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)

Bitcoin Mining and the War Between Digitalization, Environmentalism and Profitability
WL
Posted on November 15, 2017 at 11:27 pm
Bitcoin and cryptocurrencies have become one of the hottest industries in the global markets today, but do the little-known underlying environmental costs of producing them challenge the existence of the industry?
An Intelligent Supply Chain at Boston Children’s Hospital – A Mechanism to Reduce Operating Costs
GN
Posted on November 15, 2017 at 10:33 pm
Supply chain represent close to a third of the average hospital’s overall operating expense. Hospitals should explore new methods for utilizing existing technology as well as implementing new systems to enable cost reduction.
A Hot Serving of Empty Promises? Dunkin’ Brands, the Enduring Foam Cups, and Sustainable Coffee
Kirkland sparkling water
Posted on November 15, 2017 at 2:55 pm
Dunkin’ Brands had made many commitments to address the impacts of climate change in its supply chain. Is this hot air in an empty cup, or a real push for sustainable coffee?
Hewlett Packard’s printing business is dying. Can HP leverage digitization as its tailwind?
Protagonist
Posted on November 15, 2017 at 10:59 pm
Digitalization has been of concern to Hewlett Packard Inc. (“HPQ”) for the past decade. HP’s printing business, which accounts for 38% of its total sales in 2016, is dying as its US$18bn revenue has been declining at an annual rate [...]
Disclosing Carbon Disclosure Data is Chevron’s Way Forward in Mitigating Environmental Risk
Caleb Gayle
Last modified on November 15, 2017 at 7:53 pm
Chevron and countless other companies are providing environmental interest groups, international government organizations, and civil society with data for improved decision making for reducing the risk companies pose to the environment.
Is Child Labour the Only Way Forward for Tesla?
Alex
Last modified on November 15, 2017 at 7:27 pm
What options are left for Tesla in the ethical sourcing for its rechargeable batteries?
No More Chocolate For You: Global Warming and Cacao Trees
MW
Last modified on November 15, 2017 at 6:56 pm
How Global Warming will likely force us to give up our favorite treat.
Northern Sea Lanes: Melting Arctic Ice Creates Supply Chain Opportunity
dillonkasmer
Posted on November 14, 2017 at 5:25 pm
Builders and operators of icebreakers stand to gain as international shipping firms increasingly utilize Arctic shipping routes in the face of global warming.
Digitalization In the Upstream Oil and Gas Industry
Khush
Last modified on November 15, 2017 at 7:22 pm
Although leading Digital transformation in the predominantly old school Oil and Gas Industry, Schlumberger is still fighting its internal battles.
The Effects of Climate Change on Cargill’s Supply Chain
HBS Rules
Posted on November 4, 2017 at 10:43 pm
As some of the physical effects of climate change worsen, particularly changes to weather and water patterns, the food and beverage industry is uniquely exposed to these risks.[1] Cargill Inc., one of the largest food and agricultural companies worldwide, has [...]
UNIQLO: Digitalization and Supply-Chain Transformation
Satoshi
Last modified on November 15, 2017 at 9:30 pm
This is about Uniqlo's supply-chain transformation based on digitalization.
Can The Glenmorangie Co Lead the Whisky Industry to Greener Pastures?
Malcolm Duncan
Posted on November 14, 2017 at 5:03 pm
The Glenmorangie Company has built the first whisky distillery to combat climate change, but does it do enough?
Hubble Contacts in an Era of Isolationism
John Monagle
Posted on November 15, 2017 at 8:06 pm
Hubble Contacts is a fast-growing startup company that sells contact lenses as a subscription offering. Will its reliance on a manufacturer in Taiwan affect its growth prospects during the Trump Administration?
The New Healthcare
Matt Sulentic
Posted on November 15, 2017 at 11:07 pm
Telemedicine is changing lives for the better in many places across the U.S.
‘Keep on Trucking’ : UPS and the digital supply chain
Anusha Rajadorai
Last modified on November 8, 2017 at 5:14 pm
Autonomous trucks are likely to hit the road sooner rather than later. Who will win the logistics battle - the incumbents (UPS, FedEx, DHL, etc.) or the tech giants (Amazon, Uber, etc.) ?
Sweetgreen: ‘Romaine’-ing Sustainable While Scaling
LW
Last modified on November 14, 2017 at 7:05 pm
Sweetgreen's customer promise of sustainable, locally sourced ingredients poses a supply chain challenge as the company scales, and exposes Sweetgreen to significant climate change risk.
Cargill’s Blockchain Pilot: Turkey Tracking Gimmick or ‘Hot-to-Trot’ Agricultural Revolution
DrewJohnson
Posted on November 15, 2017 at 3:27 pm
Cargill recently announced that it was piloting the use of blockchain in its supply chain. The question remains, is this a gimmick aimed at driving publicity or the start of the next digital revolution in agribusiness?
Twump and de gweat China hunt: Will Energizer’s pink bunny be caught in the cross-hairs?
Maximus Decimus Meridius
Posted on November 15, 2017 at 10:10 pm
A brief examination of recent trends in American trade policy through the lens of a domestic consumable battery manufacturer
Too much opportunity? 3M’s supply chain goes digital
Red Skipper
Posted on November 14, 2017 at 5:05 pm
What happens when digital technologies are introduced to a massive global supply chain? 3M provides one perspective.
Selling Chinese Aircraft in a Protectionist US Climate
Patrick Kissling
Posted on November 15, 2017 at 3:30 pm
How should a brand new Chinese aircraft manufacturer go about entering the US market?
Adding Heat to Global Warming with Tabasco
June
Posted on November 15, 2017 at 9:06 am
Also known as Cajun Ketchup, Tabasco's recognizable bottle has been a staple in kitchens world wide. Most are not aware, however, that this brand is manufactured and produced in only one location in the world. As global agriculture and trade [...]
From Supply Chains to Supply Circles: How Philips is Rethinking Business in a World of Scarce Resources
AR
Last modified on November 14, 2017 at 7:54 pm
If you could redesign the global supply chain from scratch, would it look like what we have today? Should hundreds of millions of tons of materials be ending up in landfills every year? If your answer is "no," then start [...]
From Canned Tomato Soups To Personalized Nutrition and Transparency
Ivan Moura
Last modified on November 15, 2017 at 6:48 pm
“The entire food industry is being transformed by the fusion of food, well-being, and technology”, said Campbell’s CEO and president Denise Morrison. [1]
Impact of News Digitalization on Democracies
JN
Posted on November 15, 2017 at 7:32 pm
Technology platforms have digitized the media supply chain leading to proliferation of news. But can they manage what they have created?
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