Co-evolution of three mega-trends nurtures un-captured GDP – Uber's ride-sharing revolution

Watanabe, C., Naveed, K., & Neittaanmäki, P. (2016). Co-evolution of three mega-trends nurtures un-captured GDP – Uber's ride-sharing revolution. Technology in Society 46 164-185. 10.1016/j.techsoc.2016.06.004.

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Abstract

Uber used a disruptive business model driven by digital technology to trigger a ride-sharing revolution. The institutional sources of the company's platform ecosystem architecture were analyzed to explain this revolutionary change.

Both an empirical analysis of a co-existing development trajectory with taxis and institutional enablers that helped to create Uber's platform ecosystem were analyzed.

The analysis identified a correspondence with the “two-faced” nature of ICT that nurtures un-captured GDP. This two-faced nature of ICT can be attributed to a virtuous cycle of decline in prices and an increase in the number of trips.

We show that this cycle can be attributed to a self-propagating function that plays a vital role in the spinoff from traditional co-evolution to new co-evolution. Furthermore, we use the three mega-trends of ICT advancement, paradigm change and a shift in people's preferences to explain the secret of Uber's system success.

All these noteworthy elements seem essential to a well-functioning platform ecosystem architecture, not only in transportation but also for other business institutions.

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