{"id":32519,"date":"2024-09-14T00:04:06","date_gmt":"2024-09-14T00:04:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.writemyessays.app\/blog\/questions\/2-1-activity-case-study-ubers-use-of-technology-mediated-control-to-manage-drivers\/"},"modified":"2024-09-14T00:04:06","modified_gmt":"2024-09-14T00:04:06","slug":"2-1-activity-case-study-ubers-use-of-technology-mediated-control-to-manage-drivers","status":"publish","type":"questions","link":"https:\/\/www.writemyessays.app\/blog\/questions\/2-1-activity-case-study-ubers-use-of-technology-mediated-control-to-manage-drivers\/","title":{"rendered":"2-1 Activity: Case Study: Uber&#8217;s Use of Technology-Mediated Control to Manage Drivers"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>j<span style=\"color: inherit; font-size: 19px; background-color: var(--color-6); font-variant-ligatures: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit;\">In this activity, you will read about how Uber is using technology to monitor its drivers\u2019 behaviors. The use of this technology is known as technology-mediated control (TMC), which refers to an organization\u2019s use of digital technologies to influence workers to behave in a way that is consistent with its strategic and tactical objectives.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"margin-bottom: 1rem; font-size: 19px; line-height: 28px; cursor: auto; color: inherit;\">For this week\u2019s activity:<\/p>\n<ul style=\"margin-left: 10px; margin-bottom: 1rem; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 20px; font-size: 19px; line-height: 28px; cursor: auto; color: inherit;\">\n<li style=\"cursor: auto; color: inherit;\">Review the resources in the Module Two Resources section to learn about the implementation of TMC and how it influences an organization\u2019s workforce.<\/li>\n<li style=\"cursor: auto; color: inherit;\">Consider ways in which TMC influences organization structure, culture, and work design.<\/li>\n<li style=\"cursor: auto; color: inherit;\">Respond to the provided questions below.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2 style=\"margin-top: 30px; font-size: 1.5rem; line-height: 1.8rem; cursor: auto;\">Prompt<\/h2>\n<p style=\"margin-bottom: 1rem; font-size: 19px; line-height: 28px; cursor: auto; color: inherit;\">Uber Technologies is a ride\u2010hailing company that uses the cars and time of millions of drivers who are independent contractors. The company operates in many countries around the world. One estimate is that Uber drivers globally spend 8.5 million hours on the road every day. Uber also employs a dual strategy that aims to deliver value to drivers and riders alike by appealing to each group\u2019s different incentives and creating a mutually beneficial relationship between the two.<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin-bottom: 1rem; font-size: 19px; line-height: 28px; cursor: auto; color: inherit;\">Uber wants to control how these drivers behave and exerts this control not through human supervisors but through a system of algorithms that serves as an automated virtual manager. Drivers\u2019 work experiences are entirely mediated through Uber\u2019s mobile app. Hence, Uber has been accused of using TMC to exert \u201csoft control\u201d over its drivers.<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin-bottom: 1rem; font-size: 19px; line-height: 28px; cursor: auto; color: inherit;\">This app is constantly collecting data on drivers. It nudges the behavior of the drivers in such a way that in reality they aren\u2019t as much their own boss as they might like to be. For example, while they can work when they want, Uber\u2019s surge fare structure of charging riders more during high\u2010volume periods motivates drivers to work during times that they might not want to work. The app even sends push notifications based on sophisticated algorithms. For example, one notification says, \u201cAre you sure you want to go offline? Demand is very high in your area. Make more money, don\u2019t stop now!\u201d<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin-bottom: 1rem; font-size: 19px; line-height: 28px; cursor: auto; color: inherit;\">The mobile app also employs interventions to encourage various driver behaviors. For example, the Uber app will let drivers know that they are close to achieving an income target when they attempt to log off and end their work. Uber also sends drivers their next fare opportunity before their current ride is over. New drivers are enticed with signing bonuses when they meet initial ride targets.<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin-bottom: 1rem; font-size: 19px; line-height: 28px; cursor: auto; color: inherit;\">To motivate drivers to complete enough rides to earn bonuses, they occasionally receive words of encouragement through the app. The app also watches their rides to ensure that they accept a minimum percentage of ride requests, are available for a minimum period of time in order to qualify to earn profitable hourly rates during specified periods and complete a minimum number of trips.<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin-bottom: 1rem; font-size: 19px; line-height: 28px; cursor: auto; color: inherit;\">How does all this monitoring influence Uber\u2019s drivers? Uber\u2019s turnover for drivers is high\u2014reportedly closing in on 50% within the first year.