The TOM Challenge: TOM Winners and Losers Assignment

December 09, 2015

Read The Full Prompt

The basic thesis of the TOM course is that company performance is driven by the alignment between the company’s business model and operating model. As defined in the “Introduction to the RC TOM Course” note, a business model is defined as how the firm creates and captures value, and an operating model refers to the processes that transform a firm’s assets (e.g., capital, labor, intellectual property, equipment, etc.) into valuable actions.

Please identify one organization in the global economy that you think is highly effective (or one that is highly ineffective) at driving alignment between its operating and business models

  1. Did you choose the company as an example of effectiveness or ineffectiveness? Why?
  2. Describe the company’s business and operating models. What is interesting about them?
  3. Do the models align and support each other?  How?  What specific features of the operating model are designed to create and sustain competitive advantage?  What features of the business model leverage unique capabilities of its operating model?  What are the implications for performance?

Submitted (929)

New Oriental Education & Technology Group Inc.
TOM100
Posted on December 9, 2015 at 12:56 pm
New Oriental Education & Technology Group Inc. "Hew a stone of hope out of a mountain of despair and you can make your life a splendid one."
Solazyme: Poised to revolutionize oil markets?
Anthony Ferrara
Last modified on December 8, 2015 at 11:08 pm
Solazyme has developed a revolutionary way of synthesizing tailored renewable oils that address various end markets via the use of proprietary algae technology.
Airbnb: A sharing business so you can #BelongAnywhere
gurmukhchhabra
Last modified on December 9, 2015 at 2:29 am
An analysis of a successful business that catalyzed the jumpstart of the sharing economy
Patagonia: Corporate social responsibility as a behavior-binding asset driving demand
AW
Posted on December 9, 2015 at 10:36 pm
"For nearly 40 years, Patagonia has prided itself on selling high-quality, high-performance outdoor apparel to dirt bags."
Hampton Creek – Food Innovation Through Technology
Julia
Posted on December 8, 2015 at 9:37 pm
Did you know that the last cookie you ate in Spangler was dairy-free and egg-free? Or that the mayonnaise in the Grille is not only egg-less, but vegan? If you didn’t, you are Hampton Creek’s ideal target customer.
H&M: Stitching Core Business & Operational Effectiveness Together
Raysita
Last modified on December 6, 2015 at 8:00 pm
H&M is winning by focusing on what they're good at and outsourcing the rest.
Blue Apron: Disrupting the Way People Cook and Eat.
CPerlman
Last modified on December 14, 2015 at 4:39 pm
Blue Apron was launched to disrupt the traditional way consumers shop, cook and eat meals at home. See how Blue Apron is also disrupting the traditional grocery store food model.
PikiCast, the mobile media that sums up last night’s TV shows for you (and more!)
changeme_38
Last modified on December 9, 2015 at 10:56 pm
Meet PikiCast, the curated content service created for the busy modern person.
L.L. Bean: One of these days these boots…
Tom Dan
Last modified on December 9, 2015 at 11:54 pm
L.L. Bean and its famous Bean Boots are taking over the world with the power of stockouts.
Dunkin’ Brands: The On-the-Go Cup of Joe
Dan Sawyer
Last modified on December 9, 2015 at 10:26 pm
Success in the world of low-cost coffee, even in a sea of frappuccinos
Curriculum Associates: Accelerating student learning
gorem
Posted on December 9, 2015 at 8:22 pm
How a mature print publisher reinvented itself and became an industry leader
LinkedIn’s Platform Business Model Poises Company for Astronomical Future Growth
Rahkeem
Posted on December 9, 2015 at 11:40 pm
LinkedIn is an example of a company with an effective alignment of its business and operating model. LinkedIn is the world's largest professional network with 332 million users, operating a multi-sided business model platform. To help assess LinkedIn's business and [...]
Tesla: Redefining a Trillion Dollar Industry
Rob Toews
Last modified on December 9, 2015 at 10:18 pm
In the span of a few short years, Tesla has completely reconceptualized what it means to be a car company and forced every major auto manufacturer to adapt in response. Matt S.....I'm sorry in advance.
MoveLoot: Making Moving Hassle-Free
taarini.vohra
Last modified on December 9, 2015 at 10:59 pm
Changing the Process of Moving
INSTACART: Fresh Food Fast
Caitlin Carmichael
Last modified on December 9, 2015 at 11:32 pm
Crowdsourcing grocery delivery to get it to your door fast
WeChat Official Accounts –An “App-within-an-app” Platform
Feiran Wang
Last modified on December 7, 2015 at 4:55 pm
With 10 million official accounts, WeChat is serving its users as a browser for 10 million apps covering every aspect of their lives.
KONE – Onwards and Upwards!
Charles MacBain
Last modified on December 9, 2015 at 7:05 pm
How KONE is able to leverage its operational capabilities to create a thriving business model
Flipkart: Every Wish Will Be Fulfilled
sidharthmishra
Last modified on December 9, 2015 at 9:59 pm
Flipkart is India's largest online retail firm and has been providing a delightful experience to customers since late 2007.
Postmates: Logistical Winners in the On-Demand Sharing Economy
Ellen DaSilva
Last modified on November 28, 2015 at 10:44 pm
Postmates is a food-delivery service that is winning because of its intricate logistical reliance on third-party couriers
Emirates: Flying at its premium best
Usama
Posted on December 8, 2015 at 8:17 pm
A 30 year young carrier from the desert plains of UAE is taking over the international skies
IKEA: High End Design for All
Damon Rankin
Posted on December 8, 2015 at 10:25 pm
This blog post may require assembly.
BCG’s Own Strategy
Kitty
Last modified on December 2, 2015 at 1:05 am
The Boston Consulting Group is a leading global management consulting firm providing strategic advice to private, public, and non-profit sectors worldwide. Although not unique within the consulting industry, BCG provides a great example of a company that is highly effective at [...]
CCL Industries: A ‘sticky’ business model
JNeely
Posted on December 8, 2015 at 3:59 pm
Scale, co-location, pre-production and leading edge processes make CCL the best label manufacturer in the world
Aldi – driving transformation of the UK grocery industry
Lia Prendergast
Last modified on December 9, 2015 at 4:16 pm
Aldi's business model is supported by an incredibly efficient operating model. The UK's Big4 grocers have responded to Aldi's growth with price cuts, but is this really a sustainable response?
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