IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/sae/treure/v29y2023i1p105-120.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Negotiating limits on algorithmic management in digitalised services: cases from Germany and Norway

Author

Listed:
  • Virginia Doellgast

    (Cornell University, USA)

  • Ines Wagner

    (Institute for Social Research, Norway)

  • Sean O’Brady

    (McMaster University, Canada)

Abstract

Artificial intelligence (AI)-based algorithms are increasingly used to monitor employees and to automate management decisions. In this article, we ask how worker representatives adapt traditional collective voice institutions to regulate the adoption and use of these tools in the workplace. Our findings are based on a comparative study of union and works council responses to algorithmic management in contact centres from two similar telecommunications companies in Germany and Norway. In both case studies, worker representatives mobilised collective voice institutions to protect worker privacy and discretion associated with remote monitoring and workforce management technologies. However, they relied on different sources of institutional power, connected to co-determination rights, enforcement of data protection laws, and labour cooperation structures.

Suggested Citation

  • Virginia Doellgast & Ines Wagner & Sean O’Brady, 2023. "Negotiating limits on algorithmic management in digitalised services: cases from Germany and Norway," Transfer: European Review of Labour and Research, , vol. 29(1), pages 105-120, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:treure:v:29:y:2023:i:1:p:105-120
    DOI: 10.1177/10242589221143044
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/10242589221143044
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1177/10242589221143044?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Alex J. Wood, 2021. "Algorithmic Management: Consequences for Work Organisation and Working Conditions," JRC Working Papers on Labour, Education and Technology 2021-07, Joint Research Centre.
    2. Thomas Haipeter, 2020. "Digitalisation, unions and participation: the German case of ‘industry 4.0’," Industrial Relations Journal, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 51(3), pages 242-260, May.
    3. Gerhard Bosch & Jutta Schmitz-Kießler, 2020. "Shaping Industry 4.0 – an experimental approach developed by German trade unions," Transfer: European Review of Labour and Research, , vol. 26(2), pages 189-206, May.
    4. Diane E. Bailey, 2022. "Emerging Technologies at Work: Policy Ideas to Address Negative Consequences for Work, Workers, and Society," ILR Review, Cornell University, ILR School, vol. 75(3), pages 527-551, May.
    5. Krzywdzinski, Martin, 2017. "Automation, skill requirements and labour-use strategies: high-wage and low-wage approaches to high-tech manufacturing in the automotive industry," EconStor Open Access Articles and Book Chapters, ZBW - Leibniz Information Centre for Economics, vol. 32(3), pages 247-267.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Valerio De Stefano & Simon Taes, 2023. "Algorithmic management and collective bargaining," Transfer: European Review of Labour and Research, , vol. 29(1), pages 21-36, February.
    2. Caroline Lloyd & Jonathan Payne, 2023. "Trade unions, digitalisation and country effects: A comparative study of banking in Norway and the UK," European Journal of Industrial Relations, , vol. 29(4), pages 325-345, December.
    3. Valerio De Stefano & Virginia Doellgast, 2023. "Introduction to the Transfer special issue. Regulating AI at work: labour relations, automation, and algorithmic management," Transfer: European Review of Labour and Research, , vol. 29(1), pages 9-20, February.
    4. Valeria Pulignano & Marco Hauptmeier & Dorien Frans, 2023. "Determinants of union strategies towards the twin digital and green transitions in the German and Belgian automotive industry," Transfer: European Review of Labour and Research, , vol. 29(1), pages 121-138, February.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Armanda Cetrulo & Giovanni Dosi & Angelo Moro & Linnea Nelli & Maria Enrica Virgillito, 2023. "Automation, digitalization and decarbonization in the European automotive industry: a roadmap towards a just transition," LEM Papers Series 2023/36, Laboratory of Economics and Management (LEM), Sant'Anna School of Advanced Studies, Pisa, Italy.
    2. Krzywdzinski, Martin & Pfeiffer, Sabine & Evers, Maren & Gerber, Christine, 2022. "Measuring work and workers: Wearables and digital assistance systems in manufacturing and logistics," Discussion Papers, Research Group Globalization, Work, and Production SP III 2022-301, WZB Berlin Social Science Center.
