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RC TOM Challenge 2018

November 13, 2018

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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/.

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Submitted (926)

How traditional automotive OEM, Volvo Cars, embraces autonomous driving
Yongwei
Posted on November 12, 2018 at 7:13 pm
Autonomous driving is one of the applications for machine learning and is going to change entire automotive industry. How the traditional car maker, such as Volvo Cars, is preparing for this trend?
WeWork: Machine Learning meets Real Estate
lee3
Posted on November 13, 2018 at 2:58 pm
Machine Learning + Real Estate = An Optimal Workplace Solution.
How AI Positions LinkedIn to Solve the Global Skills Gap
Taylor Stockton
Posted on November 13, 2018 at 5:19 pm
Artificial Intelligence will disrupt the workforce by automating jobs and shifting the skills that individuals need to deliver value in the economy -- creating a massive global skills gap. LinkedIn is in a position to address this challenge leveraging some [...]
Opening up the doors of city hall, everywhere
Vanessa Trinh
Last modified on November 13, 2018 at 2:44 pm
Governments have to innovate to meet the growing and complex demands of its constituents, but how? And with who?
Machine Learning & Early Cancer Detection: Do We Know Enough to Ask the Right Questions?
Lindsey Macleod
Last modified on November 8, 2018 at 7:11 pm
What if you could test for cancer before a tumor even develops?
Baidu: Using Machine Learning for Voice Cloning to Get Closer to Consumers…All In Just 3.7 Seconds!
Mike Cluttons
Posted on November 13, 2018 at 2:43 pm
Baidu is using machine learning to clone human voices and develop the capability of imitating thousands of accents in order to personalize machine-based interactions with consumers.
TAL – Closing the education resource gap with the support of machine learning in China
Estelle
Posted on November 13, 2018 at 6:29 pm
TAL, China’s biggest out-of-school education institution is investing heavily in machine learning to have a better understanding over students’ learning situation through facial expression analysis, to provide customize learning plan through adaptive tests, and to improve operation efficiency through business [...]
Taste the Future: 3D Printing Chocolate at Hershey
PZH
Posted on November 13, 2018 at 5:30 pm
How Hershey is using additive manufacturing to customize chocolate production
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Jeff Boyar
Last modified on November 13, 2018 at 3:03 pm
The City of Boston is leveraging machine learning to better deliver on the fundamental promises of local government.
Keeping It Fresh in Packaged Food: An Examination of Open Innovation at Mondelez International
Henry Ford
Last modified on November 13, 2018 at 6:31 pm
This piece briefly examines the adoption of various open innovation practices by Mondelez International to better react to competitive pressures and position itself for long-term sustainable growth
Adidas and Additive Manufacturing
<3
Posted on November 13, 2018 at 1:55 pm
Explores Adidas's push to mass-produce 3D-printed shoes
Mindstrong: An Application of AI in Wellness
lumos
Last modified on November 14, 2018 at 5:36 pm
Mindstrong is using AI and "digital phenotyping" toward diagnosing mental health conditions
Coding the Way to Better Patient Outcomes: Machine Learning at Cigna
gumpsky11
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American health insurer Cigna must balance the benefits of machine learning with the internal challenges that arise during implementation and the external ethical implications inherent to the healthcare industry. (Image Citation - https://www.cigna.com/guideme)
Printing: Speed
TomTom
Posted on November 13, 2018 at 7:29 pm
Adidas Sets Out to Bring 3D-Printed Running Shoes to the Masses
Bechtel Corporation: Responding to Additive Manufacturing in Construction
Christopher Reynolds
Posted on November 12, 2018 at 4:51 pm
This paper analyzes the competitive threat and potential responses of the established construction corporation, Bechtel, to the disruptive technological advances of additive manufacturing in the construction sector.
General Electric – Will Investments in Additive Manufacturing Yield Results?
Student 24601
Posted on November 13, 2018 at 5:22 pm
A brief look at investments in additive manufacturing by GE and implications for the future
LinkedIn: Leveraging machine learning to solve the modern talent acquisition challenge
AH
Posted on November 13, 2018 at 7:56 am
Sending an email via Outlook and want to check the recipient’s alma mater? Check. Editing your resume and want to know how others have described the role? Check. Applying for a job and want to get a sense of what [...]
San José Tackles Open Innovation for Smart Cities
Nancy Torres
Posted on November 13, 2018 at 7:51 pm
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GE Digital: Can Machine Learning Be the Key to Turning GE Around?
John Doe
Posted on November 13, 2018 at 10:11 pm
In 2011, General Electric (GE) made a big bet on machine learning and AI with the creation of what would become GE Digital. In a time of great flux at GE, will Digital survive? What will be its role be [...]
Dr. Roboto Will See You Now – Improving Radiology Diagnostics
mmat
Posted on November 13, 2018 at 6:20 pm
To what extent can StatDx's machine learning tool help improve radiologists' efficiency and accuracy?
Repair Time Reductions On Submarines Through Additive Manufacturing
A. Ham
Last modified on November 13, 2018 at 7:39 pm
Additively manufactured parts could drastically reduce the time required to perform repairs on board submarines and eliminate portions of the Navys bloated supply chain
DoorDash and Machine Learning
Shannon
Last modified on November 15, 2018 at 6:16 pm
How DoorDash uses machine learning to power its logistics platform
Rome Wasn’t Built in a Day (Neither was Toronto)
UrbanTalker
Posted on November 13, 2018 at 6:15 pm
Google's building a new city and using the power of the crowd to do it. Begs the question - is open innovation the future of city planning?
Pinterest uses machine learning to expand their offerings for consumers and marketers
Oswald Cobblepot
Posted on November 13, 2018 at 2:32 pm
Pinterest uses machine learning to expand their product lines and monetize the massive amount of user data they have.
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