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RC TOM Challenge 2018

November 13, 2018

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The TOM Challenge provides an opportunity for you to continue exploring organizational learning and innovation through the lens of process improvement and/or product development, the focus of RC TOM’s second module. In this challenge, you will investigate how an organization is grappling with machine learning, additive manufacturing, or open innovation. These megatrends are likely to significantly affect how organizations manage process improvement and product development in the coming years of your career. The TOM Challenge requires you to (1) conduct research and write an essay that examines how one organization is facing a particular aspect of one of these megatrends, and (2) write six comments that share your reflections on some of your section mates’ essays.

Your essay should address four questions in the context of the organization you choose:

  1. Why do you think the megatrend you selected is important to your organization’s management of process improvement and/or product development?
  2. What is the organization’s management doing to address this issue in the short term (the next two years) and the medium term (two to ten years out)?
  3. What other steps do you recommend the organization’s management take to address this issue in the short and medium terms?
  4. In the context of this organization, what are one or two important open questions related to this issue that you are unsure about that merit comments from your classmates?

Your essay should convey facts, analysis, and your recommendations. It should focus on a single organization (e.g., a single company, non-profit organization, or government agency) and a concern related to one megatrend. It is fine if the concern you choose relates to other megatrends that the organization is facing, but that’s not required. Roughly a third of your essay should be dedicated to each of the first three questions, with just a few sentences dedicated to the fourth question. Your essay should be at least 700 words but no more than 800 words, and must conclude with a word count in parentheses (such as 778 words).

When posting your essay to Open Knowledge, be sure to enter “Machine Learning”, “Additive Manufacturing”, or “Isolationism” in the Topics field.

More details on research, sourcing, deadlines, and other matters are provided in the RC TOM Challenge: 2018 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://aiinstitute.hbs.edu/platform-rctom/how-to/.

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Submitted (926)

