RC TOM Challenge 2017

November 15, 2017

Read The Full Prompt

The TOM Challenge provides an opportunity for students to learn more about supply chain management by exploring how organizations are grappling with some megatrends: climate change, digitalization, and the growing influence of isolationist political movements on international trade policies.  These 700-800 word essays should address four questions:

  1. Why is (or should) your particular aspect of one of these megatrends be of concern to the management of the organization you have selected?
  2. What is the organization’s management doing to address this concern in the short term (the next two years) and the medium term (3–10 years out)?
  3. What other steps do you recommend the organization’s management take to address this concern in the short and medium terms?
  4. What are one or two important open questions related to this concern in the context of the organization you selected that you are unsure about, which merit comments from your classmates?

When posting your essay to Open Knowledge, be sure to enter “Climate change”, “Digitalization”, or “Isolationism” in the Topics field.

More details on research, sourcing, deadlines, and other matters are provided in the RC TOM Challenge: 2017 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://goo.gl/yyXK2H.

Submitted (924)

What’s Beef? A Look Inside Lab-Grown Meat’s Aim To Tackle Climate Change
Nabz
Last modified on November 15, 2017 at 9:35 pm
In an effort to tackle climate change and emissions, Memphis Meat is attempting to shake up a legendary meat industry that has become environmentally unsustainable.
From Garbage to Mining – Volvo Gears Up for Growth in Autonomous Trucking
Violina
Posted on November 15, 2017 at 7:32 pm
Volvo Group, the Swedish multinational manufacturing company, has been testing a multitude of driverless truck applications, ranging from urban waste management to transport flow optimization in underground mines, in hopes of becoming a forerunner in the autonomous trucking industry in [...]
GM strikes back
Figo
Last modified on November 9, 2017 at 12:02 am
In a battle of giants, GM has joined forces with other automakers and players in the auto sector to stop President Donald Trump and avoid the collapse of NAFTA. Can GM handle the consequences If the initiative fails?
Elon’s missing ingredient: the human and political challenges of Tesla’s supply of Cobalt
fdelabalze
Posted on November 14, 2017 at 2:44 pm
In the Fall of 2017, as Tesla prepares its ambitious rollout of the Model 3, the reality of mass market electric vehicles (EVs) seems closer than ever. To tackle climate change –and pollution—many countries (e.g., France, UK, India, Norway, China) [...]
Who is making your next iPhone?
V
Posted on November 15, 2017 at 7:17 pm
With the rising protectionism in the world, where is Apple manufacturing its next iPhone? Would Apple be forced to price this already high-end device even more expensive? Or robots will help reduce the cost?
Walmart: It’s my party and I can cry if I want to
niko
Last modified on November 15, 2017 at 10:11 pm
Is the party over or can the world's largest retailer reverse the trend?
“Are We There Yet?”: Solving the Los Angeles Congestion Indigestion
Cindy Ju
Posted on November 15, 2017 at 8:48 pm
Los Angeles has one of the world’s worst traffic congestion problems. In an effort to alleviate the “car-mageddon”, the City has started to digitize traffic patterns through partnerships with various information systems companies.
Uniqlo: Bridging the physical world of apparel with the digital world
Gregory B. Uffer
Posted on November 14, 2017 at 8:18 pm
Uniqlo plans to achieve aggressive sales targets by using digital tech to improve their supply chain and provide superior customer service.
Hot fudge Hyundai: The sweet taste of a well-managed supply chain
Matt Fisher
Last modified on November 15, 2017 at 7:49 pm
Hyundai is working with suppliers to reduce their carbon footprint. This mitigates Hyundai's risk exposure to climate change related tariffs.
AltSchool: Personalizing K-12 Classroom Learning
Abhojani
Posted on November 11, 2017 at 4:27 pm
Digital technologies are paving the way for disruption in the classroom with the development of personalized learning tools.
Pass The (Cassava) Beer: Diageo’s Response to Water Scarcity
