Start Date

16-8-2018 12:00 AM

Description

The focus of this study was to explore and understand how digital technology influenced Uber car ridesharing and its disrupt impacts on taxi services in Ghana. The study used affordance theory as a theoretical lens to provide an explanation of Uber car ridesharing service as disruptive digital technology in the taxi industry in Ghana. \ \ The study used a qualitative interpretive case study approach to understand the role of ICT in Uber car ridesharing. This study identified four main affordances, which facilitate how digital ridesharing applications disrupt the traditional taxi industry in a developing country. These are opportunistic affordance, which involves available cars on the digital platform for the traveller, security affordance for both traveller and driver before any transaction, ubiquitous service offering affordance without any restriction unlike the traditional taxi services, and affordable transportation with automatic billing. The paper offers some recommendations for policy and academic considerations. \ \ Keywords \ \ ICT, disruptive digital technology, Uber, ridesharing, affordance theory, Ghana. \

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Aug 16th, 12:00 AM

Disruptive Digital Technology Services: The Case of Uber Car Ridesharing in Ghana

The focus of this study was to explore and understand how digital technology influenced Uber car ridesharing and its disrupt impacts on taxi services in Ghana. The study used affordance theory as a theoretical lens to provide an explanation of Uber car ridesharing service as disruptive digital technology in the taxi industry in Ghana. \ \ The study used a qualitative interpretive case study approach to understand the role of ICT in Uber car ridesharing. This study identified four main affordances, which facilitate how digital ridesharing applications disrupt the traditional taxi industry in a developing country. These are opportunistic affordance, which involves available cars on the digital platform for the traveller, security affordance for both traveller and driver before any transaction, ubiquitous service offering affordance without any restriction unlike the traditional taxi services, and affordable transportation with automatic billing. The paper offers some recommendations for policy and academic considerations. \ \ Keywords \ \ ICT, disruptive digital technology, Uber, ridesharing, affordance theory, Ghana. \