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)

Exx-on, Exx-off: How Global Climate Change Could Wipe Away Big Oil’s Profits
Daniel Henley
Last modified on November 14, 2017 at 6:56 pm
The connection of ExxonMobil to climate change is more than just causal. Changing weather and landscapes will have a profound impact on Exxon's ability to profitably produce oil.
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 [...]
Trillions in Wasted Productivity: Digitalization in the Construction Industry
HBS19
Last modified on November 15, 2017 at 9:59 pm
New digital technologies have the potential to exponentially increase productivity in the construction industry. Large companies such as Boston-based Suffolk Construction should begin to adopt these technologies at a faster pace in order to gain a competitive advantage over their [...]
JD.com: Building the Smart Logistic System for the Future
Bill Wang
Posted on November 14, 2017 at 6:41 pm
How will the second largest e-commerce player in China digitalize the logistic system to thrive in the future?
The battle for the skies: Is free trade losing ground to protectionism?
Sergio Porres
Posted on November 15, 2017 at 6:08 pm
The large commercial aircraft manufacturing market is increasingly threatened by trade barriers that can disrupt significantly a business until now dominated by Airbus and Boeing
Alaska Airlines and Climate Change: Cleaning-Up the Skies
SAV
Posted on November 14, 2017 at 6:19 pm
How Alaska Airlines Can Leverage its Supply Chain to Combat Climate Change
Why Wal-Mart will Beat Amazon in E-Commerce
atsinikas
Last modified on November 14, 2017 at 7:30 pm
Why Wal-Mart's physical footprint and employee base will allow it to beat Amazon in e-commerce over the long term
Amazon’s rapid supply chain innovation: Battling with consumer’s evolving needs!
Pranjal Saxena
Posted on November 15, 2017 at 3:14 pm
In the current tech savvy world, Amazon has been the clear winner against online and offline retailers through disruptive advancements in digitization of its Supply Chain. However, it might be important to realize the implications of rapid innovation and understand [...]
Apple Inc. – Powered by 100% Renewable Energy
Ray Loa
Last modified on December 1, 2017 at 2:56 pm
Apple is committed to shift its production to 100% renewable energy powered. However, they would need to convince the suppliers to shift to renewable energy for Apple product's production, implicating economic impacts. How would they do?
For Some, Finding A Match Is About Life And Death
murray&hume
Posted on November 12, 2017 at 10:13 am
Can artificial intelligence help underpin the gross undersupply of organ transplants?
Solar Panel Import Taxes: The Death of Tesla and the U.S. Solar Industry?
Katie Hsia
Posted on November 15, 2017 at 5:05 pm
Looming import tariffs could make rooftop solar too expensive for most Americans to afford. The decision to close America's borders to the importation of cheap solar panels lies in the hands of President Trump. Could isolationism kill the U.S. rooftop [...]
From Russia With(out) Love: Russian Rockets & American Aerospace
Ben R
Last modified on November 29, 2017 at 9:42 pm
How Ongoing Russian Sanctions and Political Isolationism Threaten ULA’s Supply Chain Within the US Space Industry
After Brexit, Barclays Should Exit
rsi
Last modified on November 15, 2017 at 7:21 pm
With the likelihood of a favorable Brexit negotiation dimming, Barclays would be wise to leave London ASAP.
AI and Predictive Analytics: The Internet of Things at Work in the Trucking Industry
D13
Posted on November 15, 2017 at 7:24 pm
Following a long history of production processes that occurred within plants, the digitalization era is allowing trucking manufacturers to extend their supply chains beyond point of sale.
Staying Ahead of the Curve: How Nordstrom’s Supply Chain Evolves with Consumer Behavior
M. O'hara
Last modified on November 15, 2017 at 9:32 pm
Can Nordstrom respond to consumer demand for more options more quickly, while still managing their inventory costs?
A Digitally-Enabled Supply Chain in Bloom
JH
Posted on November 15, 2017 at 7:35 pm
How digitalization is eliminating waste and breathing new life into the cut-flower supply chain
Impact of Isolationism on Manufacturing Strategy of Ford Motor Company
Amanda
Posted on November 11, 2017 at 9:34 pm
The isolationism, particularly the new policies from Trump administration, creates much uncertainty for Ford to plan for its future manufacturing footprints and to decide where to invest now. How should the company balance building a good relationship with administration and [...]
Remove the Friction, Prevent the Fire – Disrupting 3M’s Supply Chain
Ricky Bachman
Last modified on November 15, 2017 at 10:28 pm
Minnesota-based 3M, best known for its consumer products such as Post-it® notes and Command™ hooks, aims to use digitization to remove friction at all connection points in its supply chain.
Walmart: It’s my party and I can cry if I want to
niko
Last modified on November 15, 2017 at 10:11 pm
Is the party over or can the world's largest retailer reverse the trend?
A Heifer Sized Problem for Tyson Foods
Rasha
Posted on November 15, 2017 at 5:18 pm
Demand for beef is expected to increase as income levels rise and the global population grows to exceed 9bn by 2050. However, beef production is a key contributor to climate change, producing ~3 tonnes of CO2 equivalent emissions annually, polluting [...]
Re-inventing NYT: Impact of digitalization on news media
Shruti
Last modified on November 15, 2017 at 11:44 pm
How can NYT compete with connected devices on delivering news?
Alibaba: When Blockchain meets Supply Chain
Ines F.
Last modified on November 15, 2017 at 6:50 pm
Blockchain to beat food fraud... and competition
BMW’s supply chain in the face of isolationism
thomasyao
Posted on November 14, 2017 at 8:18 pm
BMW manages the risk caused by increasing isolationism through a combination of its global production network and active currency hedging.
No more Champagne?
Jonathan Alle
Last modified on November 14, 2017 at 10:35 pm
Climate change is disturbing the Champagne industry. What is Champagne producer Taittinger doing to adapt to this new environment? Is it enough?
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