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)

Automated warehousing systems at Amazon
Angel Lee
Posted on November 12, 2017 at 9:33 pm
Amazon is increasingly automating its warehouses. What are the impacts and what else should Amazon consider?
Admitting cybercriminals to hospital through the front door
Josephine-vL
Last modified on November 16, 2017 at 3:31 pm
Quantum decryption will soon arrive to compromise the reliability of standard cybersecurity practices - just as the British National Health Service is working to make its most sensitive data digitally accessible.
Lenovo: Utilizing the Cloud to Build the Cloud
Maren
Last modified on November 13, 2017 at 11:00 pm
Can Lenovo utilize the digital supply chain that enabled their success in the PC industry to become a leading datacenter hardware provider?
The New Netflix Challenge
Mel Searches
Posted on November 15, 2017 at 10:57 pm
Netflix has focused on digitization of their part of the digital supply chain but they need to expand into content creation and content consumption to capture more value as competitors enter the market.
Inditex/Zara: Fast is the new slow
HansFuruseth
Posted on November 15, 2017 at 5:34 pm
Inditex(Zara) revolutionized the fashion industry with their fast supply chain. Now there is a new breed of competitors entering the market beating Inditex(Zara) at their own game.
Can Sula continue to produce over 10 Million Bottles of Wine per annum?
Aditya
Posted on November 15, 2017 at 7:07 pm
How unexpected rainfall is disrupting India's largest wine producer's supply chain!
Leading by example: Firewire Surfboards & global climate change
Jack
Last modified on November 15, 2017 at 8:00 pm
Passion can be a powerful tool for change, and surfers have a strong incentive to protect their sport...
Amazon, Mexico and Trumponomics- Is the bet too high?
Oded Ben David
Last modified on November 15, 2017 at 7:25 pm
Amazon has lately put heavy resources in Mexico, aiming to open a 1 million square-foot mega-warehouse near Mexico City to gain market share and reinforce its supply chain in North America. However, the political tension between the U.S and Mexico, [...]
Starbucks: the rise of mobile orders
Sahael
Posted on November 15, 2017 at 10:25 pm
The rise of mobile ordering is a great opportunity for Starbucks if they can harness the potential.
Chile: A Challenging Climate for a Global Winemaker
Matt Wozny
Posted on November 15, 2017 at 8:41 pm
Concha y Toro, a Chilean winemaker, faces climate risk head-on by taxing its carbon emissions, reducing its water consumption, and maintaining the quality of its grapes. But it can improve by working to mitigate the risks associated with its partners [...]
The “ABC’s” of Drug Traceability – How Digitalizing the Pharmaceutical Supply Chain Can Enhance Compliance and Financial Performance
DPF2019
Posted on November 15, 2017 at 10:21 pm
New legislation mandates that drugs be traceable at the unit level as they move through the pharmaceutical supply chain. AmerisourceBergen Corporation - a private label pharmaceutical manufacturer, distributor, wholesaler, and 3PL provider - is on the right track by prioritizing [...]
Digitalization and the Death of a (Real Estate) Salesman
USCA
Posted on November 15, 2017 at 5:26 pm
Can companies like Opendoor effectively disrupt the real estate broker ecosystem and home-sale supply chain through big data and machine learning?
Will On-Demand Food Delivery Kill the Chipotle Burrito Line?
JessicaSchiffman
Last modified on November 15, 2017 at 3:40 pm
How will the sudden rise in third-party on-demand delivery services change the way we order Chipotle?
Vertical Farming Startup Achieves “Plenty” with Less Water
Andon Cord
Last modified on November 14, 2017 at 10:03 pm
Vertical farming startup Plenty aims to turn conventional farming on its head through sustainable procesess that significantly reduce the amount of water required to feed produce while delivering high yields.
A Winding Road: NAFTA Concerns at General Motors
Peanut&Rockstar
Posted on November 15, 2017 at 8:03 am
General Motors response to President Trump's threats to withdraw from NAFTA
Enjoy that cup of coffee, it may be your last…
Chi
Posted on November 15, 2017 at 7:22 pm
Can Nestle save the coffee industry from climate change?
Zipline: drones that can save lives and revolutionize supply chains
Jane Doe
Last modified on November 14, 2017 at 7:33 pm
Zipline designs, manufactures, and uses its drones to transform medicine delivery to the last mile. Its digitized supply chain is saving time and money while improving healthcare in Rwanda. (Word count: 799)
The World’s First Floating Manufacturing Facility: 3D Printing on the International Space Station
SB
Last modified on November 15, 2017 at 6:28 pm
The International Space Station is disrupting manufacturing, using 3D printing to create the first floating manufacturing facility.
Live from New York it’s Gotham Greens….Optimizing Crop Production, Crop Quality, and Food Safety in the Face of Global Warming
11589
Posted on November 14, 2017 at 3:56 pm
“We are farmers that live in apartments. We see green fields where others see rooftops. We fuel blooming communities where others fear urban decay. And we purvey the freshest produce grown on earth.” As droughts and storms become more prevalent [...]
Robocabs Join the Fight Against Climate Change
DT
Posted on November 4, 2017 at 2:07 am
NuTonomy aims to launch paid self-driving car rides in Singapore
Preventing the next E. Coli outbreak with Blockchain
Wade Ryan
Posted on November 9, 2017 at 9:02 pm
In 2016, 55 people were infected by E. Coli after eating food at Chipotle Mexican Grill. Walmart doesn't want to be the next Chipotle and they are using Blockchain to ensure they don't.
Digitalization in the pharmaceutical industry: Pfizer
kmahan
Posted on November 15, 2017 at 8:50 pm
With the advent of digitalization, the pharmaceutical industry is using information sharing to improve its manufacturing and supply chain efficiency. Pfizer's creation of the PCMM plant is one way manufacturing may change in addition to gathering provider-level, and perhaps even [...]
AXA “Redefining Standards” Strategy: Leading Insurance Industry to Face Climate Change
SK
Posted on November 14, 2017 at 10:16 pm
How is climate change impacting AXA, leader of the insurance industry?
Tabasco Sauce: Can it take the heat of global warming?
CindyHuang
Posted on November 14, 2017 at 11:16 pm
Every bottle of Tabasco sauce passes through Avery Island, Louisiana - an area susceptible to hurricanes and flooding.
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