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)

Ryanair: The lowest cost airline in Europe.
AC
Last modified on December 9, 2015 at 11:27 pm
Launched 30 years ago, the Irish low-cost carrier Ryanair disrupted the European airline industry and started the low-cost revolution in Europe. Ryanair is now Europe’s largest airline with more than 90 million passengers per year and shows record profits of [...]
The Boston Beer Company: The largest microbrewery in the world.
Bravo
Posted on December 9, 2015 at 10:19 pm
The harmonious alignment of business and operating models in the world of craft beers.
Jana Care – Revolutionizing Diabetes Diagnosis and Treatment through Accessible Mobile Technology
SonaliBloom
Posted on December 9, 2015 at 11:17 pm
Jana Care is an early stage medical technology company leveraging connected devices to address the global diabetes epidemic.
Fighting For Every Dollar: UFC Uncaged
Benny Cole
Last modified on December 7, 2015 at 3:35 pm
This post explores the UFC's approach to generating revenue, borrowing from old experiences of Boxing and WWE.
ARM Holdings – Powering the Smartphone Revolution
Jackson Speake
Posted on December 9, 2015 at 10:49 pm
ARM Holdings is a technology company with a narrow focus and worldwide impact.
The TJX Companies: A Tried and True Model Continues to Drive Results
Kari O'Neil
Posted on December 8, 2015 at 6:11 pm
As the number of low cost retail outlets grows, TJX stands out from the crowd.
Grindr: The Original Location-Based Dating App
Tulio
Last modified on December 9, 2015 at 10:03 pm
Grindr: De-stigmatizing gay sex, one [hookup/blocked profile/unsolicited pic/ignored message] at a time.
Yakult: Success with “Yakult Ladies”
Daisuke Arayama
Last modified on December 9, 2015 at 8:16 pm
Yakult has built unique operating model with female salesforce called "Yakult Ladies". Its operating model is effective from wealthy neighborhood in developed countries to slum in developing countries.
Hello Alfred: Giving you the luxury of time
JW
Last modified on December 9, 2015 at 10:12 pm
Imagine a world where you never have to do your chores again…that’s the world that Hello Alfred is hoping to create.
Zara: Upscale, on-demand fashion
nj
Last modified on November 27, 2015 at 12:48 pm
Zara is one of the world's most successful fast-fashion retailers. What sets it apart?
Quirky: Crowdsourcing Innovation
Brad
Last modified on December 8, 2015 at 1:59 am
Quirky tried to crowdsource innovation, but fell victim to 2 fatal flaws #busmodel #opsmodel #failcity
HBS: Creating Human, Intellectual, and Financial Capital
schen
Last modified on December 9, 2015 at 7:54 pm
Don't forget that we are part of one of the best-designed organizations in the world.
Ferrari: Innovation on the Road and Track
rdalal
Last modified on December 4, 2015 at 5:13 pm
Racing legacy, engineering talent and scarcity have fueled Ferrari’s winning history and created an iconic automotive brand
INDITEX: Lessons in “Fast Fashion”
GER
Last modified on December 8, 2015 at 6:54 am
The global fashion retailer Inditex, best known for its Zara brand, continues to chart the course of “fast fashion” through the intimate alignment between its operating and business models.
Tailoritaly – customized made-in-Italy is now for everyone
AP
Last modified on December 9, 2015 at 3:28 pm
Tailoritaly, a recently founded online fashion platform, relies on an existing network of manufacturers and on a JIT production process to offer high-quality, customized made-in-Italy products
TCS BANK: Innovating in Russia
Teti
Last modified on December 9, 2015 at 6:25 pm
A story of a great Russian bank that is struggling with country risks
Sweetgreen’s Winning Recipe
Mike
Last modified on December 9, 2015 at 11:17 pm
Sweetgreen's attention to detail and strategic alignment is paying dividends for the fast causal startup.
Blue Nile: A hidden gem in the diamond and fine jewelry online marketplace
Unkown
Last modified on December 13, 2015 at 8:11 pm
Efficient use of supply chain management and low cost operating model delivering joy to many couples.
PeekaBOO Pop-up Stores: Spirit Halloween
Bobby
Posted on December 3, 2015 at 10:42 pm
The scariest day of the year is actually the most fun, and most profitable, for Spirit Halloween. With its remarkable prowess among Halloween pop-ups, it has boasted the number one spot in Halloween retail, an $8 Billion industry, for the [...]
Retrofit: Tackling Obesity-Related Healthcare Costs
jeremy
Last modified on December 9, 2015 at 11:29 pm
Retrofit is a leading private wellness company that drives weight loss for busy professionals. Retrofit has thus far effectively aligned its operational model to fuel its success in helping people slim down, but must overcome future challenges as the industry [...]
Drizly: the disruptor of the 3-tier system?
Ni Xu
Posted on December 9, 2015 at 10:36 pm
Since the proliferation of on-demand transportation apps– Uber and Lyft, more and more startups have entered the on-demand service arena. For example, there is “Uber for food,” e.g. DoorDash, Eat24, and GrubHub. “Uber for drycleaning” e.g. Washio and NimNim, and [...]
Accor: The winner takes it all, even (more) behind the walls
Gilles
Last modified on December 9, 2015 at 4:22 pm
How Accor has shifted its operating focus, leaning assets but boosting presence
Comex, a pool of paint.
David Dana
Last modified on December 9, 2015 at 4:58 pm
COMEX reduces costs and improves customer satisfaction by postponing differentiation and pooling safety stock.
Teach for America: Falling Short on Promises to Students and Teachers
TZ
Posted on December 8, 2015 at 11:52 pm
TFA promises better education to students and a rewarding teaching career to new recruits, but is out of touch with the day-to-day realities of the underperforming K-12 classroom
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