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)

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 AT&T, It’s (DirecTV) Now Or Never
Alexandra van Arkel
Posted on November 15, 2017 at 5:23 pm
AT&T can control the supply chain by owning programming (Time Warner) and distribution (DirecTV) but should not sacrifice one for the other to gain DOJ approval.
Jumping through hoops: Cirque du Soleil in an era of isolationism
Kimia Talebian
Last modified on November 15, 2017 at 7:13 pm
Cirque du Soleil, a live entertainment provider well-known for its acrobatic touring and resident shows, has over 4,000 employees, including 1,300 artists from more than 50 different countries. This diverse set of employees has traveled to over 400 cities in [...]
Arctic shipping: A new way to capitalize on climate change?
ChiCon17
Posted on November 15, 2017 at 8:42 pm
What will it take for Maersk to navigate the next great frozen frontier?
UPS: Innovating or not?
The boy who lived
Posted on November 15, 2017 at 7:45 pm
UPS is taking steps to digitize it's freight business, but is it letting the small parcel business fall through its fingers?
Additive Manufacturing: Adding up to a Disruption for UPS
Berit Pearcy
Posted on November 14, 2017 at 5:33 pm
Additive Manufacturing is disrupting the shipping industry's supply chain by cannibalizing a large part of its storage and shipping business as companies begin to print their parts in-house. UPS is doing its best to respond but can it differentiate itself [...]
But I thought jeans were tough? How could climate change harm them too?
Climate Commentator
Last modified on November 15, 2017 at 5:01 pm
The jeans made by Levi Strauss & Co. are known for their high quality and durability. However, they are facing a major threat from an unlikely opponent, climate change. Can Levi’s protect their prized product from this threat?
Drugs at Your Doorstep: Amazon’s Threat to CVS Health and the Future of Drug Delivery
VK
Last modified on November 15, 2017 at 10:54 pm
CVS Health must react as Amazon is knocking at the door. Who will own the drug delivery supply chain of the future?
German Railway “Deutsche Bahn:” Train-ing for the Future?
SW
Last modified on November 15, 2017 at 10:56 pm
The industry-wide vision for the future of rail provides great potential for digitalization along the entire supply chain. Is Deutsche Bahn on the right track?
Concha y Toro: Sustainability Pioneer and Further Challenges
Gregorio Eguiguren
Posted on November 15, 2017 at 5:45 pm
As the leading wine producer in Latin America and the fifth largest winery worldwide in terms of volume traded, Viña Concha y Toro (CyT) is certainly exposed to the climatic phenomena, which can impact its vineyard’s production yields, further affecting [...]
Will Climate Change Lead to an Independent Greenland?
Matt Michel
Posted on November 15, 2017 at 4:09 pm
No place on earth will be more affected by climate change than Greenland, is it ready to handle the economic and political implications?
Ahoy! Maersk Embraces the Internet of Things
E. S. Sayons
Posted on November 15, 2017 at 10:17 pm
Digitization and the industrial internet of things present lucrative opportunities in the maritime shipping industry. Maersk is leading the way with digital innovations that reduce costs and deliver on evolving customer needs.
Can the giant Ant replicate its model worldwide?
Zoe
Last modified on November 11, 2017 at 4:53 pm
Is digitalization only disrupting supply chain in traditional manufacturers? It also brought innovative solutions to financial systems in China, changing the supply chain in money.
Avoiding cancellation, in aviation
Mykola Petrenko
Posted on November 14, 2017 at 11:36 pm
As airlines become more digitally dependent they will become increasingly vulnerable to cyber attacks, forcing companies like Delta airlines to take action and secure its customer information and supply chains.
Rio Tinto: Be Prepared for the Flood
SN
Posted on November 15, 2017 at 4:09 pm
Due to the wide geographic distribution of mining operations, climate change will have complex impacts on the sector. In 2010, 40 mines in Australia were affected by floods, including disruptions in transporting coal from mines to coastal ports for exports.
Drug Tracking on the Move
kurious_koala
Last modified on November 15, 2017 at 3:48 pm
How government mandated drug traceability is transforming healthcare supply chains
The Internet of Things and Maersk’s Gains from Digitization
ILIR
Posted on November 15, 2017 at 1:06 pm
Maersk is a behemoth in the shipping world and provides supply chain services through delivery of fresh produce and other products to 343 ports in 121 different countries. Maersk has embraced IoT in its shipping and logistic business in order [...]
Digitalization: Enabling A Home (Depot) Run in eCommerce Fulfillment
M V
Last modified on November 15, 2017 at 10:02 pm
How supply chain enhancements enable The Home Depot to better serve its online customers.
Ambitious Sustainability Goals at Coca-Cola
kenyahunt
Posted on November 14, 2017 at 12:55 am
Coca-Cola's commitment to ambitious sustainability goals drive them to improve.
Globalization vs. Isolationism: Finding Nike’s New Competitive Advantage?
Isabel Khoo
Posted on November 15, 2017 at 10:57 pm
How do global brands thrive in an era of isolationism and protectionism? For Nike, the answer is lobbying, automation and reshoring.
Is Fast Beauty the Next Fast Fashion?
cdj
Posted on November 12, 2017 at 6:45 pm
Fast fashion players like H&M and Zara massively disrupted the world of apparel retailing via compressed supply chains. Will beauty be the next category to experience this type of shock?
Smaller Engines Fuel Future Growth
Saved by the Bellhorn
Posted on November 12, 2017 at 10:58 am
Cessna is plotting an industry transformation with its large-cabin, long-range business jet. With smaller engines that promote increased fuel-efficiency and decreased pollution, the Citation Hemisphere will appeal to business travelers that increasingly demand environmental improvements.
From Taobao.com to Hema Supermarket, Alibaba’s Digitalized Food Supply Chain
W
Last modified on December 1, 2017 at 11:17 pm
This essay talks about how digitalization affects Alibaba's supply chain design and introduces the challenges and opportunities of its new Hema Supermarket.
From farm to table: supply chain digitalization at Cargill
OhianiD
Last modified on December 6, 2017 at 10:30 am
In an example of how food processors and manufacturers are catering to consumer desire for increased food supply chain transparency, Cargill is piloting a blockchain-based, farm-to-table traceability program on select Honeysuckle White turkeys this Thanksgiving season.
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