Online Labor Platforms and the Role of Job Security and Compensation (Mis)Fits for Gig Workers

2023 | International Conference on Information Systems | Citations: 1

Authors: Adam, Martin; Wiener, Martin; Benlian, Alexander

Abstract: Online labor platforms (OLPs) use algorithms to manage their workers. Prior res ... Expand

Abstract: Online labor platforms (OLPs) use algorithms to manage their workers. Prior research has examined how OLP management shapes workers' attitudes, implicitly assuming that workers have the same preferences. However, research has largely neglected the role of (mis)fits between what workers need and what they receive from OLPs. Therefore, we conducted a survey with 121 Mechanical Turk workers and used polynomial regression analysis of workers' actual needs and perceived OLP supplies. Our results suggest that higher job security fit decreases perceived exploitation and increases system satisfaction, whereas higher compensation fit decreases perceived exploitation. In addition, we find that job security misfit has decreasing marginal effects on perceived exploitation and increasing marginal effects on system satisfaction. Overall, we contribute to a more nuanced understanding of workers' reactions to the design of OLPs by shedding light on the interplay between what gig workers need and what they perceive to receive from such platforms. Collapse

Topics: IS satisfaction platform worker algorithmic management digital platform ride sharing platform

Methods: survey regression analysis method cross sectional research polynomial regression theoretical contribution

A Taxonomy of Algorithmic Control Systems

2023 | International Conference on Information Systems | Citations: 0

Authors: Alizadeh, Armin; Hirsch, Felix; Jiang, Jennifer; Wiener, Martin; Benlian, Alexander

Abstract: Algorithmic control (AC) uses digital technologies and advanced algorithms to c ... Expand

Abstract: Algorithmic control (AC) uses digital technologies and advanced algorithms to control workers and is rapidly becoming a central component of modern work environments.While previous research has explored the implications of AC by examining its specific forms, mechanisms, or functions, this research argues for a broader understanding of AC as socio-technical systems, explicitly considering the technological and organizational characteristics of AC. The overarching goal of this study is to identify and conceptualize the core dimensions and respective characteristics of AC systems. To achieve this goal, we develop a taxonomy based on a review of prior literature and an analysis of 21 empirical examples. Furthermore, we demonstrate the application and usefulness of the derived taxonomy by applying it to three real-world AC systems. By adopting a holistic system perspective and developing a validated taxonomy, our study contributes to the theoretical understanding of AC systems and sets the stage for deeper exploration in future research. Collapse

Topics: organizational control organizational context computer hardware information technology capability Uber

Methods: literature study case study theory development computational algorithm

Theories: socio technical theory

Strategic Investments for Platform Launch and Ecosystem Growth: A Dynamic Analysis

2023 | Journal of Management Information Systems | Citations: 0

Authors: Anderson Jr., Edward G.; Parker, Geoffrey G.; Tan, Burcu

Abstract: Multi-sided platforms must make decisions on both pricing and engineering invest ... Expand

Abstract: Multi-sided platforms must make decisions on both pricing and engineering investment and must continually adjust them as the platform scales over its lifecycle. Engineering investments can be allocated to features that improve a platform's standalone value, social features to take advantage of same-side network effects, or integration tools and boundary resources to facilitate third-party content creation. Guidance in the academic or practitioner literature is not granular. Moreover, relevant normative economic models that consider externalities are rarely dynamic. Hence, there is a gap in knowledge about how to best balance tradeoffs between different strategic decisions throughout the entire platform lifecycle. To begin to address this gap, we explore normative strategies for coordinating pricing and engineering investment decisions on a continuous basis under different ecosystem conditions. We build a simulation model informed by economics and marketing theory and perform extensive sensitivity analyses on key parameters in different ecosystem scenarios over a multi-period lifecycle. We find that pricing and investment strategies must continuously change to perform optimally. In particular, strategies that are most effective at launch often differ from those that are most effective during scaling as well as those most effective at maturity. We also find that the optimal strategy depends strongly on the monetization model and market aversion to price changes. Lastly, we specifically examine four different industry segments: mobile platforms, social media, the sharing economy, and business-to-business. The results provide evidence that the trajectory of platform pricing and investment strategies should greatly differ depending on industrial context. Collapse