<\/p>\n<h2 style=\"margin-top: 30px; font-size: 1.5rem; line-height: 1.8rem; cursor: auto;\">What to Submit<\/h2>\n<p style=\"margin-bottom: 1rem; font-size: 19px; line-height: 28px; cursor: auto; color: inherit;\">Respond to the case study questions below related to the Uber case study. Your submission should be 2 to 3 pages, double-spaced, and submitted as a Word document. Also, 2 to 3 resources are required and must be appropriately cited using APA style. These resources can include the textbooks and resources from previous modules, as well as original resources you have consulted. Please write out the questions in your document.<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin-bottom: 1rem; font-size: 19px; line-height: 28px; cursor: auto; color: inherit;\">Your responses should be in complete paragraphs and should address the following requirements:<\/p>\n<ul style=\"margin-left: 10px; margin-bottom: 1rem; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 20px; font-size: 19px; line-height: 28px; cursor: auto; color: inherit;\">\n<li style=\"cursor: auto; color: inherit;\"><span style=\"font-weight: bolder; cursor: auto; color: inherit;\">Answer all of the questions<\/span><span style=\"cursor: auto; color: inherit;\">&nbsp;<\/span>thoroughly and completely. Write out the questions in your document.<\/li>\n<li style=\"cursor: auto; color: inherit;\">Make<span style=\"cursor: auto; color: inherit;\">&nbsp;<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: bolder; cursor: auto; color: inherit;\">direct connections<\/span><span style=\"cursor: auto; color: inherit;\">&nbsp;<\/span>between the issues identified in the case study and the concepts covered in the provided resources in Modules One and Two.<\/li>\n<li style=\"cursor: auto; color: inherit;\"><span style=\"font-weight: bolder; cursor: auto; color: inherit;\">Support your answers<\/span><span style=\"cursor: auto; color: inherit;\">&nbsp;<\/span>with appropriate examples and facts drawn from the case study.<\/li>\n<li style=\"cursor: auto; color: inherit;\"><span style=\"font-weight: bolder; cursor: auto; color: inherit;\">Use correct grammar<\/span>, sentence structure, and spelling, and demonstrate an understanding of audience and purpose.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p style=\"margin-bottom: 1rem; font-size: 19px; line-height: 28px; cursor: auto; color: inherit;\"><span style=\"font-weight: bolder; cursor: auto; color: inherit;\">Discussion Questions:<\/span><\/p>\n<ol style=\"margin-left: 10px; margin-bottom: 1rem; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 20px; font-size: 19px; line-height: 28px; cursor: auto; color: inherit;\">\n<li style=\"cursor: auto; color: inherit;\">Considering Uber\u2019s mission statement and business model, in what ways do the mission and business model align with the decision to use TMC?<\/li>\n<li style=\"cursor: auto; color: inherit;\">Uber is faced with the monumental challenge of managing and motivating millions of drivers who are important to its business, but who aren\u2019t full-time employees. How effective do you think Uber\u2019s \u201cautomated manager\u201d is as a managerial control system for Uber drivers? Please explain.<\/li>\n<li style=\"cursor: auto; color: inherit;\">What are the benefits to Uber of using TMC through its mobile app? What are the downsides?<\/li>\n<li style=\"cursor: auto; color: inherit;\">What impact, if any, do you think Uber\u2019s use of TMC has on its organizational culture? How does the fact that most of Uber\u2019s employees are remote contractors influence the culture?<\/li>\n<li style=\"cursor: auto; color: inherit;\">How might differences in national cultures influence the response to TMC? How might Uber change or modify TMC to make it more effective?<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p><br style=\"cursor: auto; color: inherit;\"><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>jIn this activity, you will read about how Uber is using technology to monitor its drivers\u2019 behaviors. The use of this technology is known as technology-mediated control (TMC), which refers to an organization\u2019s use of digital technologies to influence workers to behave in a way that is consistent with its strategic and tactical objectives. For [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":[],"disciplines":[17],"paper_types":[],"tagged":[],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.writemyessays.app\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/questions\/32519"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.writemyessays.app\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/questions"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.writemyessays.app\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/questions"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.writemyessays.app\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.writemyessays.app\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=32519"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.writemyessays.app\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/questions\/32519\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.writemyessays.app\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=32519"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"disciplines","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.writemyessays.app\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/disciplines?post=32519"},{"taxonomy":"paper_types","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.writemyessays.app\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/paper_types?post=32519"},{"taxonomy":"tagged","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.writemyessays.app\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tagged?post=32519"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}