Maria Goodpaster's Profile

Great post, Ranjani! This is so interesting and definitely a problem that touches many industries. I agree with Blaine’s point on having a dual-tier service structure as my parents would be horrified by the idea of skipping the front desk. I think that if Hilton can be the first mover in the digitization of the traditional hotel companies it could be a huge competitive advantage. The easier and more digital they can make the process the better.

I think you did a great job analyzing the pros and cons of Daily Burn. I downloaded the freemium version of the app awhile ago and have since deleted it because as you mentioned, it is hard for the app to motivate you to exercise. I’m not sure what the solution is, but I think they can do a much better job of motivating people to stay on a particular plan. Perhaps they could interface better with social media or use a monetary incentive like stickk.com.

I found that to actually get a good workout the equipment was needed and I didn’t want to store all of the equipment so just ended up going to the gym where I couldn’t watch the videos. I also didn’t think that the app did a particularly great job of teaching form for new exercises. I wonder if they could partner with local gyms and do some type of combined membership where you can attend certain classes at gyms to improve the teaming aspect and to ensure that people are learning the exercises properly and get feedback from real trainers.

I love this idea and am downloading it! I am an absolutely terrible cook and I love the planning aspect. I constantly pick out a recipe and then go to the grocery store and forget half of the ingredients that I need so I especially appreciate the link with the shopping list and grocery delivery. My biggest concern is that it is such a crowded space and how you are going to break down the barriers to entry. I wonder if you could pair with a famous chef and have his/her recipe pairings to attract people to the platform.

The concept of being the “brain” of the kitchen is also awesome. If the app could pre-heat my oven for me at the right time and set timers that would be amazing! I think this has a lot of potential.

Great post, Hugo! This is such an interesting topic because it seems like there are so many companies that have this exact problem. If they don’t act quickly and respond to innovation they risk becoming a Blockbuster or Kodak, but if they try to innovate and fail it can also lead to their demise. I think the TagSmart is a great combination of their timeless style and technology. I agree with you that they could do much more. I would love to see them add innovation but keep the timelessness of their watches intact.

Great post, Kelly! This seems almost too good to be true! I think that the issue of growth may also involve a level of trust, in addition to the awareness. I’m not sure that I would trust the opinion of a doctor that I talked to via an app who wasn’t able to physically examine me. For example, how can the doctor tell if you have an ear infection without physically looking in your ear? In addition, it seems dangerous to to prescribe a prescription without having examined the patient. I am surprised that it is legal to prescribe a prescription without physically examining the patient. I love the operating model, but think they need to not only increase awareness but also gain the trust of the customer.

This is a great topic and I think Alec did a great job with his analysis. I find it hard to believe that the French would just give up their champagne production and wonder if there are any things France can do to modify their vines to be more resistant to climate change. I read that the warmer climate makes the vines more vulnerable to fungus, virus, and other diseases. In addition, the lack of water causes the grapes to dry up and lose acidity. Can France look at more complex irrigation systems and perhaps slightly modify the vines to strengthen them against the diseases? Or would these solutions ruin what is so wonderful about french champagne?

I am really impressed with all of the sourcing and design changes that Unilever is making. It is awesome that they have found a way to save money and help the environment. They are a great example that these two things can go hand in hand. One other thing they could look at (and they probably already have) is looking at using recycled plastic for the shampoo and shower gel bottles. Perhaps they could change consumer behavior by encouraging or incentivizing the recycling of their containers.

Should VW incentivize buyers even further by offering deep discounts in addition to the EU incentives? Because of the damage that they caused to their image and their environment I feel that they should do more for the auto industry and their consumers than paying the required fines. Making electric cars a serious focus and making them more accessible to the public would be a great way for them to right their wrongs.

All of the renewable energy resources/acquisitions that BP is doing sound great, but I question the company’s motivation. Oil and gas are BP’s core competencies and I wonder if the sources of renewable energy will fit with the company. Perhaps I am too skeptical but I see BP’s investments in renewable energy as a PR ploy to fix their brand image. The reality is, BP makes money off of oil. Do you think that the company is actually fundamentally changing?

I do not think that the answer is to regulate or require the automakers to create fuel efficient/electric cars. I would instead increase the incentives for the automaker and the consumer to invest in these types of cars. The average consumer wants an affordable car that is stylish and meets their functional needs. If GM can make the electric or more fuel efficient cars that are cheaper, more stylish, with better features I think that consumers would shift their purchasing habits.

I am not a coffee drinker, but I can imagine mass hysteria if the supply of coffee becomes threatened. I appreciate that Green Mountain is trying to focus on reducing their waste, but the reality is that it won’t be enough to make a measurable impact on climate change. If I was Green Mountain I would be looking at growing alternatives for coffee trees. Can coffee trees be grown in greenhouses? Are there microbes that that can be added to the plant to shorten the growing cycle? Green Mountain should continue their green initiatives but should also be putting contingency plans in place.