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)

Pixar Animation Studios: Creative Kaizen
HBSstudent11
Last modified on December 9, 2015 at 9:06 pm
How Pixar's innovative production process ensures creative quality for audiences
Bear Stearns: Gone in 60 Seconds
Alex Chun
Last modified on December 9, 2015 at 5:13 pm
A look into the sudden collapse of the $400 billion Wall Street giant.
Mobileye: A Focused Drive
changeme_20
Posted on December 8, 2015 at 10:13 pm
How Mobileye's laser-focus will enable it to win the race to drive your car
New Belgium Brewing: Employee and community fueled growth
Kristin Rhodes
Last modified on December 9, 2015 at 10:35 pm
Overview Since its founding in 1991, the New Belgium Brewing Company has grown steadily to become the fourth largest craft brewery in the United States, producing almost a million barrels of beer per year with a carefully-selected distribution network that [...]
Walmart: Success on an Unimaginable Scale
TommyD
Last modified on December 6, 2015 at 6:57 pm
Walmarts emphasis on sales volume and cost minimization has grown it into a bohemith, Fortune 1 company
Finding the Next Uber
Steven Shin
Last modified on December 4, 2015 at 5:53 pm
Everyone wants to find the next Uber and be the company that can generate annual revenues of ~$2B in just six years. Here’s how Uber has become the envy of other companies.
Domino’s Pizza: Bites through Bytes
sptl
Last modified on December 9, 2015 at 9:06 pm
Domino's delivers millions of pizza bites each day by relying heavily on millions of terabytes of data.
Venmo: harnessing social network for online payments
Tina Tan
Last modified on December 10, 2015 at 12:01 am
Venmo leverages the social network effect and aligns their business and operational model to create a new "social" payment
In-Q-Tel: How to Keep Your Spies In the Know
DG
Last modified on December 9, 2015 at 11:23 pm
Even the CIA needs help with technology. In-Q-Tel is just the solution the spymasters of the world were looking for.
ThyssenKrupp – How to Win, lose, then Win Again
Gavin
Posted on December 8, 2015 at 7:07 pm
ThyssenKrupp had a long history of success until it didn't. Turning around Germany's biggest steelmaker took drastic restructuring, but looks like it looks like it's paying off.
Ryanair: „Lower price beats higher price every time”
MS
Last modified on December 6, 2015 at 6:00 pm
Ryanair case - Low-cost philosophy revolutionized airline business in Europe
Herbalife – The Upside Down Funnel
Dan Deal
Last modified on December 3, 2015 at 5:42 pm
Overview Herbalife is a global nutrition company that sells weight management, targeted nutrition, energy, sports & fitness, and other nutrition products.  Unlike a traditional consumer product company, Herbalife distributes its products through a global network of four million “members”. (1) [...]
Shake Shack – The Fine Casual Dining Experience
Azeem
Last modified on December 14, 2015 at 5:47 pm
Will Shake Shack's model of 'Stand for something good' survive the economics of the post-IPO world...........
VALEANT: Valiant Vendor or Voracious Villain?
Jason
Last modified on December 9, 2015 at 9:57 pm
An analysis of a controversial pharmaceutical company’s business and operating model
AutoZone: Bringing Customer Focus to the Wild West of Auto-Parts Retailers
Eric Taylor
Last modified on December 9, 2015 at 11:37 pm
AutoZone: Bringing Customer Focus to the Wild West of Auto-Parts Retailers
ADP – Redefining workforce industry
Nishika
Last modified on December 9, 2015 at 12:12 am
The payroll giant has now moved onto broader workforce trends, transforming the HR outsourcing industry forever
PETRONAS: Managing Volatility Through Forward Integration
Ash
Last modified on December 9, 2015 at 10:26 pm
Leveraging forward integration in hydrocarbon value chain to weather global downturn
Chipotle Mexican Grill – The creation of “Fast-Casual”
Jay
Posted on December 9, 2015 at 11:25 pm
Chipotle - Ownership allows control and drives efficiency, allowing for consistent delivery of a complex value proposition. Quintessentially TOM- assembly line service and holistic management of 1,800 wholly owned fast casual outlets.
Maple: A Restaurant without a Restaurant
Devon Rinker
Posted on December 9, 2015 at 8:30 pm
Maple is a new concept in Manhattan backed by David Chang (of Momofuku fame). Don’t try to call to get a reservation though, because it’s delivery only.
MasterCard: The Cashless Champion in the Global Payments Industry
Sijh
Last modified on December 8, 2015 at 10:22 pm
“A bag of chips: $3. Frozen yogurt: $2. A grilled Salmon sandwich from Spangler for dinner: $8.75.  An HBS section retreat to Vermont: $200. Performing to Beyonce’s “Single Ladies” during your section retreat: Priceless.  There are some things money can’t [...]
Cleveland Clinic: The Medicine We All Need
Nate Maslak
Posted on December 8, 2015 at 2:06 pm
The Cleveland Clinic is doing the impossible in US healthcare, consistently providing world-class quality medical care while lowering costs. Their model will soon affect how you get your care wherever you are.
TOMS: Evolving as a winner
ELG
Posted on December 6, 2015 at 2:14 pm
TOMS - evolving its business model while remaining a winner
A Family of Companies – Johnson & Johnson
Keyur
Last modified on December 8, 2015 at 9:47 pm
Johnson & Johnson's flexible operating model helps them maintain a strong presence in healthcare.
The Ultimate House of Luxury
AS
Last modified on December 9, 2015 at 9:26 pm
The Ultimate House of Luxury, defining style and creating desire, now and forever.
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