OGL 481 Pro-Seminar I:

PCA-Structural Frame Worksheet

Worksheet Objectives:
1. Describe the structural frame
2. Apply the structural frame to your personal case situation

Complete the following making sure to support your ideas and cite from the textbook and other
course materials per APA guidelines. After the peer review, you have a chance to update this and
format for your Electronic Portfolio due in Module 6.

1) Briefly restate your situation from Module 1 and your role.

I am a rideshare driver driving for Uber. As a driver for Uber, the role is an external one,
as rideshare drivers are regarded as independent contractors. In driving for Uber for over
six years, I attained its highest designation of Uber Pro Diamond. As a diamond Uber
Pro, you become part of mentor program as a mentor. you are paired with new drivers
who are referred to as “learners.” It requires you to be available to them to provide advice
and guidance on maximizing their driving experience, like where and when to drive, tips
and tricks to earn the most, and handling yourself in difficult situations, all based on your
experiences as a highly rated driver. The situation here is how I present such advice and
guidance to the learner that is viewed as morally sound to both the organization and the
learner. For instance, in this situation of advising a ”learner” driver on the tips and tricks
to earn the most, it became an issue of the impact of how I advised the learner to decline
every requested trip that doesn’t help them realize their earning goal for the day. To the
learner, the tip sounded like an effective one, but to the organization, that will seem
counterproductive to it and its mission. In reality, it is a common, effective learning
strategy for rideshare drivers.

2) Describe how the structure of the organization influenced the situation.

Uber’s structure is based on a divisional model, which divides the organization by

products or services, such as Uber Eats, Uber Freight, and Uber rides. Each of these
divisions has its own sub-divisions, teams, and managers who have autonomy and
authority to make decisions and pursue their goals (uber, n.d.). This autonomy and
authority to make decisions in pursuing their goal extends to the Uber drivers, even
though their role is external. Because Uber understands that the drivers are closest and
the ones its customers frequently encounter and rate their performance and service, it
seeks the experience of the highly rated drivers in orientating new drivers in a bid to
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 achieve good and balanced outcomes that cope with the challenges of good customer
experience and good earning opportunities for the drivers. This divisional structure
enables it to cater to the diverse and changing needs and preferences of customers and
markets and to foster innovation in service delivery and drivers’ satisfaction (uber, n.d.).
Uber’s culture of customer obsession and frugality values customer satisfaction,
operational excellence, and competition and performance.

The Uber organizational structure influences the situation I presented in the first prompt
in that it granted me, as one of the highly rated drivers and a mentor in the mentor
program, the autonomy and authority to decide on how to guide and advise “leaner”
drivers as I deem fit towards earning and to make the most of their driving experience,
effectively and efficiently. In the current situation, this structure is influencing the
dynamics and behaviors of drivers in the company.

3) Recommend how you would use structure for an alternative course of action
regarding your case.

An alternative course of action I would recommend would be to use the divisional

structure to promote ethical mentoring and align the interests of the drivers and the
organization. Ways in which this can be done are to establish clear and consistent
expectations, guidelines, and feedback mechanisms for the mentoring process and ensure
that they are communicated and followed by both the mentor driver and the "leaner"
driver. Provide training and resources for the mentor driver and the "learner" driver on
Uber’s mission, vision, values, and goals and how they can contribute to them through
their work ethics. Encourage the mentor driver and the "leaner" driver to share their
experiences, challenges, and best practices with other drivers and managers in their
division and learn from them as well.
Recognize and reward the mentor driver and the "learner" driver for their achievements,
improvements, and contributions to Uber’s success, and provide them with opportunities
for further growth and development.

4) Reflect on what you would do or not do differently given what you have learned
about this frame.

In undertaking the course and imbibing the learning outcome and my new perspective on
the organizational structure frame. I look back at the situation I presented herein and
realize that I would have acted differently in my approach to mentoring the “learner”
driver. In understanding the division I belong within Uber, I would seek to understand the
mission, vision, and culture of my Uber ride division, particularly how it aligns with
Uber's overall goals and values (Bolman & Deal, 2021).
As a seasoned Uber driver with over six years of experience, I've come to realize the
importance of understanding the leadership within my division. Despite my role being

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 external, building a strong rapport with those in charge can prove invaluable in terms of
receiving constructive feedback and support. This knowledge would help me gain insight
into the kind of support and rewards offered to drivers like myself and “learner” drivers.

To ensure effective communication and the sharing of best practices, I recognize the need
to coordinate and collaborate with fellow mentor drivers and division managers. Through
this approach, I can positively influence my interactions with others and provide ethical
mentoring to the benefit of both the organization and drivers, which translates to the
highest level of service to the valued riders (Bolman & Deal, 2021).

To effectively evaluate both my own performance and that of the learner driver under my
mentorship, it is crucial that I am well-versed in the resources available for divisional
performance. Striving for a balance between delivering high-quality service and meeting
targets for quantity, I aim to ensure that customers are satisfied and loyal, ultimately
contributing to the growth and profitability of my division and Uber as a whole. By
achieving these goals, I can help to improve earnings for drivers across the board
(Bolman & Deal, 2021).

References

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About us | uber. (n.d.). https://www.uber.com/us/en/about/

Bolman, L. G., & Deal, T. E. (2021). Reframing organizations: Artistry, choice, and leadership
(7th ed.)