Advanced Professional Development
Overview
This assignment requires you to form a group of two to four people from within your Practical class and research one disruptive technology company. The company is to be Australian-owned in 2018 and operating in and around Melbourne, Victoria. Next your group is to identify ways in which this company's operations could be improved or enhanced by your group. Finally, you are required to put together a business case proposal to ask this organisation to fund you for your venture into improving their business.
There are many examples of disruptive technology companies which provide new mobile applications designed to put users in touch with a wider community of prospective sharers or customers. For example, the ride-sharing business of Uber is designed to enable users to book, pay for and share a journey to a particular place at a particular time with someone else who is travelling that way. Spotless advertises itself as a leading provider of integrated services for customers, while Uber and Uber Eats consider that they provide tailored technology solutions for customers. Airtasker is an Australian company providing an online marketplace to enable users to outsource their jobs around the home. There are many similar apps available.
The aim is to select one disruptive technology app, such as Airtasker or Freelancer. What all of these disruptive apps have in common is an app with a clever algorithm which puts customers in connection with the business providers. However, underlying them is a challenge to the existing regulated trading position in Australia. For instance, Uber challenges taxi drivers, by undercutting their prices but not paying the Government licence fees, or taxes. Also, who worries about work not performed properly? With Uber drivers, there is no compulsion to have insurance covering their passengers, and there is no requirement to take disabled customers.
This assignment consists of two parts. The first is a written report where your group explains the points outlined below. The second part is to present your business case and pitch to your practical class.
a) The particular disruptive technology business you have selected and how it operates in Melbourne
b) Who the customers might be and what this company provides for them
c) Who may be considered as employees and what the company provides for them and for people who operate under its name
d) What challenges this company poses to existing businesses and any dilemmas this business poses for the wider community
e) What possible solutions can your group recommend to address the dilemmas that you have identified and considered
f) Summary of your consideration of the pros and cons of this disruptive technology
g) Explanation of where you think your group could contribute to extending, improving or enhancing this business
h) Discussion of how you would pitch your ideas to request funding from this business.
The report is to be professionally structured, with a title, an introduction and conclusion, some background information, and paragraphs containing your thoughts, reasoning and explanations. There must be a bibliography at the end containing all the references you have read for the report.
The report is to be more than one page, but no more than three pages of text no larger than 12 point, and no smaller than 8pt. The language of your review report is to show that you have read and understood the company's policies, reflected and carefully considered what they should be considering. Please submit the report as a .pdf on or before October 8.