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RC TOM Challenge 2018

November 13, 2018

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The TOM Challenge provides an opportunity for you to continue exploring organizational learning and innovation through the lens of process improvement and/or product development, the focus of RC TOM’s second module. In this challenge, you will investigate how an organization is grappling with machine learning, additive manufacturing, or open innovation. These megatrends are likely to significantly affect how organizations manage process improvement and product development in the coming years of your career. The TOM Challenge requires you to (1) conduct research and write an essay that examines how one organization is facing a particular aspect of one of these megatrends, and (2) write six comments that share your reflections on some of your section mates’ essays.

Your essay should address four questions in the context of the organization you choose:

  1. Why do you think the megatrend you selected is important to your organization’s management of process improvement and/or product development?
  2. What is the organization’s management doing to address this issue in the short term (the next two years) and the medium term (two to ten years out)?
  3. What other steps do you recommend the organization’s management take to address this issue in the short and medium terms?
  4. In the context of this organization, what are one or two important open questions related to this issue that you are unsure about that merit comments from your classmates?

Your essay should convey facts, analysis, and your recommendations. It should focus on a single organization (e.g., a single company, non-profit organization, or government agency) and a concern related to one megatrend. It is fine if the concern you choose relates to other megatrends that the organization is facing, but that’s not required. Roughly a third of your essay should be dedicated to each of the first three questions, with just a few sentences dedicated to the fourth question. Your essay should be at least 700 words but no more than 800 words, and must conclude with a word count in parentheses (such as 778 words).

When posting your essay to Open Knowledge, be sure to enter “Machine Learning”, “Additive Manufacturing”, or “Isolationism” in the Topics field.

More details on research, sourcing, deadlines, and other matters are provided in the RC TOM Challenge: 2018 note.  For assistance with the Open Knowledge platform during business hours (9:00 am – 5:00 pm M-F), email openknowledge@hbs.edu. A short video with instructions on how to post an essay to this platform is available at https://d3.harvard.edu/platform-rctom/how-to/.

Submitted (926)