Topics: price management digital platform social media decision making business-to-business

Methods: simulation sensitivity analysis system dynamics optimization model conjoint analysis

Theories: control theory marketing theory

Will Algorithms Replace Managers? A Systematic Literature Review on Algorithmic Management

2023 | International Conference on Information Systems | Citations: 0

Authors: Becker, Luc; Wurm, Bastian; Hess, Thomas

Abstract: Algorithms increasingly take on tasks traditionally performed by humans. They n ... Expand

Abstract: Algorithms increasingly take on tasks traditionally performed by humans. They not only serve as co-workers to their human counterparts but increasingly take over management tasks by supervising and coordinating human workers -a phenomenon referred to as Algorithmic Management (AM). There is a growing research interest in this topic, but currently, the field lacks an overview and thorough understanding of what types of managerial work algorithms already perform. We address this with a structured literature review. We find that the automation of management work and workers' responses to it (so-called algoactivism) have received the most attention. However, the configuration of AM systems has so far received little systematic attention. We further analyze which management functions algorithms perform. We find that while algorithms primarily supervise and investigate workers, coordinating interdependent workers and tasks has not been addressed. We propose several avenues for future research. Collapse

Topics: algorithmic management database system organizational context Uber knowledge base

Methods: computational algorithm literature study literature sample structured literature research

Algorithmic Management: Its Implications for Information Systems Research

2023 | Communications of the Association for Information Systems | Citations: 4

Authors: Cameron, Lindsey; Lamers, Laura; Leicht-Deobald, Ulrich; Lutz, Christoph; Meijerink, Jeroen; Möhlmann, Mareike

Abstract: In recent years, the topic of algorithmic management has received increasing at ... Expand

Abstract: In recent years, the topic of algorithmic management has received increasing attention in information systems (IS) research and beyond. As both emerging platform businesses and established companies rely on artificial intelligence and sophisticated software to automate tasks previously done by managers, important organizational, social, and ethical questions emerge. However, a cross-disciplinary approach to algorithmic management that brings together IS perspectives with other (sub-)disciplines such as macro-and micro-organizational behavior, business ethics, and digital sociology is missing, despite its usefulness for IS research. This article engages in cross-disciplinary agenda setting through an in-depth report of a professional development workshop (PDW) entitled "Algorithmic Management: Toward a Cross-Disciplinary Research Agenda" delivered at the 2021 Academy of Management Annual Meeting. Three leading experts (Mareike Möhlmann, Lindsey Cameron, and Laura Lamers) on the topic provide their insights on the current status of algorithmic management research, how their work contributes to this area, where the field is heading in the future, and what important questions should be answered going forward. These accounts are followed up by insights from the breakout group discussions at the PDW that provided further input. Overall, the experts and workshop participants emphasized that future research should examine both the desirable and undesirable outcomes of algorithmic management and should not shy away from posing ethical and normative questions. Collapse

Topics: algorithmic management sensemaking platform worker Uber pandemic

Methods: computational algorithm theory development group interview ethnography grounded theory

Theories: organizational behavior theory enactment theory

Introduction to the Minitrack on Crowd-based Platforms

2023 | HICSS | Citations: 0

Authors: Chen, Pei-Yu; Huang, Nina; Gu, Bin

Abstract: ... Expand

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Topics: crowdsourcing crowdfunding platform worker social media online labor market

Methods: difference in differences natural language processing longitudinal research natural experiment machine learning

Theories: signaling theory theory of affordance lemon market theory

Impact and implications for practice

2023 | Information Systems Journal | Citations: 1

Authors: Davison, Robert M.

Abstract: ... Expand

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Topics: digital ecosystem information technology capability Uber

Methods: theoretical contribution computational algorithm literature sample

External Interfaces or Internal Processes? Market Positioning and Divergent Professionalization Paths in Young Ventures

2023 | Organization Science | Citations: 0

Authors: DeSantola, Alicia; Gulati, Ranjay; Zhelyazkov, Pavel I.

