RC TOM Challenge 2018

November 13, 2018

Read The Full Prompt

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://aiinstitute.hbs.edu/platform-rctom/how-to/.

Submitted (926)

Adidas Speedfactory: Disrupting The Sneaker Manufacturing Process
HG TOM
Posted on November 12, 2018 at 4:27 pm
Adidas is leveraging futuristic automation and additive manufacturing to lead the pack in fast footwear
A 3D-printed liver: not ready for prime time?
Bernie Siu
Last modified on November 15, 2018 at 6:42 pm
Additive manufacturing – also known as 3D-printing – has gained significant traction in commercial industries. In the medical community, there is promise of applying additive manufacturing techniques to tissue engineering, with the hope of developing replacement organs, ending the current [...]
Siemens Mobility going digital
nikolasra
Posted on November 13, 2018 at 3:19 pm
Additive manufacturing is threatening to change the competitive landscape of the multi-billion dollar spare part market. Will current players be able to embrace 3D printing as a new opportunity, or are new competitors set to outcompete traditional manufacturers?
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.
Twine Health: Pioneering Machine Learning in Chronic Disease Management
Samantha Sanders
Posted on November 13, 2018 at 7:59 pm
Twine Health is a digital health company with a chronic disease management application. Its platform draws heavily on machine learning to improve patient outcomes and save costs.
Open Innovation Driving Growth at Alibaba
EP
Last modified on November 15, 2018 at 12:08 am
As Alibaba Group grows domestically and internationally, the company needs to combine internal and external intelligence to enhance both industry knowledge and technological capabilities. How is the company leveraging open innovation? Would you be willing to become a part of [...]
For Boeing, not even the sky is the limit for 3D printing.
Raleigh Werner
Last modified on November 13, 2018 at 1:27 pm
As Boeing invests more heavily in additive manufacturing for its satellite business, will customers accept uncertainty around the long-term reliability of 3D-printed components?
May the Salesforce be With You: A Rising Power in Machine Learning implementation
Yoda
Posted on November 13, 2018 at 7:37 pm
CRM & Salesforce Background Over the past decade, customer relationship management (CRM) software has exploded as managers and sales teams have recognized the benefits of a dedicated CRM platform (vs. a tool such as excel) that assists sales teams in [...]
Can Artificial Intelligence Replace Community Managers?
Melissa Serfaty
Posted on November 13, 2018 at 4:45 pm
Artificial Intelligence is revolutionizing the digital marketing field through targeted advertising, chatbots and content creation. Could it fully replace marketers in the future?
Beating the Beast
CanadianX
Last modified on November 13, 2018 at 6:57 pm
How Machine Learning can help Loblaw beat Amazon in Canadian Grocery
Apple – Transforming the future of Healthcare
M.G
Last modified on November 13, 2018 at 6:56 pm
Having changed entire industries ranging from Music to Telecommunications, will Apple transform the healthcare industry as well?
Spotify: Music Discovery in a World of Discover Weekly
TOM Petty
Last modified on November 13, 2018 at 1:02 pm
Machine learning has underpinned Spotify's foray into personalized recommendations, distinguishing from earlier players in the arena. How good are its formulae and what are the broader implications of programming taste?
Machine Learning and AI at Delta Air Lines
Sam D.
Posted on November 13, 2018 at 12:30 pm
Understanding how AI and machine learning are affecting Delta and the world's airlines.
Prellis Biologics: Manufacturing Life
Emma Betzig
Posted on November 12, 2018 at 8:30 pm
Prellis Biologics' holographic 3D printing of biomaterial and ethical considerations surrounding manufactured organs.
ADIDAS – Additive Manufacturing for the Masses
SR2020
Last modified on November 13, 2018 at 5:59 pm
Adidas has entered the world of additive manufacturing through the introduction of its Futurecraft 4D shoe. With mass customization using 3D printing as the ultimate goal, questions remain whether Adidas will be the first athletic retail company to affordably scale [...]
Machine Learning and Music: What About the Record Labels?
AW
Posted on November 12, 2018 at 11:50 pm
As digital streaming has become the preferred method of consuming music, machine learning has taken its place at the heart of the music world. Where does that leave Sony Music?
Can Ford survive the disruption in mobility after enjoying Henry Ford’s business model for 100+ years?
Learning Machine
Posted on November 13, 2018 at 5:57 pm
For the first time ever, the future is very uncertain for the automotive industry. The ones who can collect and leverage data to transform their business models will be more likely to survive and dominate the market.
Increasing financial security with machine learning
DSR Section I
Last modified on November 15, 2018 at 7:50 am
Introduction: using machine learning in household finance Household finance is one area where machine learning has the potential to positively impact consumers’ lives at scale. Mint.com has developed algorithms to classify each of its 10 million users’ expenses and predict [...]
Walmart Plays Catch-Up with Amazon Using Machine Learning
Jane Harvard
Last modified on November 14, 2018 at 7:25 pm
Walmart uses machine learning to remain competitive in the retail industry, through personalization and process improvement at check-out.
Can Big Data Save The American Machinist?
WJL
Last modified on November 13, 2018 at 7:50 am
Paperless Parts harnesses big data to give local machine shops a big boost through rapid quotes and access to an Amazon-like marketplace.
Will additive manufacturing make space more accessible than ever before?
Johnny Rockets
Last modified on November 14, 2018 at 8:00 pm
Imagine a world where any company can cost-effectively launch a satellite into orbit. With Rocket Labs latest innovation in 3D printed rocket engines, this reality is closer than you think. But can Rocket Labs remain competitive in an increasingly crowded [...]
The CAD Fad: Shanghai-Based Winsun Wants to Print Your Next House
Daniel Knight
Posted on November 12, 2018 at 9:52 pm
Winsun, a Chinese engineering company, uses 3D printing to create customized concrete homes quickly, cheaply, and with minimal human involvement
(AI) Content is King?
CuriousRC
Last modified on November 13, 2018 at 1:28 pm
Still largely unknown to the average user outside China, Jinri Toutiao (Chinese for “today’s headlines”) is as unicorn as unicorns can get. Launched just 6 years ago by Zhang Yiming, a Chinese software engineer and serial entrepreneur, Toutiao is most [...]
Translation for tomorrow: Understanding the impact of Neural Machine Translation on Language Service Providers
Language_Services
Posted on November 13, 2018 at 4:38 pm
This paper explores the impact of machine learning on the Language service providers, which provide translation and localization services for businesses.
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