Machine Learning in Radiology: Threat or Opportunity?
Sam
Posted on November 13, 2018 at 3:57 pm
Is the use of machine learning in radiology hype or reality? That is the question that the American College of Radiology must answer.
Machine Learning to Revolutionize Military Training
Scipio
Posted on November 12, 2018 at 6:43 pm
Normally sluggish to adapt, the military is taking swift action to utilize cunning edge tech in combat training
Three-dimensional bioprinting and the future of organ transplants
MBATOM
Posted on November 13, 2018 at 6:18 pm
3-D printing of cellular structures is changing the way we trial preclinical pharmaceuticals and consider the future of organ transplants.
Unilever China: Using Open Innovation to Become “Fast Fish” in China
Haoran
Posted on November 4, 2018 at 8:07 pm
The article is about how Unilever China using open innovation to optimize innovation process to match with China Speed.
How L’Oréal is using AI and Machine Learning to disrupt the beauty industry
Sheep
Posted on November 11, 2018 at 8:58 pm
Personalization is the future of the beauty industry
Sales=MC2: Salesforce’s Attempt to Democratize Artificial Intelligence
Albert Einstein
Posted on November 14, 2018 at 5:44 pm
Salesforce has been a leader in the pursuit of cutting-edge technologies addressing the digitalization of sales processes. The Company must continue to do so, if it is to maintain its foothold as the #1 provider of customer relationship management (CRM) [...]
How Coca Cola is Leveraging Machine Learning in the Hyper-competitive CPG Industry
John Smith
Last modified on November 6, 2018 at 7:41 am
Major shifts are occurring in the food & beverage industry as consumers look beyond legacy CPG brands and towards new, interesting, and perceived healthier alternatives1. As these customer desires continue to intensify, it is critically important for the larger companies [...]
Betting on machine learning to save lives
Robert Galbraith
Posted on November 13, 2018 at 7:00 am
Machine learning is disrupting traditional industries such as transportation (ride-hailing) and financial services (credit scoring, robo-advisory). Can it also transform the traditionally human-intensive healthcare industry too?
BenevolentAI: From Machine Learning Startup towards New Drug Producer
James Carbaugh
Posted on November 13, 2018 at 7:49 pm
BenevolentAI is using machine learning to gather insights from the body of pharmaceutical literature in order to produce new potential drugs, but can it keep top talent?
Volition: Crowdsourcing Innovation in the Beauty Industry
Tasnia Huque
Last modified on November 15, 2018 at 10:50 am
Meet Volition: democratizing beauty products to cater to a global and diverse community whilst reducing research and product development costs through the power of open innovation.
Crowdsourcing snack food trends at PepsiCo
Toby Johnson
Posted on November 13, 2018 at 6:52 pm
Examines how PepsiCo is using open innovation in their Lay's "Do Us a Flavor" competition and ways they can more broadly utilize crowdsourcing to stay competitive in a trend-driven market
Craft beer by the people, for the people
Craft Brewer
Posted on November 13, 2018 at 4:42 pm
Would you ever buy a craft beer whose taste is constantly changing? A UK startup is challenging the way companies approach product development by leveraging Machine Learning to improve its beer recipes based on drinkers’ feedback.
Machine Learning in the Video Game Industry
Jeff Bezos
Posted on November 13, 2018 at 5:23 pm
The video game market has grown rapidly in the decade and is now estimated to reach $143.5 billion dollars by 2020.[1] The innovative nature of the industry has driven great advancements in software development, such as ultra-realistic 3D visualizations and [...]
Dementia Discovery Fund: Crowdsourcing a Cure for Alzheimer’s
Joe Johnson
Posted on November 13, 2018 at 2:16 pm
When the goal of curing Alzheimer's trumps financial returns, a philanthropic VC fund begins to look more like a hub of open innovation. The Dementia Discovery Fund encourages risky innovators through its mandate to back a wide range of potential [...]
Betabrand: Too Much Open Innovation?
Aparna
Last modified on November 13, 2018 at 7:41 pm
Betabrand, the online retailer has bought heavily into open innovation. Could it be too much?
Building a Better Future – 3D Printed Housing at WinSun
Drew Perry
Posted on November 12, 2018 at 10:53 am
WinSun is using 3D printing in construction to lower costs and timelines while protecting against pollution and corruption
VISA – Fighting the escalation of digital payment fraud
Greg Andrews
Posted on November 13, 2018 at 1:33 pm
With the fraud battle moved online, how to stay ahead in a war worth billions
Keeping NYC Moving: How Machine Learning Can Lead to Sustainable and Mobile Cities
Frank Sinatra
Posted on November 13, 2018 at 7:03 pm
Currently 54% of the world’s population lives in cities and this is expected to increase to 66% by 2050.[1] With all these new dwellers, innovation is not just needed but expected, particularly in mobility. This simple but challenging task is [...]
The Election Security Challenge: Why Voting-Machine Vendors Resist Open Innovation
Matt McCalpin
Posted on November 13, 2018 at 5:38 pm
Following alleged Russian interference in the 2016 U.S. elections, voting-machine vendors face increasing public pressure for more open innovation of its products to enhance security.
Two Sigma Investments: Will Machines Take Over the Stock Market?
TomB
Posted on November 12, 2018 at 11:11 am
With over 1,500 employees, including 200+ PhDs, Two Sigma runs systematic hedge fund strategies that rely on machine learning to extract insights and predictive signals in a fraction of the time the human brain can to deliver superior alpha with [...]
Customization vs. Scale – How BMW Imagines the Future of Cars
Peter Wintermaier
Posted on November 12, 2018 at 2:38 pm
BMW Group seems to regard additive manufacturing as a source of new products and innovative business models rather than a manufacturing process to resolve existing issues.
Make Tonight Unforgettable with HotelTonight
HTL
Last modified on November 13, 2018 at 8:13 pm
In need of a last-minute hotel room for upcoming travel? How HotelTonight is using machine learning to disrupt the online travel booking industry.
Man or Machine? Does AI have a place in Venture Capital?
sashafierce
Posted on November 14, 2018 at 10:28 am
This post explores that evolution of predictive analytics and how VC's can leverage machine learning to invest in the next big thing.
Machine Learning: Powering the Insurance Industry’s “Buy It Now” Button
Marybeth Egan
Posted on November 12, 2018 at 2:28 pm
The rise of big data and machine learning has created new opportunities for incumbent insurers and competitors alike.
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