A Capability Approach to worker dignity under Algorithmic Management.

Area of Science:

• Social Sciences
• Management Studies
• Ethics

Background:

• Algorithmic Management (AM) is increasingly prevalent in the workplace.
• Existing literature primarily focuses on AM's negative impacts, such as exploitation and dignity violations.
• A clear framework for understanding worker dignity within AM contexts is currently lacking.

Purpose of the Study:

• To propose a conceptual framework for studying and evaluating the impact of Algorithmic Management (AM) on worker dignity.
• To address the gap in understanding worker dignity within the context of software algorithms at work.
• To expand the focus of AM literature beyond exploitation to include dignity enablement.

Main Methods:

• Development of a conceptual framework grounded in the Capability Approach (CA).
• Analysis of how CA principles can be applied to understand worker dignity under AM.
• Review of existing literature on Algorithmic Management and worker dignity.

Main Results:

• A novel Capability Approach (CA)-based conceptual framework is proposed for studying worker dignity under Algorithmic Management (AM).
• The framework allows for the evaluation of both potential harms and benefits of AM on worker dignity.
• The study expands the traditional focus on AM-related exploitation.

Conclusions:

• The CA-based framework offers a valuable tool for researching Algorithmic Management's complex effects on worker dignity.
• This approach can identify how AM systems might both undermine and promote worker dignity.
• Further research is needed to explore the nuanced relationship between AM and worker dignity.