Algorithmic Unfairness on Digital Labor Platforms: How Algorithmic Management Practices Disadvantage Workers

Laura  Schulze; Manuel Trenz; Zhao Cai; Chee-Wee Tan

Algorithmic Unfairness on Digital Labor Platforms: How Algorithmic Management Practices Disadvantage Workers

Laura Schulze, Manuel Trenz, Zhao Cai, Chee-Wee Tan

Department of Digitalization

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Article in proceedings › Research › peer-review

Abstract

On digital labor platforms, interactions between workers and clients are algorithmically managed. Previous research found that algorithmic management can disadvantage workers. In this paper, we empirically examine algorithmic unfairness from a sociotechnical perspective. Specifically, we conduct online focus groups with 23 workers who directly interact with algorithmic management practices on digital labor platforms. In using grounded theory methodology, we pursue to understand how algorithmic management promotes unfairness on digital labor platforms. Our emergent theory understands algorithmic unfairness as algorithmic management practices that give rise to systematic disadvantages for workers. Algorithmic management practices either automate decisions or automate the delegation of decisions. Workers experience systematic disadvantages in the form of devaluation, restriction, and exclusion. Our findings serve as a starting point for mitigating algorithmic unfairness in the future.

Original language	English
Title of host publication	Proceedings of the 43 International Conference on Information Systems (ICIS) : Digitization for the Next Generation
Editors	Tilo Böhmann, Kai-Lung Hui, Viswanath Venkatesh
Number of pages	17
Place of Publication	Atlanta, GA
Publisher	Association for Information Systems. AIS Electronic Library (AISeL)
Publication date	12 Dec 2022
Article number	1624
Publication status	Published - 12 Dec 2022
Event	The 43rd International Conference on Information Systems: ICIS 2022: Digitization for the Next Generation - Copenhagen, Denmark Duration: 9 Dec 2022 → 14 Dec 2022 Conference number: 43 https://icis2022.aisconferences.org/

Conference

Conference	The 43rd International Conference on Information Systems: ICIS 2022
Number	43
Country/Territory	Denmark
City	Copenhagen
Period	09/12/2022 → 14/12/2022
Internet address	https://icis2022.aisconferences.org/

Series	Proceedings of the International Conference on Information Systems
ISSN	0000-0033

Keywords

Algorithmic management
Algorithmic unfairness
Worker disadvantages
Digital labor platforms
Decision-making
Automation
Delegation

Access to Document

https://aisel.aisnet.org/icis2022/is_futureofwork/is_futureofwork/8/Licence: Unspecified

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Cite this

Schulze, L., Trenz, M., Cai, Z., & Tan, C.-W. (2022). Algorithmic Unfairness on Digital Labor Platforms: How Algorithmic Management Practices Disadvantage Workers. In T. Böhmann, K.-L. Hui, & V. Venkatesh (Eds.), Proceedings of the 43 International Conference on Information Systems (ICIS): Digitization for the Next Generation Article 1624 Association for Information Systems. AIS Electronic Library (AISeL). https://aisel.aisnet.org/icis2022/is_futureofwork/is_futureofwork/8/

Schulze, Laura ; Trenz, Manuel ; Cai, Zhao et al. / Algorithmic Unfairness on Digital Labor Platforms : How Algorithmic Management Practices Disadvantage Workers. Proceedings of the 43 International Conference on Information Systems (ICIS): Digitization for the Next Generation. editor / Tilo Böhmann ; Kai-Lung Hui ; Viswanath Venkatesh. Atlanta, GA : Association for Information Systems. AIS Electronic Library (AISeL), 2022. (Proceedings of the International Conference on Information Systems).

