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

Detecting Feature Requests of Third-Party Developers through Machine Learning: A Case Study of the SAP Community

2023 | HICSS | Citations: 0

Authors: Kauschinger, M.; Vieth, N.; Schreieck, M.; Krcmar, H.

Abstract: The elicitation of requirements is central for the development of successful so ... Expand

Abstract: The elicitation of requirements is central for the development of successful software products. While traditional requirement elicitation techniques such as user interviews are highly labor-intensive, data-driven elicitation techniques promise enhanced scalability through the exploitation of new data sources like app store reviews or social media posts. For enterprise software vendors, requirements elicitation remains challenging because app store reviews are scarce and vendors have no direct access to users. Against this background, we investigate whether enterprise software vendors can elicit requirements from their sponsored developer communities through data-driven techniques. Following the design science methodology, we collected data from the SAP Community and developed a supervised machine learning classifier, which automatically detects feature requests of third-party developers. Based on a manually labeled data set of 1,500 questions, our classifier reached a high accuracy of 0.819. Our findings reveal that supervised machine learning models are an effective means for the identification of feature requests. Collapse

Topics: enterprise information system requirements elicitation requirements analysis Fiverr cloud computing

Methods: machine learning supervised learning design science naïve bayes classification method

BUILDING AND SUSTAINING COMMUNITIES IN ONLINE LABOUR PLATFORMS

2023 | European Conference On Information Systems | Citations: 0

Authors: Suvivuo, Sampsa; Rinta-Kahila, Tapani; Tuunainen, Virpi

Abstract: Online labour platforms enable the trading of services by connecting buyers who ... Expand

Abstract: Online labour platforms enable the trading of services by connecting buyers who need services with providers willing to deliver those services. One crucial element to a platform's longevity and success lies in creating and fostering a thriving communityotherwise, the platform is more likely to perish. However, we know very little about how such communities can be built. Extant studies have overlooked different stakeholder groups' roles in community building and how primarily online platforms utilize offline activities. In this paper, we study the community-building efforts of six generalist online labour platforms that have succeeded to thrive longer than an average platform. Beyond the traditional stakeholder roles of providing a marketplace (platform), delivering services (providers) and purchasing services (buyers), we find novel unique and shared roles that foster a well-functioning community. We identify four levers of community building: encouraging community participation, involving users, empowering providers, and empowering buyers. Collapse

Topics: Twitter platform work site Fiverr website spreadsheet

Methods: case study survey triangulation qualitative coding multiple case study

Revealing the Voices of Resistance: A Q-Methodology Study on Platform Workers in the Gig Economy

2023 | International Conference on Business Informatics | Citations: 0

Authors: Weber, Matthias; Remus, Ulrich; Geiger, Manfred; Jong, Alexander De

Abstract: While algorithmic management generates several benefits for platform companies, ... Expand

Abstract: While algorithmic management generates several benefits for platform companies, it emanates several issues for workers, which they perceive as threats triggering different forms of resistance behaviors. Although recent studies identify these issues and resistance behaviors, the perspective of the actual subject of resistance, i.e., the gig worker or group of gig workers with resistant behaviors, is yet not well understood. By adopting a Q-methodology mixed-method approach this study tries to identify resistance types of gig workers, explore their characteristics and similarities, and therefore give a voice to the subject of resistance. Based on 21 threats and 14 resistance behaviors, identified in a literature review, we develop a Q-set containing 35 statements, which will be used for data collection with the goal of revealing the richness of the resistance phenomenon in the context of work in the gig economy. Collapse

Topics: platform worker Upwork Fiverr crowdsourcing Uber

Methods: Q methodology literature study mixed method

The Impact of ChatGPT on the Demand for Human Content Generating and Editing Services: Evidence from an Online Labor Market

2023 | International Conference on Information Systems | Citations: 0

Authors: Yuan, Ziqing; Chen, Hailiang

Abstract: The rise of generative AI has been a subject of debate among researchers and pr ... Expand

Abstract: The rise of generative AI has been a subject of debate among researchers and practitioners regarding its effect on the labor market. While some argue that it may displace jobs, others suggest it could create new opportunities and improve productivity. This study examines the impact of the ChatGPT launch on 18,130 services with 199,430 observations using a differencein-differences approach and data from the online labor marketplace Fiverr. The findings suggest that ChatGPT had a negative effect on the demand for human content generating and editing services, with a concentration on writing services. However, there was no significant effect on the demand for editing services. The study also found that the demand for services with higher prices was more negatively affected. These results contribute to the ongoing debate on the impact of generative AI on the labor market and offer practical recommendations for service providers to navigate this new AI-driven landscape. Collapse

Topics: generative AI Fiverr artificial intelligence podcast price management

Methods: chatGPT experimental group longitudinal research difference in differences robustness check

“No Matter I’ll Be Selected; in the Next Challenge I Will Be Better!” – Understanding Non-Technical Skill Development in the Gig Economy

2022 | HICSS | Citations: 0

Authors: Frenzel-Piasentin, Adeline; Glaser, Karoline; Toutaoui, Jonas; Veit, Daniel J.