Abstract: We explore how the initial market positioning of entrepreneurial ventures shapes ... Expand

Abstract: We explore how the initial market positioning of entrepreneurial ventures shapes how they professionalize over time, focusing specifically on the development of functional roles. In contrast to existing literature, which presumes a uniform march toward professionalization as ventures scale and complete developmental milestones, we advance a contingent perspective, distinguishing between the development of external interface functions (marketing & sales and customer development) and internal process functions (accounting, human resources, and finance). Specifically, we argue that positioning in an unconventional market space raises demand for external engagement that focuses ventures’ attention and resources toward developing external interface roles. At the same time, such unconventional ventures are less apt to elaborate their internal process roles relative to more conventional peers. We test these predictions using a novel longitudinal data set on the internal organizations of 3,748 U.S.-based entrepreneurial ventures. In contrast to common assumptions of convergent professionalization, our theory and findings advance the perspective that ventures pursue divergent professionalization paths based on their initial market positioning as they scale up. Funding: This research was generously funded in part by a Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation Dissertation Fellowship awarded to the first author. Supplemental Material: The online appendix is available at https://doi.org/10.1287/orsc.2021.1561. Collapse

Topics: accounting marketing management human resource management database system entrepreneurship

Methods: qualitative interview robustness check longitudinal research statistical hypothesis test descriptive statistic

Theories: organizational theory contingency theory

To Speak up or Shut up? Revealing the Drivers of Crowdworker Voice Behaviors in Crowdsourcing Work Environments

2023 | Communications of the Association for Information Systems | Citations: 0

Authors: Deng, Xuefei (Nancy); Taylor, Joseph; Joshi, K.

Abstract: This study examines worker voice behaviors in the microtask crowdsourcing work ... Expand

Abstract: This study examines worker voice behaviors in the microtask crowdsourcing work environment (CSWE) where voice channels are absent. Informed by employee voice research, this study adopts the revealed causal mapping method to analyze the detailed narratives of 60 workers from Amazon Mechanical Turk. Our data analysis shows that the crowdworkers did engage in voice behaviors, but their voices were not always heard, depending on recipients. The crowdworker voice was directed to three different recipients (worker community, job requester, and platform) and influenced by six antecedents (duty orientation, efficacy judgment, workgroup identification, anger/frustration, futility, and achievement orientation). Based on the findings, we propose a model of worker voice antecedents and moderators in the CSWE. This study extends employee voice research by presenting a moderator perspective in the CSWE. Moreover, our study provides a nuanced understanding of crowdworker voice behaviors from two major aspectsantecedent and recipientcontributing to crowdsourcing research. Collapse

Topics: crowdsourcing online community virtual workplace platform worker IT work

Methods: conceptual modelling design artifact survey theoretical contribution qualitative coding

Economic Impacts of Platform-Endorsed Quality Certification: Evidence from Airbnb

2023 | Management Information Systems Quarterly | Citations: 0

Authors: Dewan, Sanjeev; Kim, Jooho; Nian, Tingting

Abstract: We contribute to the emerging literature on quality certification by digital pl ... Expand

Abstract: We contribute to the emerging literature on quality certification by digital platforms by studying the launch of the Airbnb Plus service, wherein the platform inspects properties and provides a badge that presumably signals the quality of the property and the reliability of the host. Our identification strategy relies on the fact that the Airbnb Plus service was launched in different cities at different times, and listings within the cities received the certification at different times. Using a staggered difference-in-differences estimation strategy in conjunction with suitable matching methods, we found that the Airbnb Plus certification increased the weekly booking rate of Plus listings by about 6.8% on average (direct effect). We also found some evidence that non-Plus listings saw a temporary decline in booking rate when one or more nearby properties received a Plus certification (externality effect). The net impact of the Airbnb Plus service on the platform itself was an annual increase in revenue of about $37,500 for the average 2-kilometer zone in a U.S. city that included one or more Plus listings, as compared to matched zones without any Plus listings (local platform effect). We performed additional analyses, including a randomized experiment, to demonstrate the robustness of our findings. Overall, our results suggest that platform-endorsed quality certification has significant economic impacts-not just on the listings that receive the certification but on other listings on the platform as well as on the platform itself. Collapse

Topics: Airbnb website sharing platform peer-to-peer model Google+

Methods: experimental group experiment propensity score method product review robustness check