Black car service is hardly commodity labor. Corn is a commodity. Oil is a commodity. The difference between a good driver and a bad one is tremendous--the better ones drive confidently and know where they're going, and the bad ones are tethered to their GPS. As a frequent user of Uber (in NYC) I've seen both.
But I understand I'm not paying for a commodity, which is why this concerns me. My relationship with Uber is through its drivers, not their app--I'm just worried they don't understand that.
There are degres of commodity, it does not only apply to raw material, i.e. IT infrastructure is turning into commodity, but you will still find differentials. The range of differentials is what defines if it's commodity or not.
I would agree with the previous poster, drivers are mostly commodity producers. Just like barbers, you might find one exceptional here and then, but generally it's all commodity.
This is how you end up on the path of calling your work force human capital. Don't go down that path.
Your definition would also include entrepreneurs. There might be a good one here and there, but I could just walk into any coffee shop and pick up another one.
London cab drivers demonstrate your point precisely: a lot of specialized training is required, but they're all identical. A somewhat expensive commodity, but a commodity nonetheless.
Never really thought about it that way, but yes, that definition fits. Some are amazingly elite, some are mediocre, and everything in between.
It's what led to lots of development jobs being outsourced to India and similar. Thankfully though it seems that trend is reversing because businesses are finding out what they gain in cost savings is quickly eaten up by lack of quality.
yeah and that's why some programming activities were outsourced to lower wage countries (low end of the 'range' you refer to) a while ago - and still is.
