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> If there is one hard problem that Uber has arguably solved, it's managing a fleet of drivers and their cars, with all the trouble such a huge workforce of mos

by danhak 9y ago

> If there is one hard problem that Uber has arguably solved, it's managing a fleet of drivers and their cars, with all the trouble such a huge workforce of mostly low-income people with low job attachment brings. It is this core competency of Uber that would be rendered worthless by autonomous vehicles. Technology companies must be willing to disrupt themselves before the competition does. Your argument here is like saying Netflix should not have pursued streaming because it rendered their core competency of DVD-by-mail logistics worthless.

malandrew 9y ago
And the DVD-by-mail is still valuable since it's still the best way to get movies that the studios won't license to subscription services. Facebook also disrupted itself by investing heavily in mobile. It's desktop experience is still useful, but it's mobile experience is what really matters today. The Innovator's Dilemma is very well understood now, which is why you see many of the big tech companies dominating now. Disrupting your own business is part of the DNA of the biggest tech companies today like Google, Facebook, Amazon, Netflix.
freyir 9y ago
> Technology companies must be willing to disrupt themselves before the competition does Kalanick described autonomous driving as existential to the company. He didn't see autonomous vehicles as a disruption, but as the natural progression. Human drivers are a stopgap measure until the technology is ready. The question is when that will be, and whether Uber can last until then.
- malandrew 9y ago
  > The question is when that will be, and whether Uber can last until then. Why doesn't anyone ever ask if the competition can last until then as well? Remember, you don't need to be faster than the tiger, you just need to be faster than whomever you're with when a tiger shows up.
  - deleted 9y ago
    [deleted]
  - icebraining 9y ago
    It's folly to assume the competition is fixed. New competitors can and have appeared long after Uber was started.

by danhak 9y ago

malandrew 9y ago

And the DVD-by-mail is still valuable since it's still the best way to get movies that the studios won't license to subscription services. Facebook also disrupted itself by investing heavily in mobile. It's desktop experience is still useful, but it's mobile experience is what really matters today. The Innovator's Dilemma is very well understood now, which is why you see many of the big tech companies dominating now. Disrupting your own business is part of the DNA of the biggest tech companies today like Google, Facebook, Amazon, Netflix.

freyir 9y ago

> Technology companies must be willing to disrupt themselves before the competition does Kalanick described autonomous driving as existential to the company. He didn't see autonomous vehicles as a disruption, but as the natural progression. Human drivers are a stopgap measure until the technology is ready. The question is when that will be, and whether Uber can last until then.

malandrew 9y ago
> The question is when that will be, and whether Uber can last until then. Why doesn't anyone ever ask if the competition can last until then as well? Remember, you don't need to be faster than the tiger, you just need to be faster than whomever you're with when a tiger shows up.
- deleted 9y ago
  [deleted]
- icebraining 9y ago
  It's folly to assume the competition is fixed. New competitors can and have appeared long after Uber was started.