RC TOM Challenge 2018

November 13, 2018

Read The Full Prompt

The TOM Challenge provides an opportunity for you to continue exploring organizational learning and innovation through the lens of process improvement and/or product development, the focus of RC TOM’s second module. In this challenge, you will investigate how an organization is grappling with machine learning, additive manufacturing, or open innovation. These megatrends are likely to significantly affect how organizations manage process improvement and product development in the coming years of your career. The TOM Challenge requires you to (1) conduct research and write an essay that examines how one organization is facing a particular aspect of one of these megatrends, and (2) write six comments that share your reflections on some of your section mates’ essays.

Your essay should address four questions in the context of the organization you choose:

  1. Why do you think the megatrend you selected is important to your organization’s management of process improvement and/or product development?
  2. What is the organization’s management doing to address this issue in the short term (the next two years) and the medium term (two to ten years out)?
  3. What other steps do you recommend the organization’s management take to address this issue in the short and medium terms?
  4. In the context of this organization, what are one or two important open questions related to this issue that you are unsure about that merit comments from your classmates?

Your essay should convey facts, analysis, and your recommendations. It should focus on a single organization (e.g., a single company, non-profit organization, or government agency) and a concern related to one megatrend. It is fine if the concern you choose relates to other megatrends that the organization is facing, but that’s not required. Roughly a third of your essay should be dedicated to each of the first three questions, with just a few sentences dedicated to the fourth question. Your essay should be at least 700 words but no more than 800 words, and must conclude with a word count in parentheses (such as 778 words).

When posting your essay to Open Knowledge, be sure to enter “Machine Learning”, “Additive Manufacturing”, or “Isolationism” in the Topics field.

More details on research, sourcing, deadlines, and other matters are provided in the RC TOM Challenge: 2018 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://aiinstitute.hbs.edu/platform-rctom/how-to/.

Submitted (926)