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abstract = "On digital labor platforms, interactions between workers and clients are algorithmically managed. Previous research found that algorithmic management can disadvantage workers. In this paper, we empirically examine algorithmic unfairness from a sociotechnical perspective. Specifically, we conduct online focus groups with 23 workers who directly interact with algorithmic management practices on digital labor platforms. In using grounded theory methodology, we pursue to understand how algorithmic management promotes unfairness on digital labor platforms. Our emergent theory understands algorithmic unfairness as algorithmic management practices that give rise to systematic disadvantages for workers. Algorithmic management practices either automate decisions or automate the delegation of decisions. Workers experience systematic disadvantages in the form of devaluation, restriction, and exclusion. Our findings serve as a starting point for mitigating algorithmic unfairness in the future.",

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Schulze, L, Trenz, M, Cai, Z & Tan, C-W 2022, Algorithmic Unfairness on Digital Labor Platforms: How Algorithmic Management Practices Disadvantage Workers. in T Böhmann, K-L Hui & V Venkatesh (eds), Proceedings of the 43 International Conference on Information Systems (ICIS): Digitization for the Next Generation., 1624, Association for Information Systems. AIS Electronic Library (AISeL), Atlanta, GA, Proceedings of the International Conference on Information Systems, The 43rd International Conference on Information Systems: ICIS 2022, Copenhagen, Denmark, 09/12/2022. <https://aisel.aisnet.org/icis2022/is_futureofwork/is_futureofwork/8/>

Algorithmic Unfairness on Digital Labor Platforms: How Algorithmic Management Practices Disadvantage Workers. / Schulze, Laura ; Trenz, Manuel; Cai, Zhao et al.
Proceedings of the 43 International Conference on Information Systems (ICIS): Digitization for the Next Generation. ed. / Tilo Böhmann; Kai-Lung Hui; Viswanath Venkatesh. Atlanta, GA: Association for Information Systems. AIS Electronic Library (AISeL), 2022. 1624 (Proceedings of the International Conference on Information Systems).

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Article in proceedings › Research › peer-review

TY - GEN

T1 - Algorithmic Unfairness on Digital Labor Platforms

T2 - The 43rd International Conference on Information Systems: ICIS 2022

AU - Schulze, Laura

AU - Trenz, Manuel

AU - Cai, Zhao

AU - Tan, Chee-Wee

N1 - Conference code: 43

PY - 2022/12/12

Y1 - 2022/12/12

N2 - On digital labor platforms, interactions between workers and clients are algorithmically managed. Previous research found that algorithmic management can disadvantage workers. In this paper, we empirically examine algorithmic unfairness from a sociotechnical perspective. Specifically, we conduct online focus groups with 23 workers who directly interact with algorithmic management practices on digital labor platforms. In using grounded theory methodology, we pursue to understand how algorithmic management promotes unfairness on digital labor platforms. Our emergent theory understands algorithmic unfairness as algorithmic management practices that give rise to systematic disadvantages for workers. Algorithmic management practices either automate decisions or automate the delegation of decisions. Workers experience systematic disadvantages in the form of devaluation, restriction, and exclusion. Our findings serve as a starting point for mitigating algorithmic unfairness in the future.

AB - On digital labor platforms, interactions between workers and clients are algorithmically managed. Previous research found that algorithmic management can disadvantage workers. In this paper, we empirically examine algorithmic unfairness from a sociotechnical perspective. Specifically, we conduct online focus groups with 23 workers who directly interact with algorithmic management practices on digital labor platforms. In using grounded theory methodology, we pursue to understand how algorithmic management promotes unfairness on digital labor platforms. Our emergent theory understands algorithmic unfairness as algorithmic management practices that give rise to systematic disadvantages for workers. Algorithmic management practices either automate decisions or automate the delegation of decisions. Workers experience systematic disadvantages in the form of devaluation, restriction, and exclusion. Our findings serve as a starting point for mitigating algorithmic unfairness in the future.

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KW - Algorithmic unfairness

KW - Worker disadvantages

KW - Digital labor platforms

KW - Decision-making

KW - Automation

KW - Delegation

M3 - Article in proceedings

T3 - Proceedings of the International Conference on Information Systems

BT - Proceedings of the 43 International Conference on Information Systems (ICIS)

A2 - Böhmann, Tilo

A2 - Hui, Kai-Lung

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Schulze L, Trenz M, Cai Z, Tan CW. Algorithmic Unfairness on Digital Labor Platforms: How Algorithmic Management Practices Disadvantage Workers. In Böhmann T, Hui KL, Venkatesh V, editors, Proceedings of the 43 International Conference on Information Systems (ICIS): Digitization for the Next Generation. Atlanta, GA: Association for Information Systems. AIS Electronic Library (AISeL). 2022. 1624. (Proceedings of the International Conference on Information Systems).