Data and Analytics as Digital Assets

April 06, 2017

Read The Full Prompt

In this module we have examined how data and analytics can be utilized in organizations of all types. For this assignment, please choose a company that uses data in a creative way to drive value creation, capture or operating model and then describe:

  • What does the usage or analysis of data create value for the company? How is it different from its competitors?
  • What does the company capture value from data and analytics? How is it different from its competitors?
  • How did it get to where it is now? What challenges did the company have to overcome? What challenges and opportunities do you anticipate for the company in the future?
  • For companies that failed to grow data-driven business models, what are the root causes for such failures?

Please try to use data and analytics to illustrate your arguments when possible. Create an approximately 500-750 word post to make your contribution. Please create appropriate tags for your post. Please also respond to and comment on three other posts per module. Feel free to use graphics, data, videos and links to other sites to corroborate your points.

Submitted (97)

Google Maps – the most expansive data machine
Anish Nahar
Posted on April 5, 2017 at 9:29 am
Over the years Google Maps have collected Billion of bytes of data to map the entire world. Increasing penetration of GPS-enabled smartphone has fueled Google's appetite for data even further and it is putting all that data to good use.
One Robot to Rule Them All
Bansi
Posted on April 5, 2017 at 7:29 pm
Data scientists and software engineers have built tools to successfully replace many high skilled jobs. But are we about to automate the data scientists themselves?
Legendary Pictures: Using Data to Make and Market Movies
HBSstudent11
Posted on April 5, 2017 at 9:34 pm
Legendary Pictures uses data to better target audiences and to minimize the risk of new film projects.
Freebird: Using data to get you out of a jam and onto a plane
Posted on April 5, 2017 at 5:20 pm
Flight cancelled? You can still get to that wedding with Freebird.
Graze: Using data to provide the perfect snack box
Rahul
Last modified on April 5, 2017 at 9:49 pm
A snack provider that is using data to customize offerings based on your palate
Birchbox: the beauty of data
SonaliBloom
Posted on April 5, 2017 at 11:17 pm
Birchbox’s core value proposition hinged on leveraging data to delight consumers and beauty brands, but as the market for subscription boxes cools, can Birchbox hold onto its competitive edge?
Amino: Taking the Guesswork out of Healthcare
Felix J
Posted on April 4, 2017 at 8:29 pm
Amino uses big data and analytics to make cost-of-care more transparent, and physician recommendations more meaningful
Crisis Text Line: Saving Lives Through Data
Lauren
Posted on April 5, 2017 at 8:03 pm
Non-profits aren’t known for being particularly data-driven. Crisis Text Line, however, views itself as a tech company first, helping folks with mental health challenges; it just so happens to be a non-profit. It has now amassed the most comprehensive real-time [...]
WHOOP: A wearable to unlock human potential
Alexander Clamor
Last modified on April 6, 2017 at 3:58 am
ABOUT WHOOP (yes, you have to capitalize it every single time) is a Boston-based start-up that produces wearables to track, record, and analyze one’s heart rate, heart rate variability (HRV), skin conductivity (touch), ambient temperature, and accelerometry (motion). The device [...]
ZARA: Achieving the “Fast” in Fast Fashion through Analytics
Ravneet Uberoi
Last modified on April 5, 2017 at 6:12 pm
How does fast fashion make any business sense? Zara uses intensive data and analytics to manage a tight supply chain and give customers exactly what they want.
CircleUp – Disrupting VC/PE with Big Data Investing
pvuong
Posted on April 5, 2017 at 11:35 pm
Moneyball for private investing
How Splunk could make the vision of a seamless user experience in the IoT world come true??
sidharthmishra
Last modified on April 5, 2017 at 8:33 pm
Splunk today helps organizations to streamline their operations and to provide a better end user experience via machine data management. It could be the enabler of the Cognitive Devices-as-a-Service future by its intelligent capture, indexing and analytics of machine data.
Real-life ‘Minority Report’
Seunghyun
Posted on April 5, 2017 at 8:43 pm
PredPol, crime prediction service
Netflix: A Personalized Viewing Experience
Natalie
Posted on April 5, 2017 at 5:21 pm
Netflix is a best-in-class example of the use of data in the media industry.
Self-Driving Ships?
shsenior
Posted on April 5, 2017 at 2:45 pm
Rolls-Royce is using Big Data to make ships smarter and eventually drive themselves
The Houston Rockets: Leading the Data Charge in the NBA – Will it Make a Difference?
Tyler
Posted on April 5, 2017 at 6:32 pm
Data has undoubtedly changed the game of basketball already, but can it be the deciding factor in winning a championship?
Stitch Fix: Your Ideal Fashions are IN the Computer (yes, that’s a Zoolander joke)
Christy
Last modified on April 5, 2017 at 2:01 pm
Do you ever wonder whether you’ll actually use any of the lessons we’re learning at HBS? Katrina Lake’s usage of data and deployment of machine learning at Stitch Fix, proves that paying attention in class pays off.
Disney’s MyMagic+: Transforming the Theme Park Experience
sijwang
Last modified on April 5, 2017 at 10:05 pm
In 2014, Disney rolled out the MyMagic+ trip planning and guest-experience enhancing program for its Disney World theme parks in Orlando. At the heart of MyMagic+ were MagicBands (see picture below), wearable wristbands with RFID chips that could store guests’ [...]
Can Data Save Us All? Lessons from Attempting to Transform Sears and Kmart through Data & Analytics
mahylights
Posted on April 5, 2017 at 2:02 pm
Lessons from attempting to transform Sears and Kmart through data & analytics.
InBloom: Data Driven Learning Flounders Amidst Panicked Political Climate
KylaW
Last modified on April 5, 2017 at 5:38 pm
"InBloom is one of the first major big-data casualties – a victim of exaggerated fears and misunderstanding.” -The Economist
Brandwatch- Social Listening and Analytics
Megan Wu
Posted on April 5, 2017 at 8:02 pm
How Brandwatch discovers vital insights within the billions of conversations happening online everyday.
Google AlphaGo: How a recreational program will change the world
Bipul Sinha
Last modified on April 5, 2017 at 4:43 pm
AlphaGo program shocked the world by defeating Lee Sedol, the world champion in Go. This post talks about how Google used data and algorithms to achieve this and how a seemingly recreational program will create and capture value for Google
Facebook: Social Media and the Rise in Public Suicide
Ian C.
Posted on April 6, 2017 at 1:12 am
How Facebook is Leveraging Data and Machine Learning to Protect the Lives of its Users
Darktrace – Using Machine Learning for Cyber Security.
AC
Posted on April 5, 2017 at 11:00 pm
DarkTrace is a UK-based start-up that is improving cyber-security through the use of machine learning and artificial intelligence to develop an 'Enterprise Immune System'