Applications of Machine Learning in the US Criminal Justice System
anonymous_student
Posted on November 12, 2018 at 9:54 pm
Applications of Machine Learning in the US Criminal Justice System   The criminal justice system ostensibly protects all Americans and enforces laws in our communities to allow all “law-abiding” individuals to flourish equally. But in practice, its impacts are far [...]
Are Machine Learning Benefits Worth Cyber-Security Risks at Chevron?
Tobias Harden
Last modified on November 13, 2018 at 1:08 pm
Machine Learning can provide immense value in plant maintenance and turnarounds but can a traditionally conservative industry lead in this space?
Crowdsourcing a Pharma Breakthrough: Lilly’s Open Innovation Drug Discovery Program
Svenardi
Last modified on November 13, 2018 at 4:45 pm
Given increasingly costly (and decreasingly effective) Research and Development in the pharmaceutical industry, can Lilly crowdsource innovation using its Open Innovation Drug Discovery (OIDD) Program?
Making it Personal: How JetBlue is Using Machine Learning to Personalize the Travel Experience
Pewterman
Posted on November 13, 2018 at 3:12 pm
JetBlue is partnering with a machine learning start-up so they can personalize product offerings to suit each traveler's needs.
Where is my package? DHL’s machine learning works to provide more reliable data to customers
B9430222
Posted on November 13, 2018 at 4:50 pm
DHL utilizes machine learning to optimize the supply chain and track packages directly to your door.
How crowdsourcing is changing the Waze we drive
kmuller
Posted on November 12, 2018 at 11:54 pm
Waze paves the way we are dealing with information about traffic and transportation in cities around the world
Would you stay at a robot’s house? How Airbnb uses machine learning to drive product development
Alex Ray
Posted on November 13, 2018 at 2:08 pm
Over the past few years, Airbnb has developed machine learning algorithms that change how hosts and guests interact with listings. It's a major departure from their early human-centered design days. How should the young company balance data-driven design with human-driven [...]
How Starbucks engages tens of thousands of customers to innovate products and store experiences
HZ
Posted on November 12, 2018 at 11:35 pm
The post explores how Starbucks has embraced open innovation in product development and rolling out new in-store experiences
The Brains Behind Olay Beauty Care Product Recommendations
beautywithbrains
Posted on November 13, 2018 at 7:28 pm
What is Olay? Olay is a 66-year-old global skin care products brand within Procter and Gamble’s (P&G) $65 billion-dollar product portfolio. Olay products were sold in 80+ countries, used by 60+ million consumers as of 2012, [3] and generated estimated [...]
Activision-Blizzard (ATVI): Using Machine Learning for videogames development and community moderation
Tasslehoff
Last modified on November 13, 2018 at 5:38 pm
The videogames market is large (with expected revenues of $138 billion [1]) but highly fragmented, with multiple corporations vying for market share. Increasingly, traditional companies like F1 motorsports are moving into videogames to expand their core product offering [2]. Hence, [...]
IBM’s Deja Vu in Disruption
Jason Jackson
Posted on November 13, 2018 at 6:54 pm
Is IBM making it's biggest mistake since 1970 by not fully embracing open innovation?
An Ounce of AI-powered Prevention, A Pound of Cure: Cigna’s Use of Artificial Intelligence to Save Lives (and Costs)
iBot
Posted on November 13, 2018 at 7:58 pm
Artificial intelligence is changing the way Cigna and other health insurers engage with users, enabling improved health outcomes and lower costs.
India’s InMobi is Disrupting Online Advertising by Making 15 Billion Decisions Per Day
Michael Kenny
Posted on November 13, 2018 at 4:20 pm
InMobi runs an ad-network that decides the value of over 15 billion ad transactions per day using machine learning. In just a decade, InMobi has positioned itself as a challenger to ad tech incumbents Google and Facebook. Yet in the [...]
Nordstrom: How to Leverage the Deluge of Data as a Competitive Advantage
DA
Last modified on November 13, 2018 at 7:19 pm
Retailers are facing intensifying challenges including stagnation in brick-and-mortar sales, increase in e-Commerce offerings and sales, and changes in consumer browsing and purchasing behaviors. Realizing that data is one of its most valuable assets, Nordstrom is leveraging machine learning to [...]
GE Additive: Additive Manufacturing and Aerospace
J Horgan
Posted on November 13, 2018 at 1:57 pm
GE unleashes the power of Additive Manufacturing
BMW Bets on 3D Printing your Next Sports Car
Daniel Silva
Posted on November 12, 2018 at 10:54 am
Additive Manufacturing (i.e., 3D printing) has been around for 30 years, why is it such a hot topic nowadays? BMW is eager to capitalize on recent technological advances to be the front runner in automotive additive manufacturing, but how will [...]
Dealing with Changing Consumer Preferences in Traditional “Big-Beer”: Anheuser-Busch InBev’s Foray into Innovation and Disruption
D Gunju
Last modified on November 12, 2018 at 9:46 pm
Over the past decade, consumer preferences around the world have steadily shifted away from traditional light beers towards liquor and stronger flavor, artisanal craft beers. Large scale beer brewers are forced to pursue radical innovation in regaining its consumer base. [...]
Listen Up: Spotify, Machine Learning, and the Podcast Opportunity
mwhittenberger
Last modified on November 13, 2018 at 12:50 pm
Spotify is known for its personalized playlists, which are powered by machine learning. As the company tackles other forms of media, particularly podcasts, how will it need to adapt its approach?
Smarter Eating, Smarter Fitness: AI supports your goals
Choplife
Posted on November 13, 2018 at 7:47 pm
We eat and exercise and hope to stay fit. MyFitnessPal takes the guesswork out of the equation so you can get the results you want.
When Counting Steps and Tracking Sleep Is Just The Beginning – What’s Next for Fitbit?
Growth20
Last modified on November 13, 2018 at 7:45 pm
With the advent and further sophistication of machine learning, Fitbit is positioned to do more than just track your fitness and activity data.
Can Machine Learning Deliver Airbnb’s Next Leg of Growth?
Panda12345
Last modified on November 13, 2018 at 5:16 pm
Machine learning has revolutionized the way Airbnb matches guests with hosts. Now, can the company use this technology to maintain its growth and address its growing pains?
Crowdsourcing as the Future of Secret Cinema
SECRET CINEMA
Posted on November 13, 2018 at 7:17 pm
With 46 ground-breaking events completed in over a decade and ambitious expansion plans on the horizon, immersive film company Secret Cinema should integrate crowdsourcing into all elements of its production. Crowdsourcing will enable Secret Cinema to continue to be a [...]
Crowd-sourcing the Secret of Life: 23andMe and Open Innovation
vsagarwala
Posted on November 12, 2018 at 2:19 pm
How direct-to-consumer genotype company 23andMe uses open innovation to drive genetic research
China’s Take on 3D Printing in Healthcare
Caroline Schwanzer
Posted on November 13, 2018 at 5:52 pm
The rise of additive manufacturing, also known as 3D printing, has transformed numerous industries across the globe. Healthcare in particular has the potential for disruption, as 3D printing has, and will continue to, provide new areas of cost savings, efficiency, [...]
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