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)

Progressive Insurance: Are you a good driver? Let Machine Learning tell you
Zixin
Last modified on November 13, 2018 at 10:36 pm
The insurance sector is not traditionally ahead of the curve when it comes to new technologies. But for this particular time, Machine Learning is tailor-made for the insurance industry.
Flying High: GE’s Billion Dollar Bet on Additive Manufacturing
Tom Riddle
Posted on November 12, 2018 at 1:00 pm
GE is investing heavily in additive manufacturing and has achieved early success in the aerospace industry. Will these early successes help to revolutionize conventional manufacturing?
It’s Only A Matter Of Time: ML Sets Its Sights On Your Calendar
Ankith Harathi
Posted on November 13, 2018 at 3:27 pm
At Marlo, we're building an AI engine for time management. We're starting with an MVP to solve event discovery for HBS students - want early access? (https://www.getmarlo.com)
Navigating Through Supply Chain Turbulence With Additive Manufacturing at Boeing
Eric C
Posted on November 9, 2018 at 6:38 pm
Boeing has turned to additive manufacturing to avoid supply chain bottlenecks and save costs in an increasingly fast-paced industry.
Danko Arlington: The Future of Additive Manufacturing in the Aerospace Casting Industry
Sean
Posted on November 12, 2018 at 5:34 pm
3D printing to disrupt the aerospace casting supply chain
OpenIDEO’s approach to crowdsource the best ideas from the cloud—engaging the public to tackle the world’s most challenging problems.
Viria Vichit-Vadakan
Posted on November 13, 2018 at 6:43 pm
“Today’s challenges require the creativity of entire networks.  Open innovation allows people to collaborate at scale, and that’s changing how the world solves problems” (IDEO CEO Tim Brown).  IDEO makes its mark on the world as a global design and [...]
Sneakers on Demand
Maurice Martin
Posted on November 12, 2018 at 10:44 pm
3D printing promises to allow sneaker manufacturers to print customized shoes at a moments notice. Now the race is on to see who can develop the technology the quickest.
3D-Printing: A Nuclear weapon for startups willing to disrupt the vending machine business.
Arnold White
Last modified on November 13, 2018 at 7:58 pm
3D-Printing represents a great opportunity for vending machine startups to innovate through an easier iteration process, enabling the whole industry to reinvent the customer experience.
Netflix Uses Machine Learning to Cut Costs and Retain Customers
ELTOM
Posted on November 13, 2018 at 7:59 pm
Netflix is an on-demand video subscription service offering unlimited viewing for a monthly fee in virtually every market in the world except China. The company currently has over 137 million accounts across these markets in which it competes with other [...]
Using 3D Printing to Break the Iron Triangle
Mark T
Last modified on November 13, 2018 at 7:42 pm
The days of easy oil are over. No longer can a wildcatter don a hardhat, set up a derrick, and strike it rich in Oklahoma. Operators must now use 3D printing to unlock hard-to-reach resources.
Expanding Open Innovation at NASA
Soriano
Posted on November 13, 2018 at 7:02 pm
In the last decade, NASA started using Open Innovation approaches to solve some of the world's most complicated problems. Now, the company will need to think about how to solve potential implementation challenges as the company scales up these approaches.
The Dark Side of Machine Learning: An Amazon Case Study
nicivey
Posted on November 13, 2018 at 4:52 pm
From startups to Big Tech, everyone loves to tout their strategy for leveraging machine learning (ML). These companies promise ML is our 21st century savior; it will not only liberate us from the tedious drudgery of administrative tasks but will [...]
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 Benefits of Additive Manufacturing at BIA
Jane Doe
Posted on November 12, 2018 at 9:25 pm
This paper discusses the benefits of additive manufacturing for a German automobile manufacturing plant, which include reducing manufacturing lead times and increasing percentage of bids won from OEMs.
Big Data in Sports: How S.L. Benfica is Using Machine Learning to Build a European Football Powerhouse
ThierryHenry14
Posted on November 13, 2018 at 10:36 pm
This article explores the use of machine-learning to optimize talent development and team management in European football.
The Internet of Things: How will Samsung bring their A-game?
Keen
Last modified on November 13, 2018 at 6:16 pm
Samsung is one of the main competitors within the Internet of Things Space. Traditionally, Samsung has developed consumer electronics but as we move into a world of "smart" everyday objects, Samsung must be able to not only produce great hardware [...]
Bioprinting: How the Manufacturing of Human Organs Will Disrupt Healthcare
RJ
Last modified on November 13, 2018 at 8:06 pm
This short article describes how Organovo is using a novel technology called bioprinting to produce liver and kidney tissues that could help reshape the way drugs are tested and organs are transplanted in our days. It also discusses the challenges [...]
The Road to Autonomous Driving at Fiat Chrysler Automobiles
Brian Rockwell
Last modified on November 12, 2018 at 8:42 pm
As the world's automakers commit billions to autonomous driving, FCA chooses to rely on the experts
Can Machine Learning Save Innovation in Pharmaceuticals?
Camille
Last modified on November 13, 2018 at 4:42 pm
Have the economics of investing in new drug discovery and development become so unattractive that investment in new drugs will come to a halt? GlaxoSmithKline and other bio-pharmaceutical companies are turning to machine learning as a potential solution to make [...]
This hospital network in India has deployed IBM’s Watson to help diagnose cancer. Will it work?
Spangler
Last modified on November 13, 2018 at 7:24 pm
Will developing countries with lack of data and problems of affordability be able to benefit from AI in healthcare? And how?
3D-printed razor handles – the best a man can get?
ldepoorter
Posted on November 13, 2018 at 3:11 am
With Razor maker, Gillette is one of the first brands of big FMCG companies that bets on mass customization through 3D printing. It’s a bold but much-needed move to revert the trend of losing market share and declining brand loyalty.
Grand Challenges at Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation
lxc
Posted on November 13, 2018 at 5:58 pm
An example of Open Innovation applied to Non-Profit Organization and Beyond
Netflix & Machine Learning: To what extent should Machine Learning influence a strategic decision-making process?
John Doe
Last modified on November 12, 2018 at 8:26 pm
Netflix has been relying on its state-of-the-art movies recommendation engine to propel it to various new heights. Should it keep utmost faith on the engine that took the company to where it is today or is this the time to [...]
Personalization in the Online classifieds industry – OLX path to a customized experience
Nick Tap
Posted on November 13, 2018 at 7:43 pm
The online classifieds industry started almost 30 years ago, when companies began to move the newspaper classifieds into a web-based platform. As time went by, more features were added to lower the efforts in achieving a transaction. OLX was founded [...]
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