Abstract: While prior research on gig work environments studied necessary technical skills ... Expand

Abstract: While prior research on gig work environments studied necessary technical skills for information systems development (ISD) professionals and how they can be developed, the improvement of non-technical skills (NTS) has been rarely explored. However, to successfully engage in the gig work economy, the need for strong NTS is increasing. Based on an experiential learning theory (ELT) perspective, we explore how ISD professionals engaging in the gig economy develop NTS by following grounded theory methodology. Our results are threefold: first, we identify crucial NTS for gig workers. Second, we uncover how these NTS are developed in different phases of adapting to working on gig economy platforms. Third, we reveal several strategies for thriving in the gig economy. Based on our findings we develop a process model of non-technical skill development and discuss this model in relation to implications for gig economy literature and practice. Collapse

Topics: platform worker IT skill ELT Upwork Topcoder

Methods: qualitative interview qualitative coding business process modeling survey grounded theory

Theories: experiential learning theory

Understanding the Careers of IT Freelancers on Digital Labor Platforms

2022 | European Conference On Information Systems | Citations: 5

Authors: Gussek, Lisa; Wiesche, Manuel

Abstract: Online freelancing as an alternative working form increasingly gains prominence ... Expand

Abstract: Online freelancing as an alternative working form increasingly gains prominence in research and practice. Here, independent workers offer services on digital labor platforms. While the general understanding of this form of work increases, IT work performed in this form is not fully understood. Especially the collaborative nature of IT work and the high, rapidly changing skill level required, affects the career development of IT freelancers. Therefore, this study aims to understand how the careers of IT freelancers evolve. To answer our research question, we conduct an exploratory analysis of twelve IT freelancers on a digital labor platform. We develop an IT freelancing career process model. Furthermore, we outline advancement and decline mechanisms and different exit options from the digital labor platform. We also illustrate the role of IT freelancer teams. Our findings thus contribute to the body of knowledge on IT work and alternative work forms on digital labor platforms. Collapse

Topics: IT career IT workforce platform work switching cost digital platform

Methods: qualitative interview business process modeling qualitative coding grounded theory personal interview

How Managers Maintain Control Through Collaborative Repair: Evidence from Platform-Mediated “Gigs”

2021 | Organization Science | Citations: 0

Authors: Rahman, Hatim A.; Valentine, Melissa A.

Abstract: This paper develops a new understanding about how “client managers”—those using ... Expand

Abstract: This paper develops a new understanding about how “client managers”—those using platform labor markets to hire and manage workers—attempt to maintain control when managing skilled contractors. We conducted an inductive field study analyzing interactions between client managers and contractors in software development “gigs” mediated by a platform labor market. The platform provided multiple tools client managers could use for control, including in response to unexpected events. We found that, when managers used the tools to exert coercive control over contractors acting unexpectedly, it backfired and contributed to uncompleted project outcomes. In contrast, when they refrained from using the tools for coercive control in such circumstances and instead engaged in what we call collaborative repair, their actions contributed to completed project outcomes. Collaborative repair refers to interactions that surface misaligned interpretations of a situation and help parties negotiate new, reciprocal expectations that restore trust and willingness to continue an exchange. Client managers’ attempts at collaborative repair yielded fuller understanding of project-related breakdowns and shared investment in new expectations, facilitating effective control and completed projects. This study extends prior theories of control by characterizing the new client manager role created by platforms and demonstrating how initiating repair is integral for managers’ capacity to accomplish control in these comparatively brittle work relationships. Collapse

Topics: digital platform systems development platform work IT development project IT project

Methods: qualitative interview archival database qualitative coding field study constant comparative analysis

Consequences of the COVID-19 Pandemic for IT Work

2020 | Information Systems Management | Citations: 0

Authors: Alpar, Paul; Osterbrink, Lars

Abstract: Some businesses gained from the COVID-19 pandemic, but the overall effect on dem ... Expand

Abstract: Some businesses gained from the COVID-19 pandemic, but the overall effect on demand for IT work is negative due to the recession. We may recover from it, once we can handle the medical problems, but some changes will probably stay. One of them is the shift from regular to temporary work in IT because businesses seek more flexibility. This should be accompanied by regulation that prohibits the worsening of work conditions of IT workers. Collapse

Topics: Upwork Fiverr

Unemployment and Worker Participation in the Gig Economy: Evidence from an Online Labor Market

2020 | Information Systems Research | Citations: 46

Authors: Huang, Ni; Burtch, Gordon; Hong, Yili; Pavlou, Paul A.

Abstract: The gig economy has low barriers to entry, enabling flexible work arrangements a ... Expand

Abstract: The gig economy has low barriers to entry, enabling flexible work arrangements and allowing workers to engage in contingent employment, whenever, and in some cases, such as online labor markets, wherever, workers desire. The growth of the gig economy has been partly attributed to technological advancements that enable flexible work environments. In this study, we consider the role of an alternative driver, economic downturns, and associated financial stressors in the offline economy, for example, unemployment. As the exact nature of the relationship between online labor supply and offline unemployment is not immediately clear, in this work, we seek to quantify the relationship, exploring heterogeneity across a variety of county-specific characteristics. We study these relationships in the context of a leading online labor market, combining data on the participation of workers residing in counties across the United States with county-level data on unemployment from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Our results demonstrate a positive and significant association between local (county) unemployment in the traditional offline labor market and the supply of online workers residing in the same county, as well as significantly larger volumes of online project bidding activity from workers in the same county. Specifically, we estimate that a 1% increase in county unemployment is associated with a 21.8% increase in the volume of county residents actively working online at the platform. Furthermore, our results suggest significant heterogeneity in the relationship, such that a significantly larger supply of online labor manifests when unemployment occurs in counties characterized by better internet access, younger and more educated populations, and populations whose social ties are dispersed over a wider geographic area. We discuss the theoretical and practical implications for workers, online labor markets, and policy makers. Collapse

Topics: platform worker online labor market internet technology Upwork Uber

Methods: instrumental variables estimation robustness check longitudinal research experimental group descriptive statistic

Theories: lemon market theory social network theory