Uber Sub Saharan Africa (SSA): Contextual Leadership for sustainable business: Model Innovation During COVID-19

On the 15th of May 2020, Alon Lits, Director and General Manager of Uber, SSA was getting ready for his next zoom session to share the latest business model innovation ideas. He considered his dilemma of how to adapt their business model to the demands of COVID-19, without losing their core business model as a multisided technology platform business. Lits was contemplating countries could balance health risk with the need to get the economy moving? Zoom sessions had become the norm for communicating during the COVID-19 lockdowns. Uber did indeed ask their riders to stay at home to ensure social distancing during lockdown rather than to book a ride with Uber. The question was how they could support drivers, while they were discouraging riders to patronize Uber. The disruption and uncertainty caused by COVID-19 was being felt by everyone globally. Their primary focus was quickly adapting their technology to meet the evolving needs of communities and company. Lits purposefully led his team to the right thing and look for opportunities to make a difference during the challenging times of the COVID-19 pandemic. He felt particularly proud of collaboration between Uber and Bill and Melinda Gates foundation to deliver chronic medicine to patients in Western Cape, as Uber Drivers delivered 4000 parcels in March/April in South Africa as vulnerable individuals with TB, HIV or diabetes was at risk if they had gone to the Hospitals. Uber thus accelerated its delivery efforts beyond food Groceries, while putting safety as top of its priority for internal and external customers. Uber in addition partnered on the African Continent with Businesses struggling with its high delivery demand in the COVID-19 era. They also helped medical Professionals in Kenya and other parts of the continent to move around and provide Healthcare servicesUber Sub Saharan Africa (SSA): Contextual Leadership for sustainable business: Model Innovation During COVID-19 On the 15th of May 2020, Alon Lits, Director and General Manager of Uber, SSA was getting ready for his next zoom session to share the latest business model innovation ideas. He considered his dilemma of how to adapt their business model to the demands of COVID-19, without losing their core business model as a multisided technology platform business. Lits was contemplating countries could balance health risk with the need to get the economy moving? Zoom sessions had become the norm for communicating during the COVID-19 lockdowns. Uber did indeed ask their riders to stay at home to ensure social distancing during lockdown rather than to book a ride with Uber. The question was how they could support drivers, while they were discouraging riders to patronize Uber. The disruption and uncertainty caused by COVID-19 was being felt by everyone globally. Their primary focus was quickly adapting their technology to meet the evolving needs of communities and company. Lits purposefully led his team to the right thing and look for opportunities to make a difference during the challenging times of the COVID-19 pandemic. He felt particularly proud of collaboration between Uber and Bill and Melinda Gates foundation to deliver chronic medicine to patients in Western Cape, as Uber Drivers delivered 4000 parcels in March/April in South Africa as vulnerable individuals with TB, HIV or diabetes was at risk if they had gone to the Hospitals. Uber thus accelerated its delivery efforts beyond food Groceries, while putting safety as top of its priority for internal and external customers. Uber in addition partnered on the African Continent with Businesses struggling with its high delivery demand in the COVID-19 era. They also helped medical Professionals in Kenya and other parts of the continent to move around and provide Healthcare servicesUber Sub Saharan Africa (SSA): Contextual Leadership for sustainable business: Model Innovation During COVID-19 On the 15th of May 2020, Alon Lits, Director and General Manager of Uber, SSA was getting ready for his next zoom session to share the latest business model innovation ideas. He considered his dilemma of how to adapt their business model to the demands of COVID-19, without losing their core business model as a multisided technology platform business. Lits was contemplating countries could balance health risk with the need to get the economy moving? Zoom sessions had become the norm for communicating during the COVID-19 lockdowns. Uber did indeed ask their riders to stay at home to ensure social distancing during lockdown rather than to book a ride with Uber. The question was how they could support drivers, while they were discouraging riders to patronize Uber. The disruption and uncertainty caused by COVID-19 was being felt by everyone globally. Their primary focus was quickly adapting their technology to meet the evolving needs of communities and company. Lits purposefully led his team to the right thing and look for opportunities to make a difference during the challenging times of the COVID-19 pandemic. He felt particularly proud of collaboration between Uber and Bill and Melinda Gates foundation to deliver chronic medicine to patients in Western Cape, as Uber Drivers delivered 4000 parcels in March/April in South Africa as vulnerable individuals with TB, HIV or diabetes was at risk if they had gone to the Hospitals. Uber thus accelerated its delivery efforts beyond food Groceries, while putting safety as top of its priority for internal and external customers. Uber in addition partnered on the African Continent with Businesses struggling with its high delivery demand in the COVID-19 era. They also helped medical Professionals in Kenya and other parts of the continent to move around and provide Healthcare services.

Source: Emeraldinsight.com Cases (2020).

1. How might UBER across SSA further adapt their business model to the circumstances of COVID-19, while remaining committed to be a multisided technology platform business. (20 marks)

2. Analyse and Discuss the temporal and spatial contextual dimensions and use the analysis to evaluate the contextual leadership of Alon Lits in Uber SSA and how other businesses intending to penetrate global landscape could emulate a dynamic and strategic cum proactive plan. (20 marks)