Digital Innovation and Transformation During the COVID-19 Pandemic

May 02, 2020

Read The Full Prompt

The COVID-19 outbreak is a tragedy that will have long-lasting implications for our global economy. The pandemic has showcased the value of digital operating models and is likely to force many companies to speed up their digital innovation and transformation.

For this blog post assignment, please consider ONE of the following questions:

  • Identify an organization that was under significant threat from the COVID-19 outbreak but quickly innovated its operating model to mitigate the impact during the crisis. Please describe the capabilities and processes that enabled these changes and any generalizable lessons for other organizations.
  • Identify an organization that has been significantly affected by the COVID-19 outbreak and recommend how it can leverage digital innovation to grow again.
  • Identify an organization that has experienced significant growth during the outbreak because of its digital operating model. Discuss whether this growth is short term or not and what actions the organization can take to sustain its growth.

Create an approximately 1000-word post to make your contribution on digit.hbs.org by 6 pm on May 2.

Please also respond to and comment on three other posts per assignment. Feel free to use graphics, data, videos, and links to other sites to corroborate your points.

Submitted (79)

NBCUniversal: Can the peacock become a phoenix?
SR2020
Posted on May 2, 2020 at 4:44 pm
COVID-19 has disproportionately affected traditional media conglomerates relative to their streaming-only competitors. NBCUniversal is one such facing production freezes, theme park closures, and declining ad revenues. Despite setbacks, the company is innovating today to build digital capabilities and services that [...]
Zero(dha) to the top!
ssingayapally
Posted on May 1, 2020 at 12:49 pm
Zerodha, an Indian discount broker was able to rapidly scale and satisfy a surge in demand during the recent market downturn. As its original proposition of low-cost transactions has worn off, it relied on its technical prowess to compete. What [...]
TraceTogether – the virus tracking app that has been a big winner out of the COVID-19 pandemic – but will YOU be the loser?
Brian Westlake
Posted on May 2, 2020 at 4:33 am
How would you feel if the government installed tracing software on your phone?
Social Fitnessing – Will Boutique Fitness Studios survive COVID-19?
r cai
Posted on May 2, 2020 at 4:22 pm
Before COVID-19, fitness spending was booming with much of the growth coming from boutique fitness studios. With their studios closed, how have they adjusted to providing experiences for their customers at home? Barry's Bootcamp has tried to bounce back by [...]
NASCAR – it takes a village for the eSport digital transformation!
MZ
Last modified on May 2, 2020 at 1:54 pm
NASCAR, while unable to keep its race schedule, turned to eSports (virtual races) and managed to keep audience and sponsorships even during COVID-19! With all the advertising money flowing into eSports, is this the start of a new era?
Talkspace: Supporting Mental Health during COVID-19
Jared V.
Posted on May 2, 2020 at 5:58 pm
As COVID-19 continues to spread throughout the globe and impacts the physical health of millions, the pandemic has also taken a toll on people's mental health. Without the ability to seek in-person help, many have turned to digital mental health [...]
Frontline Foods Delivers Food from Local Restaurants to Hospital Workers
HBSstudent0918
Posted on May 2, 2020 at 1:56 pm
Given the significant challenges for health care workers to access food and the public’s desire to show gratitude for their noble efforts, one digital nonprofit, Frontline Foods, has emerged to address this issue.