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)

The Domino Effect of Commodity Instability on Pork Production
JWA
Last modified on November 15, 2017 at 7:56 pm
Smithfield Foods produces almost 19 million hogs per year as part of their business model which sells over 8 billion pounds of processed meat. As climate change impacts the costs of many of their production inputs, are they positioned to [...]
The Little Smoothie Company that Could Faces the Big Bad Brexit
Ronald
Last modified on November 15, 2017 at 10:06 pm
How will the UK’s Innocent Drinks (the little smoothie company that could), deal with potential consequences of Brexit?
Cutting out Cotton: Can Nike do it?
James Shaw
Posted on November 13, 2017 at 10:26 pm
Nike must position itself to rely less on cotton as temperatures rise and droughts become more frequent.
Enli: Leveraging Population Health Data to Transform Health Care Delivery
Francie
Last modified on November 13, 2017 at 7:14 pm
Enli is using big data to transform health care delivery in the United States from a reactive to proactive process.
The Disruptor: the Costco of the Internet
kahanye
Last modified on November 15, 2017 at 10:43 pm
Increasingly, e-commerce companies compete on faster – and usually free – shipping for consumers. Despite the use of advanced technology, even Amazon, the dominant market player with large scale, lost billions of dollars on shipping. How can other e-commerce operators [...]
“Everyday low cost”: How Walmart is combating food waste digitally
Viroopa Volla
Last modified on November 15, 2017 at 10:11 pm
One-third of global food is wasted every year, equating to $1 trillion in annual food waste. Can Walmart, the world’s largest grocer, lead the charge in food waste reduction using the latest digitization techniques?
Airbus’ venture into digital – what appears to be bold may only be scratching the surface
Bettina
Posted on November 15, 2017 at 6:02 pm
Ever thought the aircraft industry is at its peak and has become somewhat boring? Airbus is trying to prove us wrong. It has started on a path towards digitization by appointing a native Google CTO and creating a Digital Accelerator. [...]
Amazon: A role model for supply chain innovation in the wake of digitalization
Lexie
Last modified on November 15, 2017 at 6:14 pm
Given that Amazon is an e-commerce company focused on fast, friction-less delivery, there are few better ways to examine digitalization and the supply chain than to look at Amazon. According to company executives, Amazon is singularly focused on consumers answering [...]
Wal-Mart’s Sourcing in the Age of ‘Unfair Trade Deals’
JB
Posted on November 15, 2017 at 8:22 pm
Wal-Mart plays nice on U.S. trade issues but without meaningful changes yet.
Trouble Brewing – Beer Imports from South of the Border
Toby Johnson
Last modified on November 5, 2017 at 6:18 pm
Can American alcoholic beverage giant Constellation Brands continue producing beers in Mexico amidst mounting momentum for protectionist trade policies in the new Trump era?
Holy Guacamole! Your Super-Bowl snack is about to get pricey.
AF
Posted on November 14, 2017 at 12:19 am
The U.S. demand for avocado cannot be met by domestically-grown product. With an extremely high dependance of imports from Mexico, who would be mostly affected by Trump walking away from NAFTA, Mexican producers and exporters or U.S. consumers?
When Rising Tides Don’t Raise All Ships
WKR
Posted on November 15, 2017 at 1:20 pm
The Difference of a Few Degrees on Shipbuilding in the US Navy
Kraft Heinz’s Planters: can Mr. Peanut take the heat?
MC
Last modified on November 15, 2017 at 3:17 pm
Planters’ Mr. Peanut has been around for over 100 years, but climate change may prove to be a formidable match for the iconic brand
Information overload: GE’s opportunity for enhanced partnership across the OFSE supply chain
Ann
Last modified on November 14, 2017 at 8:42 pm
As OFSE providers install new automation technologies, they are becoming inundated with more data than they can use – and GE is moving quickly to position itself as their digital partner in supply chain and operations management.
From Farm to Store: Walmart Improves Food Safety with Blockchain Technology
Food for Thought
Last modified on November 15, 2017 at 12:13 am
Walmart, the world’s largest retailer, has announced a blockchain collaboration with IBM to improve the way food is tracked, transported, and sold to consumers.
Is Child Labour the Only Way Forward for Tesla?
Alex
Last modified on November 15, 2017 at 7:27 pm
What options are left for Tesla in the ethical sourcing for its rechargeable batteries?
Digitalizing Drug Development
Michael Silvestri
Posted on November 14, 2017 at 1:03 am
Pfizer is using digitalization to increase visibility and efficiency across its supply chain.  But can the pharmaceutical giant capitalize on these benefits quickly enough?
“Making every pill exactly right”
aj
Posted on November 15, 2017 at 12:26 am
Pharmaceutical companies are transitioning to continuous flow manufacturing, using digital technologies to deliver consistent quality at lower costs
Brexit – Serious Implications for the UK’s National Health Service
Sud
Last modified on November 29, 2017 at 8:07 pm
Brexit presents serious implications on the UK's National Health Service (NHS) staffing and medical supply chains. The NHS needs a clear and decisive plan before it's too late.
Value-Based Healthcare: Game-Changer for Medical Suppliers?
SR
Last modified on November 14, 2017 at 7:44 pm
Digitalization and big-data transformations across all channels of delivering healthcare are revolutionizing the medical industry. But, are medical suppliers immune to this change?
Coca-Cola: Sustainability Visionary or Villain?
POMA
Last modified on November 15, 2017 at 10:55 pm
Coke's Water Stewardship Program has helped the company secure a sustainable and socially responsible water source. But is the program truly helping the people living in water-stressed areas or making the situation worse?
The Mahindra Group: Driving towards India’s Digital Automotive Age
arpit1911
Last modified on November 15, 2017 at 9:42 pm
Can Mahindra and Mahindra’s new Connected Factory successfully help it cross the chasm of the automotive revolution?
The Vikings Attack Climate Change: Statoil’s Quest to Reduce Emissions.
Raffaele
Posted on November 15, 2017 at 10:08 pm
Can oil and gas companies adapt their ways of working to the pressure resulting from climate change? Norway’s Statoil thinks the answer is yes!
Brexit: another challenge for Amazon?
Hortense
Posted on November 15, 2017 at 4:12 pm
The UK's decision to leave the EU will have a significant impact on the British retail sector. How should Amazon respond?
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