Xcel Energy – Utilizing Machine Learning to Efficiently and Reliably Incorporate Renewable Energy into the U.S. Energy Grid
TOMB2020
Last modified on November 13, 2018 at 5:16 pm
Given the importance of addressing climate change and adding renewable generation to the energy grid, Xcel Energy is using machine learning to overcome the challenges of the intermittent nature of wind power.
Machine Learning Reduces Dropouts at the University of Arizona
J.W.P.
Posted on November 13, 2018 at 2:11 pm
The University of Arizona has leveraged machine learning to push student retention to all time highs, but some critics have concerns about data privacy.
Make Tonight Unforgettable with HotelTonight
HTL
Last modified on November 13, 2018 at 8:13 pm
In need of a last-minute hotel room for upcoming travel? How HotelTonight is using machine learning to disrupt the online travel booking industry.
Boeing: Making Metal 3D Printing take-off
Yazan De L'Avion
Last modified on November 13, 2018 at 8:02 pm
Boeing is in the “rocket science” business, hence as the common idiom goes, it is no secret its manufacturing process is quite complex... With millions of parts that go into the making of each plane and space launch systems - [...]
Microsoft’s FarmBeats Uses Machine Learning to Increase Crop Yields
Brett Cantrell
Posted on November 13, 2018 at 5:25 pm
Through weather predictability, soil sensor data, drone imaging, and white space connectivity, Microsoft's FarmBeats seeks to use machine learning to increase crop yields and meet food demand that is projected to double by 2050.
Spotify: Can machine learning drive content generation?
Amelia Elverson
Posted on November 13, 2018 at 10:47 am
Spotify is using machine learning and artificial intelligence to explore both content curation and creation.
Alexa, Let’s Go Shopping – Voice Shopping on Amazon.com
CL
Posted on November 12, 2018 at 9:55 pm
The Amazon Echo is everywhere, but are people using it to shop?
Is Boeing Switching to Autopilot? – Machine Learning in the Aerospace Industry
Pilot fish
Last modified on November 13, 2018 at 7:09 pm
Machine learning is perceived to be the holy grail of business rejuvenation and its adoption a direct route to capturing future markets. Will the aerospace industry and Boeing prove that these expectations may not always be straight out of "la [...]
You’re in Good [AI] Hands: Machine Learning Implementation at Allstate
MrMayhem
Last modified on November 12, 2018 at 6:12 pm
Insurance companies are increasingly relying on machine learning to create cost efficiencies. Allstate is seeing success in its machine learning implementation to date, but what are the implications for its employee base and long term competitive advantage?
Alibaba: Application of Machine Learning in Logistics
Water-harvested Cranberry
Posted on November 12, 2018 at 6:14 pm
Yesterday, Alibaba reached $31B of sales in 24 hours in the Singles' Day Shopping Festival. Alibaba is able to deliver 100 million packages in 2.8 days. This miracle is enabled by its huge investments in the logistics sector and by [...]
Rio Tinto – Mining Data like Diamond
S.H.Sinclairs
Posted on November 12, 2018 at 8:16 pm
When surviving competitively afloat the mining industry’s ocean of high and low tides seemed impossible, Rio Tinto leveraged Big Data and Machine Learning to revolutionize the mining industry over the past decade, through its state-of-the-art autonomous operations.
Solidifying the impact of open data innovation in the government – NYC311
AA
Posted on November 13, 2018 at 7:28 pm
NYC311 has made great strides in evidencing the power of data analysis and innovation within the government, through opening up its data. Now it needs to build capacity in-house and answer tough questions to solidify the long-term impacts of open [...]
Detroit and the Future of the Automobile: Will Additive Manufacturing Help GM Beat Silicon Valley at its Own Game?
RL
Last modified on November 13, 2018 at 4:53 pm
Software and tech have eaten the automotive industry. Is 3D printing the key to Detroit's survival? GM plans to find out.
3-D Printing: Disney’s Latest “Wow Factor”
Loti de Esteban
Posted on November 13, 2018 at 2:43 pm
Disney's research and invention efforts indicate that the toy industry's 3-D printing revolutionary shift is on its way
Ambulnz, Inc.
cpassarella@mba2020.hbs.edu
Posted on November 13, 2018 at 7:22 pm
Can the use of disruptive technology and innovation in medical transportation really change lives? Let's find out.
The Future of Affordable Living – ICON Is Rethinking The Way That We Build Housing Around the World
Bruce Wayne
Posted on November 13, 2018 at 2:12 am
ICON is radically rethinking how we will solve the worlds lack of affordable housing – the company seeks to use 3-D printing to “print” quality houses on the spot faster and more efficiently than ever thought possible.
Machine Learning in Cybersecurity: CyberArk
Eric Levine
Posted on November 13, 2018 at 7:40 pm
Exploring the role of machine learning in improving cyber defenses in Privileged Account Management
Cedar: Making Paying Doctors Much Easier
Nick Van Exel
Posted on November 13, 2018 at 7:16 pm
Sick of receiving confusing hospital bills in the mail that take hours to interpret and process? Through the use of machine learning and modern payments technology, Cedar addresses this major pain point by saving the patient and hospital valuable time, [...]
Crowdsourcing improvements to America’s security: Bug bounties and open innovation in the U.S. Department of Defense
momo
Posted on November 13, 2018 at 7:18 pm
How the DoD is using open innovation to improve America's security
A Needle in an Underwater Haystack: Machine Learning and the U.S. Navy’s Hunt for Submarines
Michael Glynn
Posted on November 14, 2018 at 1:00 am
Submarines are becoming more numerous and quiet as an era of Great Power competition heats up. How is the U.S. Navy adopting machine learning to combat this new threat?
Predictive Maintenance at NRG
CBH
Posted on November 13, 2018 at 5:48 pm
How will predictive maintenance impact NRG's competitive positioning?
Additive Manufacturing in Medical Device: Can Johnson & Johnson stay ahead of the curve?
Ti Gillespie
Posted on November 12, 2018 at 7:48 pm
Additive Manufacturing offers substantial promise to medical device products and supply chains, but it also presents an existential threat to the incumbents in the industry.
The (Green) Robot Revolution
Akash Nandi
Posted on November 13, 2018 at 6:15 pm
John Deere Leaps Into Silicon Valley to Feed the World.
Juul Labs: Transforming Vaping through Open Innovation
IloveML
Posted on November 12, 2018 at 3:48 pm
In greater public scrutiny and regulation risk, Juul needs to use Open Innovation to create healthier and safer vapor products.
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