A Partitioning Model of Control for Digital Labor Platforms
Authors: Hao, Hui; Tarafdar, Monideepa; Hess, Traci J.
Journal: Journal of the Association for Information Systems (2026)
DOI: 10.17705/1jais.00981
<jats:p>Digital labor platforms (DLPs) digitally connect human workers with consumers and arrange for payment in a type of work known as digital platform work. DLPs face challenges due to the complexity of control in digital platform work: controlling a large number of workers, high flexibility of work, and aggravated worker resistance. Accordingly, they execute algorithmic control, which, however, presents problematic scenarios, such as a lack of autonomy and fairness and low worker well-being. Problematizing control executed solely by DLPs and using only algorithms, we address the research question: How are workers in digital platform work controlled by (multiple) algorithmic and human controllers? We conducted a study of digital platform work in the context of one of the world’s largest app-based food delivery DLPs. We investigated different control mechanisms and how they were executed. Based on 28 interviews with workers and managers, our findings revealed three themes—controllers, control functions, and control means. Analyzing the themes, we developed a “partitioning model” for control in digital platform work. We theorize the distribution of control in digital platform wor…