Technological Disruption in Singapore's Taxi Industry

This assignment examines the challenges faced by Singapore's taxi industry due to technological disruptions, particularly from ride-hailing services like GrabTaxi. It analyzes the need for technological training programs for taxi drivers to adapt to these changes. The report proposes learning outcomes, addresses potential challenges, and suggests solutions for effective training implementation.

Running head:TRAINING NEEDS FOR SINGAPORE’S TAXI INDUSTRY
TRAINING NEEDS FOR SINGAPORE’S TAXI INDUSTRY
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Author Note

1TRAINING NEEDS FOR SINGAPORE’S TAXI INDUSTRY
Executive Summary:
The purpose of the report is to present the need for training of the human resource of Comfort
Transportation Pte. Ltd. For coping with the disruption in the taxi industry, Singapore. The report
uses the method of SOLO taxonomy to measure the effectiveness of learning. The report
concludes the discussion by providing the detail requirements for the training program.

2TRAINING NEEDS FOR SINGAPORE’S TAXI INDUSTRY
Table of Contents
Introduction:....................................................................................................................................3
Training Needs to Manage Challenge:............................................................................................3
Learning Outcomes and Relevancy of Training:.............................................................................4
Training and Assessment Methods:.................................................................................................4
Training and Assessment Method One:.......................................................................................5
Training and Assessment Method Two:......................................................................................5
Required resources:.........................................................................................................................6
Budget of the training programs (yearly):...................................................................................6
Required resources for program:.................................................................................................6
Advantages and Disadvantages:......................................................................................................7
Conclusion:......................................................................................................................................7
Reference:........................................................................................................................................8

3TRAINING NEEDS FOR SINGAPORE’S TAXI INDUSTRY
Introduction:
The transport industry of Singapore is technological advancing. The cab and m-bike are
capturing market of transport industry of Singapore, whereas the taxi industry are losing its pace
in the same. The drivers and other human resource of cab and m-bike transportation are more
technologically advance and trained which is creating constant threat to Singapore’s taxi industry
(Goh, 2017). It is found from the survey of business environment that rapid growth in cab service
is creating strong challenges for the Singapore’s taxi industry (Auyong, 2017). Customers are
more satisfied by the service of cab than taxi. Therefore, the need for training of human
resources of Comfort Transportation Pte. Ltd. is an indication towards the customer satisfaction.
On the other hand, the introduction of m-bike in transportation industry is another threat to taxi
service of Comfort (Loh, 2016). The drivers as well as the whole service of both cab and m-bike
are more technologically updated and customers prefer this service more than taxi. This can be
sheer threat to Comfort which is one of the oldest taxi service in Singapore. Therefore, for
maintaining the sustainability and holding customers the training is needed for human resources
of Comfort.
Training Needs to Manage Challenge:
The basic training needs of the organizational and its human resources signify the
maintenance of Comfort’s sustainability in transport market of Singapore. In short, for entering
technologically advance world of transportation, the company requires proper and effective
training. Since there are number of threats in the taxi industry of Singapore such as the
introduction of m-bike, technological advancement of cab service, customer satisfaction and
many others, the present condition of the Comfort needs training for both internal and external

4TRAINING NEEDS FOR SINGAPORE’S TAXI INDUSTRY
executives for better performance in the competitive market (Hwei, 2017). On the other hand, the
senior workers are not well equipped with technological competence which indicates the
requirement for training. Along with this, some of the new entry level workers lacks soft skills
needed for the service which further refers to the need for training.
Learning Outcomes and Relevancy of Training:
The needs of training are signified by some learning outcomes of the learners. The
proposed learning outcome for training includes improvement of public image, development of
soft skills, technological upskilling of incumbent workers, easy and swift transaction process
and finally the sustainability of the firm in transport industry (Hwei, 2017). The learning
outcomes are aligned with organizational objectives of the firm in terms of sustaining in
transport industry. It must be noted that, despite being of the oldest and trusted taxi service in
Singapore, Comfort is losing its ground in the present scenario. Therefore, the training is
addresses the advancement of technological competency of the company’s human resource as
well as sustainability of Comfort in competitive transport market of Singapore (Auyong, 2017).
Training and Assessment Methods:
The contemporary work environment requires all employees to be highly skilled and
perform complicated jobs in a more cost-effective, safe and efficient manner. Training and
assessment is very much required for the employees who are not being able to perform to a
specific standard or not matching the expected performance level (Mukherjee, 2016). Not only
that, if the organization wants to incorporate some new technology and enhance existing
customer services, the training and assessment methods are quite necessary (Petzoldt et al.,

