Algorithmic management and app-work in the gig economy: A research agenda for employment relations and HRM

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Date
2019-09-12
Authors
Duggan, James
Sherman, Ultan
Carbery, Ronan
McDonnell, Anthony
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Publisher
John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Published Version
10.1111/1748-8583.12258
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Abstract
Current understanding of what constitutes work in the growing gig economy is heavily conflated, ranging from conceptualisations of independent contracting to other forms of contingent labour. This article calls for a move away from problematic aggregations by proposing a classification of gig work into three variants, all based strongly upon key technological features: app-work, crowdwork, and capital platform work. Focusing specifically on the app-work variant, this article's more delineated focus on the textured dimensions of this work proposes new lines of enquiry into employment relationships and human resource management. Examining the crucial role of algorithmic management, we critically discuss the impact of this novel mediation tool used by gig organisations for the nature of employment relations within app-work, work assignment processes, and performance management. In so doing, we propose a series of research questions that can serve as a guide for future research in this increasingly important field.
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Keywords
Algorithmic management , Employment relations , Gig economy , HRM , Precarious employment , App-work
Citation
Duggan, J., Sherman, U., Carbery, R. and McDonnell, A. (2019) 'Algorithmic management and app-work in the gig economy: A research agenda for employment relations and HRM', Human Resource Management Journal. doi: 10.1111/1748-8583.12258
Link to publisher’s version
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/1748-8583.12258
URI
https://hdl.handle.net/10468/8584
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Cork University Business School - Journal Articles
Copyright
© 2019, John Wiley & Sons Ltd. This is the peer reviewed version of the following article: Duggan, J., Sherman, U., Carbery, R. and McDonnell, A. (2019) 'Algorithmic management and app-work in the gig economy: A research agenda for employment relations and HRM', Human Resource Management Journal. doi: 10.1111/1748-8583.12258, which has been published in final form at https://doi.org/10.1111/1748-8583.12258. This article may be used for non-commercial purposes in accordance with Wiley Terms and Conditions for Use of Self-Archived Versions.