The TOM Challenge: TOM Winners and Losers Assignment

December 09, 2015

Read The Full Prompt

The basic thesis of the TOM course is that company performance is driven by the alignment between the company’s business model and operating model. As defined in the “Introduction to the RC TOM Course” note, a business model is defined as how the firm creates and captures value, and an operating model refers to the processes that transform a firm’s assets (e.g., capital, labor, intellectual property, equipment, etc.) into valuable actions.

Please identify one organization in the global economy that you think is highly effective (or one that is highly ineffective) at driving alignment between its operating and business models

  1. Did you choose the company as an example of effectiveness or ineffectiveness? Why?
  2. Describe the company’s business and operating models. What is interesting about them?
  3. Do the models align and support each other?  How?  What specific features of the operating model are designed to create and sustain competitive advantage?  What features of the business model leverage unique capabilities of its operating model?  What are the implications for performance?

Submitted (929)

Category Offense at Nike
Pedro
Last modified on December 6, 2015 at 8:33 pm
Nike's 2008 shift to focus on sports and athletes rather than product categories has led to massive sales growth for a corporation of their size.
SpaceX – Lowering the Cost of Access to Space
Jorge
Last modified on December 7, 2015 at 5:19 pm
SpaceX is offering the lowest cost to orbit by turning traditional operations of the space industry upside down
Bombardier’s Rough Landing: Falling from the Blue Blue Sky
George_K
Posted on December 9, 2015 at 8:10 pm
Bombardier's aim for the stars foiled by its inability to set up equally ambitious operating standards
Ryanair: Low prices without “unnecessarily pissing people off”
Andy
Last modified on December 5, 2015 at 11:34 pm
Ryanair is Europe’s largest low-fare airline and its focus on having the lowest possible cost also made it one of the most profitable airlines in the world. However, those profits came at the expense of, in Ryanair’s CEO own words, [...]
Rocket Internet: Starting Businesses in the Fast Lane
BDAVIS
Posted on December 8, 2015 at 9:40 pm
Rocket Internet takes proven business models and launches them in new markets with a proven process for success
Off-Grid Electric’s Mobile Power
Ankit
Last modified on December 9, 2015 at 6:39 pm
A startup in Tanzania seeks to provide affordable electricity to households, by replicating the success of prepaid cellphones.
Costco: An Ingenious Alternative Retail Model
Abenson
Last modified on December 8, 2015 at 5:44 pm
By shifting away from the classic mark-up retail model, Costco provides unmatched consumer value.
Hello Alfred: Or Should I Say, “Goodbye Alfred”
Matt Fischer
Last modified on December 9, 2015 at 11:30 pm
Hello Alfred: Butler's for everyone? Not just yet.
Farfetch: Global Fashion Online & In-Store
Evelyn
Last modified on December 6, 2015 at 2:30 pm
A marketplace that integrates the online and in-store shopping experience and whose operating model could teach its peers in traditional ecommerce a thing or two.
Kennedy Brothers: About Partnership
E
Last modified on December 9, 2015 at 3:15 pm
A sports medicine rehabilitation center that simultaneously delivers state of the art care and gives back to the community
State Bank of Chile (Banco Estado): Guaranteeing access to banking services at a minimal cost
Rene
Posted on December 8, 2015 at 11:01 pm
A profitable bank that aspires to serve every citizen with competitive prices through a smart operation
Making Dreams Come True…With Operations Management
Ali
Posted on December 9, 2015 at 9:31 pm
How Disney's innovative operations management translates into magical experiences for customers, and large profits for the company
Bonobos: Making Fit Happen
Jean-Claude Biver
Posted on December 8, 2015 at 6:36 pm
Between 2010 and 2015, men’s clothing was the fastest growing e-commerce category, outpacing electronics, groceries, cosmetics, and health products [1]. Founded in 2007 to eliminate “khaki diaper butt”, Bonobos [2] has been at the forefront of the shift to the [...]
Pioneer Natural Resources: Investing in operational efficiency during the down market to survive and then thrive
NTH
Last modified on December 8, 2015 at 11:17 pm
A winning strategy consisting of innovation, spud-to-POP optimization, and vertical integration.
Texas Roadhouse: The Recipe for A Successful Affordable Steakhouse
RGO
Posted on December 8, 2015 at 6:49 pm
Texas Roadhouse’s employee incentive program, menu-pricing strategy, and commodity hedging allow the restaurant to draw more traffic and capture more profits than its casual dining competitors.
HubSpot is Effectively Evangelizing Inbound Marketing
John Winters
Last modified on November 29, 2015 at 11:06 pm
HubSpot's business model and operating model are an example of a unified and effective vision.
Ally Bank: Taking Retail Banking Online
James Cassel
Posted on December 9, 2015 at 9:31 pm
Ally Bank - delivering value through high interest rates and superior customer experience, without brick-and-mortar branches.
IKEA: cutting costs, creating value
Perry
Posted on December 5, 2015 at 11:04 am
The home-furnisher who gets their customer do the heavy lifting
The Boston Beer Company: The largest microbrewery in the world.
Bravo
Posted on December 9, 2015 at 10:19 pm
The harmonious alignment of business and operating models in the world of craft beers.
BioRx – Transforming Specialty Pharmaceutical Distribution
RES
Posted on December 9, 2015 at 6:31 pm
An innovative specialty pharmacy service provider with 100% commitment to high-quality patient service that is helping to reduce costs and improve quality of life for patients.
Codility – how to disrupt recruitment of software engineers and have fun in the process!
Gosia Karas
Last modified on December 9, 2015 at 5:38 pm
A few thoughts on a small, Polish company that helps Silicon Valley giants hire top talent.
Iliad S.A.: the story behind France’s telecommunications maverick
Laurent
Last modified on December 8, 2015 at 3:05 pm
Iliad enabled the French to slash their internet and phone bills by two after entering both of these markets. Here’s how they did it.
Blue Apron: Fixing the Food Delivery Supply Chain
SRT
Posted on December 9, 2015 at 6:36 pm
Blue Apron leverages supply chain innovation to get fresh ingredients, great recipes delivered weekly to your home.
Uber: the best avenue to drive down
CBL
Last modified on December 7, 2015 at 4:00 pm
Before the age of technology, finding a ride on a rainy night or early in the morning to the airport was a chore. Now, Uber has made the process of riding in style one of ease and affordability.
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