Darrin Bedol
Posted on November 14, 2017 at 7:42 am
How Diageo is relying on drought-resistant crops to improve their water efficiency and increase sales in emerging markets
A Sobering Situation: Constellation Brands & NAFTA Renegotiations
Jojo
Posted on November 15, 2017 at 4:13 pm
Constellation Brands produces some of the most famous Mexican beers in the world. Its Mexican beer portfolio, comprised of Corona, Pacifico, and Modelo, brings in the lion's share of revenue for the $42.5B market cap business and is produced and [...]
Can Singapore port survive the digitization storm ?
VyshR
Last modified on November 15, 2017 at 10:27 pm
Singapore has the second largest container terminal and had maintained a competitive edge so far compared to regional peers. Can it continue compete effectively as the industry is disrupted by digitization?
M.Gemi – Italian Fast Footwear
Noemie Renaerts
Posted on November 15, 2017 at 9:35 pm
Founded in 2015, M.Gemi is a direct-to-consumer high-end Italian footwear brand for both man and women. Each pair is hand-made and offered at a price point between $198 and $598. New models are released on a weekly basis. In the [...]
David vs. ‘prescient’ Goliath: Can Lazada compete with Amazon’s “anticipatory shipping”?
Dennis
Last modified on November 26, 2017 at 3:16 pm
Lazada used to be the "Amazon of Southeast Asia", but as of summer 2017, has to compete directly with Amazon as they enter the Southeast Asian market. Can Lazada embrace digitalization to compete with Amazon's "anticipatory shipping" model and two-hour [...]
Shell’s Evolution from Oil and Gas to Energy
Danny Marquez
Posted on November 15, 2017 at 6:03 pm
A perspective on how climate change is pressuring oil and gas firms to transform their business models.
Climate Change – Project Rainforest Alliance of Lipton in 2016
CY
Posted on November 12, 2017 at 10:19 pm
A brand with purpose prevents climate change and contribute to environmental sustainability.
“Limb”-itless Solutions with 3D PrintAbility: An Example of an Additive Manufacturing Breakthrough in the Prosthetic Limb Production Supply Chain
JV
Posted on November 15, 2017 at 12:22 am
NIA Tech's additive manufacturing technology, 3D PrintAbility, is increasing access to prosthetic limbs and other mobility devices in developing countries by disrupting the supply chain of prosthetic limb production.
Isolationism’s Effect on Labor for the Supply Chain of Large Food Producer
Sarah Kalmbach
Posted on November 15, 2017 at 8:59 pm
Changes in the policy of immigration law enforcement have had and will continue to have a negative impact on the ability of some companies to manufacture and distribute goods to customers due to loss of labor. Recently, a large U.S. [...]
Good Tariffs Make Good Neighbors?
DC
Last modified on November 15, 2017 at 11:03 pm
How should a global, vertically integrated steel producer adapt to protectionism?  ArcelorMittal grapples with uncertainty in Trump’s America and abroad.
Reacting to rising isolationist sentiments with production overseas
Section E - anonymous
Posted on November 15, 2017 at 6:56 pm
As the sixth largest global automaker[1], Hyundai relies on demand overseas for over 80% of its sales[2]. In many of its export countries such as the US, UK, and China, rising isolationist sentiment has the potential to impact trade agreements [...]
YouTube Effect: A Whole New Supply Chain – Will TV Thrive or Die?
PJ
Last modified on November 15, 2017 at 10:51 pm
Television ratings are falling [1] and 95% of new television show concepts fail [2], but that’s about to change. Digitization is disrupting the television supply chain - and it’s not only Netflix! Data driven content selection is shifting power to [...]
“A-Tesla”, Can Elon Musk Revolutionize The Auto Industry?
Henri
Posted on November 15, 2017 at 7:54 pm
Elon Musk said, “The factory is more important than the cars it produces [1].” Tesla is transforming the auto manufacturing industry, not through electric cars, but through the digitalization of the Gigafactories production of lithium-ion batteries.
From “Visibility” to Prosperity
Justin Warner
Last modified on November 15, 2017 at 7:44 pm
Fixing the broken promise of the digitally-connected farmer in Sub-Saharan Africa.
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