University of Twente Student Theses
Duality Explored: The Algorithmic Management - Autonomy Interplay
Libbertz, Michael A. (2024) Duality Explored: The Algorithmic Management - Autonomy Interplay.
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| Abstract: | This paper delves into the intricate interplay between algorithmic management (AM) and worker’s autonomy, addressing the existing theoretical ambiguity surrounding their relationship. While prior research has predominantly painted a negative picture of AM's influence on autonomy, this study adopts a neutral stance, aiming to answer the research question: "What characteristics of algorithmic management enable and/or restrain different dimensions of autonomy?" To achieve this, AM is deconstructed into three distinct characteristics, while autonomy is divided into three overarching dimensions. The research employs a qualitative strategy, utilizing semi-structured interviews with delivery workers from the company Flink, who are subject to AM. The results reveal that each AM characteristic exerts both enabling and restraining influences on worker autonomy, presenting a comprehensive understanding of these dynamics. Furthermore, the study emphasizes the significance of contextual factors, such as human involvement, the support or replacement of AM managers by the system, and the technological interface, in comprehending the AM-autonomy interplay. In showcasing how algorithmic management simultaneously restrains and enables autonomy, this study challenges prevailing narratives in the literature. It argues that the desired consequences of algorithms for workers coexist with the undesired consequences often reported in existing research. Through this nuanced exploration, the paper contributes to a more comprehensive understanding of the intricate dynamics between AM and worker autonomy. Keywords: algorithms, algorithmic management, job autonomy, duality |
| Item Type: | Essay (Master) |
| Faculty: | BMS: Behavioural, Management and Social Sciences |
| Subject: | 85 business administration, organizational science |
| Programme: | Business Administration MSc (60644) |
| Link to this item: | https://purl.utwente.nl/essays/98168 |
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