    3. Valeria Pulignano & Marco Hauptmeier & Dorien Frans, 2023. "Determinants of union strategies towards the twin digital and green transitions in the German and Belgian automotive industry," Transfer: European Review of Labour and Research, , vol. 29(1), pages 121-138, February.
    4. Grybauskas, Andrius & Stefanini, Alessandro & Ghobakhloo, Morteza, 2022. "Social sustainability in the age of digitalization: A systematic literature Review on the social implications of industry 4.0," Technology in Society, Elsevier, vol. 70(C).
    5. Caroline Lloyd & Jonathan Payne, 2021. "Fewer jobs, better jobs? An international comparative study of robots and ‘routine’ work in the public sector," Industrial Relations Journal, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 52(2), pages 109-124, March.
    6. Chiara Cimini & David Romero & Roberto Pinto & Sergio Cavalieri, 2023. "Task Classification Framework and Job-Task Analysis Method for Understanding the Impact of Smart and Digital Technologies on the Operators 4.0 Job Profiles," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(5), pages 1-28, February.
    7. Janine Berg & Francis Green & Laura Nurski & David A Spencer, 2023. "Risks to job quality from digital technologies: Are industrial relations in Europe ready for the challenge?," European Journal of Industrial Relations, , vol. 29(4), pages 347-365, December.
    8. Bachmann, Ronald & Gonschor, Myrielle & Lewandowski, Piotr & Madoń, Karol, 2024. "The impact of Robots on Labour market transitions in Europe," Structural Change and Economic Dynamics, Elsevier, vol. 70(C), pages 422-441.
    9. Auktor, Georgeta Vidican, 2022. "The opportunities and challenges of Industry 4.0 for industrial development: A case study of Morocco's automotive and garment sectors," IDOS Discussion Papers 2/2022, German Institute of Development and Sustainability (IDOS).
    10. Krzywdzinski, Martin & Gerst, Detlef & Butollo, Florian, 2022. "Promoting human-centred AI in the workplace. Trade unions and their strategies for regulating the use of AI in Germany," EconStor Open Access Articles and Book Chapters, ZBW - Leibniz Information Centre for Economics, issue OnlineFir, pages 1-1.
    11. Beier, Grischa & Matthess, Marcel & Shuttleworth, Luke & Guan, Ting & de Oliveira Pereira Grudzien, David Iubel & Xue, Bing & Pinheiro de Lima, Edson & Chen, Ling, 2022. "Implications of Industry 4.0 on industrial employment: A comparative survey from Brazilian, Chinese, and German practitioners," Technology in Society, Elsevier, vol. 70(C).
    12. Cirillo, Valeria & Rinaldini, Matteo & Staccioli, Jacopo & Virgillito, Maria Enrica, 2021. "Technology vs. workers: the case of Italy’s Industry 4.0 factories," Structural Change and Economic Dynamics, Elsevier, vol. 56(C), pages 166-183.
    13. Ylenia Curci & Nathalie Greenan & Silvia Napolitano, 2024. "Innovating for the good or for the bad. An EU-wide analysis of the impact of technological transformation on job polarisation and unemployment," TEPP Working Paper 2024-02, TEPP.
    14. Guendalina Anzolin, 2021. "Automation and its Employment Effects: A Literature Review of Automotive and Garment Sectors," JRC Working Papers on Labour, Education and Technology 2021-16, Joint Research Centre.
    15. Araz Zirar, 2023. "Can artificial intelligence’s limitations drive innovative work behaviour?," Review of Managerial Science, Springer, vol. 17(6), pages 2005-2034, August.
    16. Henri Haapanala & Ive Marx & Zachary Parolin, 2023. "Robots and unions: The moderating effect of organized labour on technological unemployment," Economic and Industrial Democracy, Department of Economic History, Uppsala University, Sweden, vol. 44(3), pages 827-852, August.
    17. Valeria Cirillo & Matteo Rinaldini & Jacopo Staccioli & Maria Enrica Virgillito, 2023. "Trade unions' responses to Industry 4.0 amid corporatism and resistance," PSL Quarterly Review, Economia civile, vol. 76(305), pages 91-120.
    18. Mari Božič & Annmarie Gorenc Zoran & Matej Jevšček, 2021. "Industry 4.0 and Proactive Works Council Members," Data, MDPI, vol. 6(5), pages 1-17, April.
    19. Dalia Gesualdi-Fecteau & Christian Lévesque & Gregor Murray & Nicolas Roby, 2023. "Introduction : Améliorer le travail," Transfer: European Review of Labour and Research, , vol. 29(3), pages 285-294, August.
    20. Stefan PRAHOVEANU & Violeta SIMA & Ileana Georgiana GHEORGHE, 2023. "Digitalization in Romania in the Context of Economic Changes," Economics and Applied Informatics, "Dunarea de Jos" University of Galati, Faculty of Economics and Business Administration, issue 3, pages 102-113.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:sae:treure:v:29:y:2023:i:1:p:105-120. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: SAGE Publications (email available below). General contact details of provider: .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.