Jan 31, 2020
New CAIS article on "Technology-Mediated Control" (Uber & Co.)
Authors: W. Alec Cram (University of Waterloo), & Martin Wiener
Journal: Communications of the Association for Information Systems (CAIS)
Title: Technology-Mediated Control: Case Examples and Research Directions for the Future of Organizational Control
Abstract: This study explores the emerging topic of technology-mediated control (TMC), which refers to an organization’s using digital technologies to influence workers to behave in a manner consistent with organizational objectives. The popular press has discussed many mobile apps, digital sensors, software algorithms, and other technologies that support, or automate, managerial control processes. Building on the rich history of research on organizational and information systems (IS) control and on ubiquitous technology, we explore how TMC approaches have increasingly begun to replace traditional, face-to-face control relationships. In particular, we analyze four illustrative case examples (UPS, Uber, Rationalizer, and Humanyze) to propose a detailed research agenda for future study in this important new topic area.