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)

Ford’s Global Supply Chain Hits a Bumpy Road
CranberryCo.
Last modified on November 15, 2017 at 9:14 pm
Isolationist trade policies threaten to disrupt the supply chain of U.S. auto manufacturers such as Ford.
Strengthening a Supply Chain to Save Lives: UNICEF, Malnutrition, and Global Warming
Katharine
Last modified on November 15, 2017 at 10:39 pm
UNICEF must address climate change threats to build a more resilient supply chain for ready-to-use therapeutic foods essential to treating malnutrition
Wine Production: Adapting to a Changing Climate
lwang
Posted on November 10, 2017 at 12:14 pm
How can wine producers adjust to climate change, which impacts both temperature and water availability?
The World’s First Floating Manufacturing Facility: 3D Printing on the International Space Station
SB
Last modified on November 15, 2017 at 6:28 pm
The International Space Station is disrupting manufacturing, using 3D printing to create the first floating manufacturing facility.
Foxconn in the Age of Isolationism
SRose
Posted on November 15, 2017 at 3:36 pm
Foxconn’s global supply chains are under siege by growing isolationist forces.
Not Your Grandma’s Newspaper – Restructuring the Journalism Value Chain to Digitally Engage Consumers
MJ
Posted on November 11, 2017 at 11:02 pm
As the consumption of media continues to shift away from print, The New York Times is implementing a successful digital transformation. But challenges remain in optimizing the digital supply chain to generate and deliver authentic content to the consumer.
David vs. ‘prescient’ Goliath: Can Lazada compete with Amazon’s “anticipatory shipping”?
Dennis
Last modified on November 26, 2017 at 3:16 pm
Lazada used to be the "Amazon of Southeast Asia", but as of summer 2017, has to compete directly with Amazon as they enter the Southeast Asian market. Can Lazada embrace digitalization to compete with Amazon's "anticipatory shipping" model and two-hour [...]
Does the brand with no name have the best supply chain game?
brandlesswriter
Last modified on November 15, 2017 at 3:30 pm
The consumer packaged goods (CPG) industry is concerned about digitalization, or at least it should be. Enter Brandless, a direct-to-consumer (DTC) e-commerce start-up that has leapfrogged the traditional supply chain approach of CPGs and believes it has a strategy to [...]
Vertical Farming Startup Achieves “Plenty” with Less Water
Andon Cord
Last modified on November 14, 2017 at 10:03 pm
Vertical farming startup Plenty aims to turn conventional farming on its head through sustainable procesess that significantly reduce the amount of water required to feed produce while delivering high yields.
The Beef with Beef
Lisa
Posted on November 15, 2017 at 7:52 pm
Is "sustainable beef" an oxymoron? The world's largest beef producer claims they're working on it - but will it be enough?
Ice, Cold Corona – Get it here for a 35% higher price!
CN
Posted on November 7, 2017 at 7:36 pm
Soon, it might become a lot more expensive for you to enjoy a bottle of your favorite import beer. U.S.-based Constellation Brands, best known for selling Mexican beer Corona in the U.S., is one of the world’s largest importers and [...]
Will Tesla build the autonomous ride-sharing network of the future?
Tong Xiang
Posted on November 15, 2017 at 6:32 pm
Tesla Motors has been an auto industry leader when it comes to capturing value from its digital supply chain. Can it maintain this advantage as it ramps up production and moves forward to a vision of an autonomous future?
Dear Barnes & Noble: Stop Playing Catch-Up!
Sergio Villanova-Marquez
Last modified on November 15, 2017 at 2:22 am
What can Barnes & Noble do beyond struggling to stay afloat with digital in an Amazon-controlled era?
Let It Snow?
TP
Posted on November 13, 2017 at 12:11 am
Carving up the slopes on Alta’s pristine powder may prove to be a much more difficult pursuit toward the end of the 21st century with snowpack decreasing significantly over the past 50 years.
Can blockchain help solve the problem of counterfeit drugs?
Michelle
Posted on November 14, 2017 at 2:03 pm
Counterfeit drugs adversely impact both consumers and pharmaceutical companies. Can blockchain help solve this problem?
From Hype to Reality: How IoT (Internet of Things) is Transforming Pharma
Ryan Liu
Posted on November 14, 2017 at 5:10 pm
How the "Internet of Things" is impacting the pharma industry
Climate change: BMW’s supply chain strategy to reduce CO2 emissions
Juan A
Posted on November 14, 2017 at 4:06 pm
The article explores how BMW, the most sustainable automotive company based on the Down Jones sustainability index of 2016, is able to use its supply chain as a lever to reduce CO2 emissions.
Brexit and BMW: Disintegration of European supply chains?
GJ
Posted on November 13, 2017 at 5:14 pm
BMW’s operations in the UK face severe challenges due to Brexit – Does the German carmaker’s supply chain disintegrate because of a protectionist vote?
Can Sula continue to produce over 10 Million Bottles of Wine per annum?
Aditya
Posted on November 15, 2017 at 7:07 pm
How unexpected rainfall is disrupting India's largest wine producer's supply chain!
The Impact of Isolationist Trade Policies on Retailers and the Communities they Serve
Operations Student
Last modified on December 7, 2017 at 1:44 pm
From the critically acclaimed author of "Type B at HBS" comes the compelling story of Michael Smith, a senior sourcing manager at Target struggling to navigate the uncertain and ever-changing landscape of international trade policies. This piece explores how isolationist [...]
Samasource: Increasing productivity in the US while reducing poverty worldwide – is it possible?
Laura Oller
Posted on November 15, 2017 at 10:07 pm
A Ford insight in the context of the Fourth Industrial Revolution
Melting Chocolate – Climate Change and the Cacao Bean Supply Chain for Lindt & Sprüngli
AT
Last modified on December 5, 2017 at 9:00 pm
Exploring how a global chocolate manafacturer, Lindt, will adapt to climate change threatening its cacao bean supply
Driving Evolution in Nordstrom’s Customer Service Model through Shared Inventory Visibility
GB
Last modified on November 15, 2017 at 10:59 pm
An increasingly competitive retail landscape and the need to better serve constantly changing consumer demands will force Nordstrom's inventory management model to evolve.
Anheuser-Busch InBev (AB-InBev): Trouble’s brewing as climate changes impact the beer industry
TOMSavesTheWorld
Posted on November 15, 2017 at 10:48 pm
With water being a critical part of the beer making process, ABInBev takes charge of reducing its Water footprint in a changing world where water demand may soon overtake supply.
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