RC TOM Challenge 2017

November 15, 2017

Read The Full Prompt

The TOM Challenge provides an opportunity for students to learn more about supply chain management by exploring how organizations are grappling with some megatrends: climate change, digitalization, and the growing influence of isolationist political movements on international trade policies.  These 700-800 word essays should address four questions:

  1. Why is (or should) your particular aspect of one of these megatrends be of concern to the management of the organization you have selected?
  2. What is the organization’s management doing to address this concern in the short term (the next two years) and the medium term (3–10 years out)?
  3. What other steps do you recommend the organization’s management take to address this concern in the short and medium terms?
  4. What are one or two important open questions related to this concern in the context of the organization you selected that you are unsure about, which merit comments from your classmates?

When posting your essay to Open Knowledge, be sure to enter “Climate change”, “Digitalization”, or “Isolationism” in the Topics field.

More details on research, sourcing, deadlines, and other matters are provided in the RC TOM Challenge: 2017 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://goo.gl/yyXK2H.

Submitted (924)

Healthcare – Where Supply Chain Digitalization is Life or Death
Healthcare Enthusiast
Posted on November 15, 2017 at 9:04 pm
How supply chain digitalization in healthcare can change the competitive landscape
How digitalization is supporting Adidas expand the reach of Fast Fashion
Joana Sa
Posted on November 15, 2017 at 8:13 pm
Adidas strategy to grow is "to be the first fast sports company in the sporting goods industry". The company is digitalizing its entire supply chain - from design to distribution - to achieve this goal. Can Adidas be successful in [...]
Uncertainty at Infosys
Nihal Sarawgi
Posted on November 13, 2017 at 4:25 pm
Can Indian Technology Services companies weather the storm in this digital age? What can they do to revive growth?
The Doctor will Skype you now — The Digitalization of Medicine
AC
Posted on November 15, 2017 at 10:35 pm
Partners Healthcare, one of the pre-eminent US hospital systems, has started to use TeleHealth to ease access issues, improve efficiency and extend reach in the healthcare field. But what are the longer-term risks of this trend?
Toothpaste courtesy of robots?! Colgate-Palmolive’s digital supply chain
CPG Manufacturing Fan
Posted on November 15, 2017 at 10:01 pm
CPG companies strive to make supply chains more tech enabled to increase efficiency, improve profits, and better cater to the customer. Colgate-Palmolive is doing it well.
The future of meat at Tyson
Sir Cranberry
Posted on November 14, 2017 at 5:58 pm
Analysis of Tyson Foods' efforts to mitigate the environmental impact of its meat supply chain
How can VR & AR technologies affect IKEA’s supply chain?
Anton Zhang
Posted on November 14, 2017 at 11:14 pm
IKEA launched its VR app in 2016 and AR app in 2017. Why does the home goods and furniture company develop VR and AR apps? How can these technologies affect IKEA's supply chain in the future?
That’s Off the Chain – AWS Today vs. Decentralized Cloud Storage
JS
Last modified on November 15, 2017 at 6:37 pm
Can AWS optimize its supply chains and gain reliability by leveraging decentralized file storage technology?
Delphi’s supply pain: moral and business responsibility in the age of isolationism
AMM_127
Posted on November 14, 2017 at 10:21 pm
Delphi, along with other auto industry players and the communities in which they operate, is being threatened by isolationist movements throughout the world (e.g., Brexit, NAFTA renegotiation/termination)
Youngstown City School District: Modernizing The Yellow School Bus
Sana
Posted on November 12, 2017 at 7:25 pm
Leveraging digitization to create safer transportation for students
Climate Crisis or Global Health Crisis? Devastation in Puerto Rico reveals vulnerability of the pharmaceutical supply chain
Ashley V
Posted on November 13, 2017 at 8:03 pm
With its destructive power, Hurricane Maria revealed the fragility of the global pharmaceutical supply chain when it struck Puerto Rico, a major drug manufacturing hub, earlier this year. How can US regulatory bodies mitigate the impact climate change, and the [...]
Sephora: Combining Beauty and Sustainability
aportland
Posted on November 15, 2017 at 10:59 pm
Beauty giant Sephora is responding to climate change by taking a hard look at where emissions and waste can be eliminated from their supply chain.
Fight or Flight? Boeing and the Intensifying Risk of a Global Trade War
Rhonda
Posted on November 15, 2017 at 5:41 pm
The United States is at extreme risk from a global trade war due to its heavy Boeing exposure. Boeing planes are front-and-center targets in a contentious debate over protectionism.
Patheon’s Path to Growth: Economic Nationalism and Pharmaceutical Manufacturing
Gabrielle
Posted on November 15, 2017 at 10:27 pm
Increasing pressure for domestic pharmaceutical production could require a shift away from overseas manufacturing. This creates an opportunity for contract manufacturing organizations like Patheon to provide domestic production services.
Does Size Matter? Challenges in Supply Chain that Small Companies Face
Ashley M.
Last modified on November 28, 2017 at 8:27 pm
Digitization of supply chain allows companies to be more efficient and customer-focused, however, optimization in supply chains come at cost so how do companies position themselves to win [1]?
Gig economy at Uber: digitalization and data won’t be enough to make it sustainable
Alexandre
Posted on November 15, 2017 at 8:13 pm
Gig economy at Uber: digitalization and data won’t be enough to make it sustainable
Brexit vs. Tesco: Will Britain’s Largest Grocer Stand the Ultimate Test?
Charlie Weinberg
Last modified on November 15, 2017 at 7:17 pm
Brexit has shaken up the entire UK retail industry – how will incumbent management teams cope with the vastly different competitive dynamics?
Why Chinese biaxial geogrid manufacturers should invest in U.S. infrastructure and supply-chain.
HR
Posted on November 15, 2017 at 5:48 pm
How should they react? Chinese manufacturers finally paying for years of historical government subsidies.
The Bottomless Cup: Nespresso’s Bid to Save Coffee From Climate Change
TJ R.
Posted on November 14, 2017 at 4:09 pm
Nespresso is racing to save coffee from climate change.
Ship From Store Technology Could Be Walmart’s Edge in eCommerce Battle
Nick Stender
Posted on November 14, 2017 at 1:45 pm
Additional technology investments could allow Walmart to ship goods directly from stores, reducing the time and potential cost of last mile delivery
Skistar: the impact of climate change on ski resorts
KZ
Posted on November 15, 2017 at 5:30 pm
How is climate change impacting Skistar, a ski resort operator in Scandinavia, and what are they doing about it?
Alibaba: New Leader of Food Safety in China?
ZW
Last modified on November 15, 2017 at 8:51 pm
Alibaba, e-commerce giant based in China. Food safety, one of the biggest threat to Chinese consumers. What happens when the two comes together with digitalization?
Is Happy Hour Over? The Impact of Climate Change on E & J Gallo Winery
SB
Last modified on November 15, 2017 at 10:51 pm
Should vineyards be 'wine-ing' about climate change?
From Canned Tomato Soups To Personalized Nutrition and Transparency
Ivan Moura
Last modified on November 15, 2017 at 6:48 pm
“The entire food industry is being transformed by the fusion of food, well-being, and technology”, said Campbell’s CEO and president Denise Morrison. [1]
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