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Uber cuts 3000 more jobs, closes 45 offices

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Re: Uber cuts 3000 more jobs, closes 45 offices

#171

Post by mattwad »

0zymandias wrote: post #145

It looks like Dara is executing the Jack Welch & General Electric playbook [1]. Essentially, it comes down to "Be the #1 or #2 company in the market or exit" You can debate whether it was successful at GE. The criticism of Jack Welch was that his approach improved short-term financials, but he left a hollowed-out company to his successor that became irrelevant and lost value relative to the S&P. The way I see this pl…

> I worry the most about Scooters and AV as those are arguably core to urban mobility

Scooters are a fad that was never needed. Bikes or mopeds like Revel are 10 times more useful. I don't think scooters replace anything of note, since you can pretty much walk the same distance. They're only fun for tourists and left in the sidewalk for everyone else to stumble over.

Re: Uber cuts 3000 more jobs, closes 45 offices

#172

Post by bhouston »

0zymandias wrote: post #145

It looks like Dara is executing the Jack Welch & General Electric playbook [1]. Essentially, it comes down to "Be the #1 or #2 company in the market or exit" You can debate whether it was successful at GE. The criticism of Jack Welch was that his approach improved short-term financials, but he left a hollowed-out company to his successor that became irrelevant and lost value relative to the S&P. The way I see this pl…

This strategy is the opposite of a portfolio play. It is great if your winners stay winners. I think if you are aligned well with the overall market direction that is great.

Basically by only keeping the strongest you should get the highest rate of return until these is a failure. A portfolio play gives you more modest returns but more consistent over time -- you should still trim the losers who do not have potential.

Re: Uber cuts 3000 more jobs, closes 45 offices

#173

Post by aguyfromnb »

thoraway1010 wrote: post #156
andyjohnson0 wrote: post #138

Earlier quoted context omitted.

"I had to make this decision because our very future as an essential service for the cities of the world — our being there for millions of people and businesses who rely on us — demands it." This is only one sentence in an otherwise fairly measured email, but it nevertheless annoyed me given the context. Uber is not an "essential service". They made this decision so that they can stay in business to make money for th…

Ahh - the comment from the person with the multi-car garage, the tesla and the range rover. Walk me through what folks without good car / transit access should be using? If cab companies are "essential" then uber is essential and preferred to cab companies in many markets. A lot of folks on HN seems to be approaching this whole situation from the I have a ton of money, can work from home, have a car mental model.

>A lot of folks on HN seems to be approaching this whole situation from the I have a ton of money, can work from home, have a car mental model.

You think poor people are using Uber to get around?

Re: Uber cuts 3000 more jobs, closes 45 offices

#174

Post by nostrademons »

economicslol wrote: post #161
nostrademons wrote: post #46

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The reason why software companies don't generally hire contract software developers rather than bringing them on as FTEs is that they're less effective . Software development is a high-communication, high-trust activity; it's very helpful to be able to explicitly direct and manage the activities of your workforce, because otherwise they don't produce anything useful. For specific tasks that don't need to be high-trus…

>The reason why software companies don't generally hire contract software developers Have you ever been inside a FAANG? Sometimes it feels like red badges outnumber FTE 2:1 so I have no idea what you're talking about.

Worked for Google for 5 years. Red badges were largely confined to QA testers, physical security, and the kitchen, along with a few UI designers or engineers that didn't want to be employees because they liked the freedom that being a contractor allowed (eg. being able to work for someone else on the side). Basically everyone I interacted with on a daily basis was a FTE. Product area could have something to do with it: I was on a core product (Search), it's possible red badges are more common in peripheral products.

Re: Uber cuts 3000 more jobs, closes 45 offices

#175

Post by raverbashing »

nostrademons wrote: post #46
setgree wrote: post #28

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It's gauche to say it on the day a bunch of people lost their jobs (and there's no need for the schadenfraude) but I think the underlying point is sane. Uber's business model is replacing FTEs in a a hidebound, regulated industry with gig workers (& good UX!). If you were forecasting how this company in particular would deal with a downturn, it's a reasonable guess that they'll try to do the same thing to their own w…

The reason why software companies don't generally hire contract software developers rather than bringing them on as FTEs is that they're less effective . Software development is a high-communication, high-trust activity; it's very helpful to be able to explicitly direct and manage the activities of your workforce, because otherwise they don't produce anything useful. For specific tasks that don't need to be high-trus…

> either you're growing and on top of the world, or you'll be out of business in a couple years. Just ask DEC, Symbolics, SGI, Sun, Yahoo, AOL, Netscape, etc.

