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)

A World without Chocolate? What Cargill is doing to Ensure we can get our Sweet Fix.
ELH
Posted on November 15, 2017 at 9:28 pm
Cocoa production is highly concentrated in two countries and is exposed to the risks of climate change, particularly in reducing the available arable land for production. Cargill one of the largest producers of cocoa is focused on improving sustainability of [...]
Chile: A Challenging Climate for a Global Winemaker
Matt Wozny
Posted on November 15, 2017 at 8:41 pm
Concha y Toro, a Chilean winemaker, faces climate risk head-on by taxing its carbon emissions, reducing its water consumption, and maintaining the quality of its grapes. But it can improve by working to mitigate the risks associated with its partners [...]
Siemens’ choice on Brexit Island
Kieron Stopforth
Posted on November 15, 2017 at 10:59 pm
The UK’s decision to leave the European Union threatens its clean energy plans. Siemens, the largest UK wind turbine manufacturer, faces a difficult decision: to what extent should it de-link its European and UK wind supply chains?
Blockchain Technology: Walmart’s Holy Grail of Food Supply Chain Management?
Roger L
Last modified on November 15, 2017 at 9:56 pm
Walmart bets big on blockchain to improve its food supply chain management.
Contents May Be Hot: Can Starbucks Navigate A Changing Climate?
dliebma
Posted on November 15, 2017 at 9:41 pm
Climate change poses a serious threat to coffee cultivation. Will we still be able to cool off with Frappuccinos in an ever-warmer world?
Huawei: A Greener Supply Chain, A More Responsible Industry Leader
OEL
Posted on November 15, 2017 at 8:01 pm
An ICT Industry Leader and Its Path to Greener Supply Chain Management...
Breaking the walls with 3D printing
Caue
Last modified on November 30, 2017 at 10:21 pm
GE Aviation bets on 3D-printing to overcome trade barriers.
Adidas: Becoming A Tough Competitor in the Supply Chain Modernization Marathon
Andrew C
Posted on November 15, 2017 at 10:54 pm
How Adidas can capture the opportunity gap created by Digitalization and Supply Chain 4.0.
H&M Aims to be Climate Positive by 2040
UK
Posted on November 15, 2017 at 9:48 pm
H&M is leading the fashion retail industry in sustainability initiatives with a new ambition to be Climate Positive by 2040 across the retail value chain.
Digital Mayhem at the Gate – Is Allstate in Good Hands?
Ragnar
Last modified on November 15, 2017 at 8:33 pm
How is the 85-year old, largest publicly held property and casualty insurer in the US preparing for digital disruption in insurance?
Chipotle: The Fast, Casual Descent to Supply Chain Oblivion
Jim Sainz
Posted on November 15, 2017 at 10:41 pm
What’s the Beef?   Chipotle proudly boasts a unique customer promise: locally sourced, non-GMO, antibiotic-free ingredients wherever possible to fuel a radically simple, affordable menu.  This claim’s emotional resonance and the carefully choreographed supply chain which make it possible have [...]
Supplying the World’s Thirst for Data… Storage
Peter Hong
Posted on November 15, 2017 at 6:51 pm
As consumers and enterprises demand more data and subsequently data storage, IBM is in a prime position to be the leader as a solutions provider.
Black Friday or Red Friday?: How Macy’s Plans to Improve its Bottom Line via Digitalization
BC
Last modified on November 15, 2017 at 10:23 pm
As eCommerce and fast fashion continue to disrupt the retail industry, Macy's places huge bets on supply chain digitalization to ultimately reduce costs and stay competitive.
AltSchool: Personalizing K-12 Classroom Learning
Abhojani
Posted on November 11, 2017 at 4:27 pm
Digital technologies are paving the way for disruption in the classroom with the development of personalized learning tools.
A New Approach to Infrastructure Construction
Sam Mason
Last modified on November 13, 2017 at 1:07 am
Autodesk is leading the digitalization efforts in the construction industry by developing software products that help companies manage two distinct aspects of the supply chain: labor and materials.
The Spinout of Adient to Increase Innovation
KW
Posted on November 15, 2017 at 10:17 pm
The Spinout of Adient to Increase Innovation - the Opportunities and Risks of Digitization for the Automotive Interior Supply Chain
DHL Uses Big Data to Optimize Last-Mile Delivery
Shiyou Liu
Posted on November 15, 2017 at 5:48 pm
How big data creates tremendous value in the last mile delivery for both customers and DHL.
Impact of Digitalization on Healthcare
Regina Phalange
Posted on November 14, 2017 at 10:32 pm
Kaiser Permanente and the impact of digitalization on the healthcare supply chain.
TAG Heuer: A Swiss Brand Ahead of its Time?
T
Posted on November 15, 2017 at 12:13 am
How a brand rooted in tradition is redefining its image to take on its greatest threat yet; the Apple Watch.
Big Internet Retailers Demand Partner Companies Advance their Supply Chains
Tomuser62
Posted on November 14, 2017 at 10:17 pm
Internet retailing giant Amazon forces other companies to optimize their own supply chains to remain competitive as partners. Learn about how companies are making improvements, such as automation, by following Fulfillment Marketing.
Blockchain to Transform Energy Commodity Trading Industry?
Card
Last modified on November 15, 2017 at 7:22 pm
Energy commodity trading companies have been inefficient in their business operations and logistics. Will the advent of "Smart contracts" powered by the Blockchain be the game changer to allow them to achieve transparency, higher speed, and lower cost?
Why Chinese biaxial geogrid manufacturers should invest in U.S. infrastructure and supply-chain.
HR
Posted on November 15, 2017 at 5:48 pm
How should they react? Chinese manufacturers finally paying for years of historical government subsidies.
Amazon Dominating Competition with Tech-Driven Supply Chain
Aaron
Posted on November 15, 2017 at 10:09 pm
Analyzes how Amazon is winning the e-commerce battle in the US by having the most tech-enabled supply chain of all US retail companies.
Shell’s Evolution from Oil and Gas to Energy
Danny Marquez
Posted on November 15, 2017 at 6:03 pm
A perspective on how climate change is pressuring oil and gas firms to transform their business models.
1 … 25 26 27 28 29 … 39