Boundary Reinforcement in Multisided Platforms: A Configurational Analysis of External Conditions

2023 | HICSS | Citations: 1

Authors: Akinyemi, John Patrick; Jarvenpaa, Sirkka; Ozer, Gorkem Turgut

Abstract: This article contributes to the discussion on the governance dynamics of platfor ... Expand

Abstract: This article contributes to the discussion on the governance dynamics of platform ecosystems. We take a broad perspective to understand how the environment beyond the platform ecosystem (i.e., external conditions) shapes the actions of the platform and its various actors in reinforcing platform boundaries. Prior work explored how external influences, such as societal norms and national and local regulations, influence platform ecosystems, including external competitive pressures. But studies on the broader set of potential influences from external conditions are lacking; in particular, a study of such conditions and their influence across platforms in light of boundary reinforcement is called for. Boundary reinforcement is critical for the identity and legitimacy of a platform and for longer-term platform sustenance. Using a fuzzy-set qualitative configurational analysis (fsQCA) method with input coded from 271 peer-reviewed research articles covering 29 platforms, we offer a model detailing how external conditions influence a platform's boundary reinforcement actions. Collapse

Topics: digital ecosystem fuzzy logic Upwork software developer legal information system

Methods: literature sample longitudinal research fuzzy set qualitative comparative analysis triangulation

Theories: fuzzy set theory management theory theory of abduction

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

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

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

IT Professionals in the Gig Economy

2023 | Business & Information Systems Engineering | Citations: 0

Authors: Gussek, Lisa; Wiesche, Manuel

Abstract: When IT work is performed through digital labor markets, IT professionals have a ... Expand

Abstract: When IT work is performed through digital labor markets, IT professionals have a high degree of personal responsibility for their careers and must use appropriate strategies to be successful. This paper investigates the success of IT freelancers on digital labor platforms. Drawing on signaling theory, a dataset of 7166 IT freelancers is used to examine how activating, pointing, and supporting signals lead to success. Analysis was carried out using negative binomial regression. The results indicate that the three signaling types positively influence the objective career success of IT freelancers. This paper contributes to the literature by testing signaling theory in the new context of digital labor platforms, investigating IT specifics, and proposing support as a new type of signal for IT professionals on digital labor platforms. In practice, the results provide guidelines for IT freelancers to improve their success within their careers. Collapse

Topics: IT career human resource management IT skill IT workforce system support

Methods: digital trace data regression analysis method descriptive statistic computational algorithm statistical hypothesis test

Theories: signaling theory

Contract Choice, Moral Hazard, and Performance Evaluation: Evidence from Online Labor Markets

2023 | HICSS | Citations: 0

Authors: Huang, Peng; Wang, Yifei

Abstract: Due to the spatial and temporal separations between clients and freelancers, onl ... Expand

Abstract: Due to the spatial and temporal separations between clients and freelancers, online labor markets (OLMs) are particularly susceptible to issues related to information asymmetry. Based on the economics of information, we hypothesize that the choice of contract type—i.e., between the fixed-priced (FP) contract and the time-and-materials (TM) contract—has important implications for curbing moral hazard during contract execution, and therefore will influence the client’s perceived contractual performance upon project completion. We test the predictions by assembling a dataset of data analytics projects completed by freelancers on Upwork, the largest online freelancing platform. We find that, consistent with our hypothesis, freelancers under a TM contract receive significantly lower performance ratings by their clients on average compared to those under an FP contract. Interestingly, we also find that the level of expertise required for a project moderates the effect of contract choice on client satisfaction; the negative impact of a TM contract is smaller (i.e., less negative) when a project requires intermediate-level or expert-level skills. Our study offers useful insights into an important institutional determinant of contractual performance evaluation, which has profound implications for freelancers’ reputations in OLMs. Collapse

Topics: moral hazard Upwork analytical information system programming language Elance

Methods: regression analysis method propensity score matching experimental group theory development longitudinal research

Theories: lemon market theory agency theory

COVERT RESISTANCE AGAINST ALGORITHMIC CONTROL ON ONLINE LABOR PLATFORMS – A SYSTEMATIC LITERATURE REVIEW

2023 | European Conference On Information Systems | Citations: 0

Authors: Jiang, Jennifer

Abstract: Online labor platforms (OLPs) such as Uber or Upwork heavily rely on algorithms ... Expand

Abstract: Online labor platforms (OLPs) such as Uber or Upwork heavily rely on algorithms instead of human managers to control workers' behavior. While algorithmic control (AC) allows platform providers to control their workers efficiently, it is often perceived by workers as a tighter control (compared to human-based control) which increases their motivation to resist. Especially covert resistance (i.e., workers' hard-to-observe oppositional actions) provides essential insights into how workers deal with AC that affect platforms' longevity. In this study, we conducted a systematic literature review to develop a theoretical framework showing how and why workers perform covert resistance against AC. Further, our analysis reveals the enabling role of sensemaking for diverse forms of covert resistance. Overall, our study expands the literature on AC by shedding light on the formation of workers' covert resistance. Therefore, we offer platform providers and policymakers crucial insights to create fairer working environments for workers under AC. Collapse

Topics: resistance to change sensemaking organizational control organizational change privacy

Methods: literature sample theory development computational algorithm structured literature research literature study

Reputation Spillover from Agencies on Online Platforms: Evidence from the Entertainment Industry

2023 | Management Information Systems Quarterly | Citations: 0

Authors: Kokkodis, Marios; Adamopoulos, Panagiotis; Ransbotham, Sam

Abstract: Digital markets have proliferated in recent years, overcoming many market ineff ... Expand

Abstract: Digital markets have proliferated in recent years, overcoming many market inefficiencies by facilitating direct interactions between consumers and creators. Thanks to this disintermediation, consumers now have access to a vast number of alternatives, while creators can efficiently reach huge markets. However, the success of digital markets has created a concomitant challenge for creators: differentiation. In crowded markets, agencies (e.g., publishing companies in books, freelance agencies in online labor markets, independent labels in music) can differentiate creators by signaling product quality. But how do agencies' reputations affect product success for creators? Can some agencies do more harm than good? To investigate these research questions, we theorize how variation in creator and agency reputation leads to asymmetric and heterogeneous effects, namely that (1) more reputable agencies have a stronger positive effect on less reputable creators than they have on more reputable creators, and (2) less reputable agencies hurt more reputable creators more than they hurt less reputable ones. Analyses of more than one million observations from two digital markets provide empirical support for these theory-driven arguments. The findings have design implications for markets and contribute to our understanding of how agencies, depending on creator reputation, can either benefit or hurt product success.Marios Kokkodis is a machine learning scientist working on personalization, recommender systems, and markets. His work appears in major information systems, data mining, and multidisciplinary outlets. He has received multiple awards and nominations, including the INFORMS ISS Gordon B. Davis Young Scholar Award, the INFORMS ISS Nunamaker-Chen dissertation award, the NYU Stern Harold W. MacDowell award, and the LinkedIn economic graph challenge award. Collapse

Topics: electronic market social media Google+ digital platform marketing management

Methods: theory development econometric modeling descriptive statistic gradient boosting machine learning

Theories: cognitive theory expectation disconfirmation theory decision theory contrast theory assimilation theory of learning

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

“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