Digital Winners and Losers

September 13, 2015

Read The Full Prompt

The basic thesis of our course is that digital technologies are upending many industries and companies. Think about Uber’s impact on the taxi business or Spotify’s impact on music downloads and the record industry.

For this module, we would like you to identify companies/organizations that you think are winning or losing. Just work on either winners or losers. Please focus on just one organization. Tell us why they are a winner or loser. Discuss elements of how they create and/or capture value that is leading you to call them a winner or loser.

Create an approximately 500-750 word post to make your contribution. Please create appropriate tags for your post including if it is a “winner” or “loser” 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.

Selected posts will be discussed in class and also featured on the HBS Digital Initiative website.

Submitted (145)

Walmart: A Surprising Winner in Omnichannel Retail
Sean L
Last modified on October 19, 2015 at 6:03 pm
As delineations between physical and digital storefronts fade, Walmart has recognized that the future lies in “omnichannel” retail — a world where retailers serve customers seamlessly through online, mobile, and in-store interactions.
AYR: Immersive online experience with a real-world twist
Carina Rutgers
Last modified on September 13, 2015 at 2:58 pm
Bonobos sister company makes shopping for the perfect pair of jeans something to look forward to
Glossier – Disrupting the Old Man’s Beauty Industry
Atima Lui
Last modified on October 19, 2015 at 6:03 pm
How Star Beauty Blogger Emily Weiss Built Glossier into a Digital Marketing Powerhouse
Does Best Buy live up to it’s name?
Mor Sidi
Last modified on October 19, 2015 at 6:03 pm
Can Best-Buy ever compete with the 5-star rankings and reviews that the online world give us?
Garmin, the definitive winner in the sports & fitness devices industry
Guillermo
Last modified on September 14, 2015 at 7:33 pm
Into sports, into twitter, into facebook and with real time tracking...
LinkedIn: Winning with Professional Data
JG
Posted on September 13, 2015 at 11:03 am
LinkedIn has built up an invaluable user base and professional category of data that unlock a number of different and robust revenue streams.
And the next big thing in retail is… Wal-Mart?
Belowthefold
Posted on September 13, 2015 at 7:57 pm
How Wal-Mart is competing against technology companies like Amazon in the digital retail space.
Waze: Redefining Carpooling
RS
Posted on September 13, 2015 at 10:50 pm
In spite of rising costs of car-ownership (>$8,000/year on average) and parking ($3,000/year on average), 80% of Americans still drive alone when commuting to and from work. This has led to a tremendous increase in road congestion, especially in major [...]
The Waze model – make your users do the work!
FB
Last modified on September 13, 2015 at 6:42 pm
Combining a large community of users with a navigation app makes Waze well positioned for the future
Nordstrom – Innovating to Stay Relevant
HBStudent2016
Last modified on October 19, 2015 at 6:03 pm
Nordstrom has found a way to seamlessly integrate the shopping experience online and offline to maintain customer loyalty.
Zenefits spells bad news for insurance brokers but good news for your startup
SDS
Last modified on September 13, 2015 at 8:38 pm
Learn about why Zenefits gets 'winner' status by helping small businesses manage employee benefits for free
Pinterest: Don’t Forget to Pin it on the Winner’s Board
Schwas
Last modified on September 13, 2015 at 11:41 pm
Pinterest’s journey in the digital age is just beginning, and by creating significant value for both general users (i.e., consumers) and businesses, it’s certainly positioning itself for long-term success.
Burberry: Using Digital to Revitalize a Brand
PD
Last modified on September 13, 2015 at 12:32 pm
Seeking to revitalize and harmonize its brand, Burberry became a digital leader in the luxury fashion space.
eSalon: Even Hair Has Gone Digital
Marissa Henry
Last modified on September 13, 2015 at 10:26 pm
eSalon is well positioned to win big in the new digital world of hair care.
Give Me $3000 to List Your Apartment on Craigslist
Donald Frump
Last modified on September 13, 2015 at 4:46 pm
An unnecessary job is finally going away and saving lots of people money in the meantime.
Tesla – More Than Just Ludicrous Mode
Austin
Last modified on September 14, 2015 at 12:31 am
Tesla has introduced game changing software development lifecycle practices to the automotive industry, and customers love the results.
Riot Games – A digital winner, but is it revolutionary?
Allen Yang
Posted on September 11, 2015 at 12:17 pm
Riot Games, the video game publisher behind League of Legends, has proven its prowess in the industry and is a definite digital winner.
Analyzing facial expressions to increase emotional resonance of video ads
hawkeye
Last modified on September 12, 2015 at 10:18 pm
Affectiva is winning by using digital technology to create and capture value in the market research industry.
Gogo Air: Winning through partnerships and contracts
B_Alvy
Posted on September 13, 2015 at 10:15 pm
Gogo Air, a provider of wireless in-flight internet, partners with several companies to serve 80% of the country's airline market
Letterman prompted into retirement by digital changes
Jon Staff
Last modified on September 13, 2015 at 10:14 am
David Letterman's retirement was prompted not just by his years of service, but a digital shift in dynamics for Late Night TV
A World Without Borders: How One Beloved Bookstore Chain Signed Its Own Death Certificate
CC24
Last modified on October 19, 2015 at 6:03 pm
Borders used to be the bookstore behemoth that both avid and casual readers loved until a series of poor strategic choices led to their filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. How could such a successful company completely misread the changing [...]
Kickstarter: kicking the habit of turning to angel investors
Asaf Lifshitz
Posted on September 12, 2015 at 9:08 pm
Entrepreneurs raise funds via Kickstarter, and in doing so attract more contributors, who in turn make it an even more appealing platform
Wealthfront: Winning at Wealth Management
Julie
Posted on September 13, 2015 at 3:38 pm
The wealth management industry is stodgy, slow to adopt new technology, highly profitable, and ripe for disruption as Wealthfront is doing just that.
Barnes & Noble: Playing the Digital Game All Wrong
Kathryn R
Last modified on September 13, 2015 at 9:10 pm
By now, many of us have forgotten that Barnes & Noble attempted to compete against the likes of Apple and Amazon in the e-reader/tablet market with their ill-fated Nook. Barnes & Noble invested significantly in R&D and actually produced some [...]
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