I think rather than looking at those names we might ask ourselves about the ones that managed to survive: Oracle, IBM, Microsoft, as an example

Sure, we might argue that they have not always been the most ethical companies out there, but it doesn't mean they haven't had to reinvent themselves here and there

How come Oracle and IBM got more money from Java than Sun? Windows is now "free" but MS continues to make money.

Those companies that went away seems to be mostly good examples of the Inventor's dilema. Especially SGI.

Re: Uber cuts 3000 more jobs, closes 45 offices

#177

Post by ping_pong »

0zymandias wrote: post #145

It looks like Dara is executing the Jack Welch & General Electric playbook [1]. Essentially, it comes down to "Be the #1 or #2 company in the market or exit" You can debate whether it was successful at GE. The criticism of Jack Welch was that his approach improved short-term financials, but he left a hollowed-out company to his successor that became irrelevant and lost value relative to the S&P. The way I see this pl…

"Short-term"? He was CEO for 20 years, and made it one of the most successful companies during that time. One would be very hardpressed to call GE of 2001 a hollowed-out company.

Re: Uber cuts 3000 more jobs, closes 45 offices

#178

Post by wdb »

sjf wrote: post #162
wdb wrote: post #151

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I don't consider Uber taxis an essential service, though. More a luxury. Internet is a essential utility service but Uber?

Many, many people live out of the range of public transport. Not everyone can drive, private taxis _are_ an essential service.

Yes, I can't drive and still only take public transport. It's more convenient than getting a Uber in London. Even taking a black cab can actually be cheaper. So yeah, I fully aware that transportation is important. I wish that would be better covered.

Re: Uber cuts 3000 more jobs, closes 45 offices

#179

Post by setgree »

nostrademons wrote: post #46
setgree wrote: post #28

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It's gauche to say it on the day a bunch of people lost their jobs (and there's no need for the schadenfraude) but I think the underlying point is sane. Uber's business model is replacing FTEs in a a hidebound, regulated industry with gig workers (& good UX!). If you were forecasting how this company in particular would deal with a downturn, it's a reasonable guess that they'll try to do the same thing to their own w…

The reason why software companies don't generally hire contract software developers rather than bringing them on as FTEs is that they're less effective . Software development is a high-communication, high-trust activity; it's very helpful to be able to explicitly direct and manage the activities of your workforce, because otherwise they don't produce anything useful. For specific tasks that don't need to be high-trus…

> The bigger risk with getting a job at Uber is "will they be in business in 2 years?"

what's median job duration for a software engineer in startup-land anyway? I'd be surprised if it was much over 2 years...

I'd think that if your famous company goes under, folks won't generally hold that against you. Heck, I'd think people who watched it all fall apart would would have the most interesting stories (and valuable lessons about mistakes to avoid).

Re: Uber cuts 3000 more jobs, closes 45 offices

#180

Post by ping_pong »

mattwad wrote: post #171
0zymandias wrote: post #145

It looks like Dara is executing the Jack Welch & General Electric playbook [1]. Essentially, it comes down to "Be the #1 or #2 company in the market or exit" You can debate whether it was successful at GE. The criticism of Jack Welch was that his approach improved short-term financials, but he left a hollowed-out company to his successor that became irrelevant and lost value relative to the S&P. The way I see this pl…

> I worry the most about Scooters and AV as those are arguably core to urban mobility Scooters are a fad that was never needed. Bikes or mopeds like Revel are 10 times more useful. I don't think scooters replace anything of note, since you can pretty much walk the same distance. They're only fun for tourists and left in the sidewalk for everyone else to stumble over.

I disagree wholeheartedly. Electric scooters are fun and useful, especially for commuting in the morning from a drop off location like a train station. The real question is whether or not it can be profitable, which I highly doubt. I would rather just get my own if I needed it.
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