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)

Blue Apron: Lifelong Learning For All
Jamie
Last modified on December 5, 2015 at 11:44 pm
In the culinary world, the Blue Apron is a symbol of lifelong learning in the kitchen. Will Blue Apron be able to draw inspiration from its namesake and continue to innovate for its customers?
The NCAA: It was fun while it lasted!
Brian
Last modified on December 7, 2015 at 9:38 pm
While the NCAA has experienced enormous success recently, its unsustainable operating model could put an end to college sports as we know it.
Kraft Heinz: Why ketchup makes macaroni & cheese better
David W
Last modified on December 7, 2015 at 1:57 pm
An inside look at the mega-merger that is transforming the CPG industry
Transforming from CSN Stores to Wayfair
Student
Last modified on December 9, 2015 at 9:48 pm
Wayfair: set up for success?
Chipotle: Can I have some guac to go with that efficient service model?
Russell Westbrook
Last modified on December 5, 2015 at 3:23 pm
Fast, high-quality food at an affordable price. Boomer Sooner.
Instacart – The future of grocery delivery is here! But is it sustainable?
Lior
Last modified on December 9, 2015 at 4:24 pm
The future of grocery delivery is here! But is it sustainable? Founded in 2012, the on-demand grocery delivery startup Instacart, was chosen as the number one company in Forbes’s 2014 America’s Most Promising Companies list. As the company is valued [...]
Wherever You Shop, Nordstrom Delivers on Customer Service
Midori
Last modified on December 6, 2015 at 5:38 pm
Nordstrom translates its legendary customer service online to delight the customer through every channel.
Chick-Fil-A: The Top-Performing Fast-Food Chain
Tyler
Last modified on December 9, 2015 at 7:13 pm
Chick-Fil-A has been the envy of the Fast Food Industry, achieving the highest average sales per store of any fast-food chain. What is the secret recipe?
UNIQLO: What’s behind the low-cost high-quality casual wears?
Taiki Narita
Last modified on November 28, 2015 at 5:11 pm
UNIQLO is a global casual wear SPA. How does UNIQLO create innovative high quality products, HEATTECH, AIRism, etc., despite low price?
The recipe to Chipotle’s success
Jackie
Posted on December 9, 2015 at 6:00 pm
A look into how Chipotle has invented a unique operating model to deliver fast, affordable, high-quality Mexican food.
“Daifune” – The evolution of a traditional Japanese fishing business to modern times
kwatanabe
Last modified on December 5, 2015 at 5:25 pm
Context Oiso is a town located in Kanagawa Prefecture in Japan, 70km (44mi) outside of Tokyo. It has a population of just over 32,000 people and is known for the first recreational beach in Japan which opened in 1885. While [...]
Algramo: The Value-add Vending Machine
Rdikeou
Last modified on December 9, 2015 at 4:55 pm
How a Chilean startup is eliminating the “40 % poverty tax” on food
TripAdvisor: Rapid product development and content generation
Akihiko Ito
Last modified on December 6, 2015 at 12:42 pm
TripAdvisor grows to be the largest travel site in the world. Why? This post explains the secret of its strategy and operation model.
Welltok – a Healthcare Platform for Innovation
Kevin
Last modified on December 9, 2015 at 7:01 pm
Building a one-stop shop for digital health
Wesco Aircraft: Providing Superior Supply Chain Management for Aerospace
G Liebs
Posted on December 9, 2015 at 7:53 pm
Wesco Aircraft is a highly efficient and cost-effective distributor of C-Class aerospace parts and chemicals due to superb supply chain management and inventory control.
Victoria’s Secret to Success
Afaf
Posted on December 9, 2015 at 11:30 pm
Push-up Bras and Focused Operations
FinTech in Latin America: The New Age of Lending with Kueski
sdarling
Last modified on December 6, 2015 at 6:14 pm
Fintech has arrived in Latin America! Kueski is well on its way to revitalizing how consumer loans are made in Meixco and the rest of Latin America. Best-in-class technology and smart credit practices help Kueski offer fast, quality loans online.
Tailoritaly – customized made-in-Italy is now for everyone
AP
Last modified on December 9, 2015 at 3:28 pm
Tailoritaly, a recently founded online fashion platform, relies on an existing network of manufacturers and on a JIT production process to offer high-quality, customized made-in-Italy products
Bonobos: Changing Menswear, One “Khaki Diaper Butt” at a Time
Anonymous
Last modified on December 9, 2015 at 10:07 pm
In 2006, roommates Andy Dunn and Brian Spaly (now CEO and co-founder of Trunk Club) set out to solve the problem of ill-fitting men’s pants, aka the “Khahi Diaper Butt”. The pair started selling brightly-colored, tailor-made pants from the back [...]
Elsevier: empowering knowledge or “enemy of science”
Yifeng
Last modified on December 10, 2015 at 12:08 am
How the world’s scientific community turned against the world’s largest academic publisher.
Dah Makan – Gourmet Meal Delivery in Kuala Lumpur
beijunluo
Last modified on December 8, 2015 at 5:06 pm
Will Dah Makan succeed as the Seamless of Malaysia?
Curriculum Associates: Accelerating student learning
gorem
Posted on December 9, 2015 at 8:22 pm
How a mature print publisher reinvented itself and became an industry leader
NetJets – Pioneer in Private Business Travel
Jared Reyes
Last modified on December 7, 2015 at 5:47 pm
#yolo #timeismoney #1738 #aerospace #businessjet #netjets #marquisjet #privateairtravel
Chipotle Nation
MZheng
Last modified on December 13, 2015 at 11:10 am
The genius of Steve Ells and Chipotle is contained within a simple mission of "Food with Integrity" and experienced every day by 750,000 hungry diners. The restaurant's meteoric rise begs the question- what really lies underneath that golden foil?
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