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)

Mars Worries M&M’s May Actually Melt in Your Hand
jackambridge
Posted on November 15, 2017 at 6:26 pm
Candy Supplier Pledges $1B to Overhaul Global Supply Chain in Initial Effort to Combat Climate Change
Is Goodyear’s Supply Chain Designed to have Good Years in the Future?
Eddie Overy
Posted on November 15, 2017 at 5:33 pm
Goodyear has dealt with US import tariffs on tires from China over the past decade. In 2017, there are additional tensions as the Trump administration may exit existing trade negotiations, affecting the global supply chain of Goodyear. How is Goodyear [...]
The Impact of Isolationism on Small US Businesses… Does Protectionism Protect Them?
TOM Student 2017
Posted on November 14, 2017 at 7:53 pm
A small US manufacturer sells 60% of its products to foreign companies. If the US adopts a protectionist trade stance and increases antidumping duties on foreign countries, there's a good chance foreign countries will respond with duties of their own. [...]
In the Eye of The Storm: An Energy Giant´s View on Climate Change
JAC
Last modified on November 15, 2017 at 1:09 am
Climate change is disrupting the supply chain of Oil & Gas companies located along the Gulf of Mexico, how is a major player adapting to the rising temperatures that it has allegedly helped foster?
Starbucks: How to Save Our Coffee from Climate Change
Coffee Lover
Posted on November 13, 2017 at 3:16 pm
Do not ever take your cup of coffee for granted
3-D Printing at General Electric – Disrupting Supply Chains and Manufacturing
Josh Berman
Posted on November 7, 2017 at 9:52 pm
In a seismic strategic shift, 125-year-old conglomerate General Electric (GE) transformed the future of its supply chain and manufacturing by completing two acquisitions of additive manufacturing (“3-D printing”) companies (Arcam AB and Concept Laser GmbH) for over $1 billion combined [...]
Adidas: Front-running digitalization in sports retailing
MFXR
Posted on November 15, 2017 at 9:44 pm
As the "fourth industrial revolution" continues to transform traditional manufacturing processes, Adidas' "Speedfactory" aims to lead the automated production of sporting goods.
Reducing Deforestation Impacts in the Agricultural Supply Chain at Bunge: Is Algae Oil the Answer?
Olivia Staffon
Last modified on November 16, 2017 at 12:06 am
Bunge is a leading agricultural supplier that must dramatically alter its operational supply chain to reach its zero-deforestation targets.
Should Ford Lead the Defense of Globalization?
Tom Richardson
Posted on November 15, 2017 at 6:08 pm
Can Ford defend Globalization and international trade in the face of rising American isolationism?
Adidas SpeedFactory: “Shoe”rtening Its Supply Chain with 3D Printing
TOMsupplychain
Posted on November 15, 2017 at 10:10 pm
Is the promise of 3D printing finally becoming an operational reality? Here's how Adidas is using 3D Printing to re-imagine its supply chain.
Nuclear Digitalization: Westinghouse’s Critical Challenge
Steve Smith
Posted on November 15, 2017 at 9:01 pm
In May 2017, Westinghouse Electric Company (“Westinghouse”) CEO José Gutiérrez told an industry gathering that his company would be exiting its historic bankruptcy proceedings “leaner, stronger and more competitive” [1]. However, with the advent of the digital era in power [...]
Which cow provided the milk for my Hershey’s chocolate bar?
EK
Last modified on November 15, 2017 at 5:49 pm
Consumers are increasing their demands for transparency in the food they eat, and digitalization trends are poised to deliver the solutions.
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.
Clinical Trial Recruitment at Acurian in a Digital Age: Lives and Millions of Dollars are at Stake
CE
Posted on November 15, 2017 at 7:18 pm
Clinical trial delays can result in lost revenue to drug firms of $600k - $8 million per day, not to mention additional lost lives as life-saving treatments wait in the wings . Patient recruitment is the number one cause of [...]
Can a digital life translate to digitizing Life (Insurance)?
MG
Posted on November 15, 2017 at 4:26 pm
Embracing digitalization is imperative for Life insurance companies to capture much needed supply chain innovations
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.
Walmart Sustainability Hub, the “village” for Climate Change aware companies that want to save the planet
MD
Last modified on November 15, 2017 at 10:55 pm
Walmart wants its own supply chain to reduce GHG emissions by 1 Gigaton, the equivalent of removing the annual emissions of Germany — the world’s fourth-largest economy — from the atmosphere. Will everyone follow?
bext360: Blockchain for the Coffee Suppl(AI) Chain
-
Posted on November 15, 2017 at 12:25 am
bext360 develops technologies to streamline critical global commodity supply chains. Its platform, “bext-to-brew”, is transforming the coffee industry by utilizing blockchain, IoT, artificial intelligence and machine learning.
I Thought we were Teammates!
A_S_
Posted on November 14, 2017 at 4:49 pm
With famous brands like Nike and Adidas selling apparel directly to consumers, sporting goods retailers fight to stay relevant.
Navigating the Risks of “America First” Trade Policy
SAM
Last modified on November 13, 2017 at 9:43 pm
How should multi-national manufacturing companies mitigate risk in an uncertain political climate?
Shell: “printing” your oil
Konstantin
Posted on November 14, 2017 at 4:24 pm
How technological innovations such as 3D printing can help oil and gas industry to adapt to a new low oil price environment
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.
Can Barclays Thrive in a Post-Brexit London?
Steve P
Last modified on November 15, 2017 at 4:24 pm
In the aftermath of Brexit, can Barclays still attract the talent it needs to be a market leader without abandoning London and relocating to Frankfurt?
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
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