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2013). As discussed earlier, the taxi industry in Singapore is facing severe technological issues;
therefore appropriate training and assessment for the employees are designed below:
Training and Assessment Method One:
Challenge faced: The entry level workers are having trouble with technological needs of the
industry (Goh, 2017). Therefore, even though the industry is ensuring that young employees
acquire the fundamental and necessary skills, yet the issues are increasing in numbers.
Proposed Solutions:
 The most significant challenge that has been identified that the entry level and young
employees are lacking basic technological skills for utilizing the newly incorporated
technologies and other occupational skills such as soft skills. Therefore, the industry can
develop a national certified training model for the taxi industry. This model will vary
according to the types of transportation offered by the taxi.
 The industry can also develop an internship program or on-job-training for the industry.
Within these programs, the authorities will be able of assessing and selecting the most
capable candidates. The programs can be sponsored by the employers.
Training and Assessment Method Two:
Challenge faced: The taxi industry in Singapore is also facing issues with existing senior
workers. Some of them are not being able to cope up with the newly incorporated technologies,
management and other occupational skills; therefore, their quality of work is hampering the
image of this industry for the customers.
Proposed Solutions:

6TRAINING NEEDS FOR SINGAPORE’S TAXI INDUSTRY
 This industry should immediately develop a feedback system for existing workers so that
they can identify the ones who are lacking necessary skills. After a skillful identification
of employees, the organizations will develop training modalities for a set of technological
skills with the same and a specific assessment tool. The employees will be adapting
specific skills for comprehending technological requirements of the industry.
 A multi modal module can also be developed for this training program including the
paper, websites, CDs for the individuals with diverse learning styles.
Required resources:
Budget of the training programs (yearly):
Trainer Fees: $10,000
Cost of Infrastructure: $25,000
Accommodation for trainees: $5000
Transportation cost: $2000
Cost of resources: $5000
Food and beverage: $10,000
Total cost: $57,000
Total cost: $57,000
Required resources for program:
For these programs, necessary resources will be:

7TRAINING NEEDS FOR SINGAPORE’S TAXI INDUSTRY
 Financial resource: The financial resources will include the cost of training programs
which will be entirely funded by the employers. The employees can also get the federal
support in terms of financial resources.
 Technological resources: These resources will include computers, software, projectors,
electricity, internet and other resource for telecommunication.
 Human resources: It will need external and internal trainers for conducting the
programs.
Advantages and Disadvantages:
A major advantage of conducting the training and assessment programs is that it will help
the employees to enhance their knowledge and adapt the necessary skills. Also, their productivity
will be increased as they will be accustomed to newly incorporated technologies. Their decision
making power will be developed which will help them to deal with adverse situations.
The disadvantages of the training programs include the cost of the training. As the
employers have to invest a good amount of money, their profit can be decreased.
Conclusion:
Therefore, it can be concluded from the above report on the technological disruption of
the taxi industry of Singapore that the technological training is the only possible solution for
coping with the advance and updated transportation of Singapore. The required training proposes
some learning outcomes that must be addressed in the training program. The company needs
sufficient amount of money for conducting the training program. The report presents some
propped solution for the challenges faced by Comfort in the training process that will make the

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same easy. However, there are some disadvantages in the process of training as proposed, but the
proper management of the company of capable of avoiding the same.

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Reference:
Auyong. (2017). Coping with technological disruption in the taxi industry. TODAYonline.
Retrieved 28 October 2017, from http://www.todayonline.com/singapore/coping-
technological-disruption-taxi-industry
Goh, D. (2017). [Singapore] GrabTaxi – Disrupting The Singapore Cab Industry, One Cab At A
Time | Young Upstarts. Youngupstarts.com. Retrieved 30 October 2017, from
http://www.youngupstarts.com/2013/10/21/singapore-grabtaxi-disrupting-the-singapore-
cab-industry-one-cab-at-a-time/
Hashim, H. I. C., &Shariff, S. M. M. (2016). Halal Supply Chain Management Training: Issues
and Challenges. Procedia Economics and Finance, 37, 33-38.
Hwang, B. G., Zhu, L., & Tan, J. S. H. (2017). Green business park project management:
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209-219.
Hwei, L. (2017). The Face Of Disruption: Singapore’s Taxis and Private Cars. [online] Vulcan
Post. Available at: https://vulcanpost.com/493321/the-face-of-disruption-singapores-
taxis-and-private-cars/ [Accessed 30 Oct. 2017].
Loh, M. (2016). Three challenges disruption poses for Singapore. Atimes.com. Retrieved 30
October 2017, from http://www.atimes.com/three-challenges-disruption-poses-singapore/

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Mukherjee, A. (2016). Taxi! Singapore's Uber Disruption Fades. Bloomberg Gadfly. Retrieved
14 March 2016, from https://www.bloomberg.com/gadfly/articles/2016-03-15/taxi-
singapore-s-uber-disruption-fades
Petzoldt, T., Weiß, T., Franke, T., Krems, J. F., &Bannert, M. (2013). Can driver education be
improved by computer based training of cognitive skills?. Accident Analysis &
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Wong, S. C. (2016). Transformation of employment patterns and need for career services in
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