The New York Times: Outwitted in the Digital Age?
Merritt
Posted on September 13, 2015 at 7:24 pm
The New York Times struggles to maintain its market leadership position against innovative upstarts in the digital media industry.
Instacart + Whole Foods Market = Digital #Winner
(Wo)Man in the Arena
Posted on September 13, 2015 at 10:19 pm
Instacart paired a digital solution with the existing supermarket model. They rely on speed and accuracy to deliver (no pun intended) on their customer promise. By rethinking the way we shop, Instacart has been able to disrupt the traditional shopping [...]
Walmart: A Surprising Winner in Omnichannel Retail
Sean L
Last modified on October 19, 2015 at 6:03 pm
As delineations between physical and digital storefronts fade, Walmart has recognized that the future lies in “omnichannel” retail — a world where retailers serve customers seamlessly through online, mobile, and in-store interactions.
AYR: Immersive online experience with a real-world twist
Carina Rutgers
Last modified on September 13, 2015 at 2:58 pm
Bonobos sister company makes shopping for the perfect pair of jeans something to look forward to
Glossier – Disrupting the Old Man’s Beauty Industry
Atima Lui
Last modified on October 19, 2015 at 6:03 pm
How Star Beauty Blogger Emily Weiss Built Glossier into a Digital Marketing Powerhouse
Does Best Buy live up to it’s name?
Mor Sidi
Last modified on October 19, 2015 at 6:03 pm
Can Best-Buy ever compete with the 5-star rankings and reviews that the online world give us?
Garmin, the definitive winner in the sports & fitness devices industry
Guillermo
Last modified on September 14, 2015 at 7:33 pm
Into sports, into twitter, into facebook and with real time tracking...
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