Work

From Control to Agency: A Bibliometric Analysis of Worker Responses in Algorithmic Management in the GIG Economy

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: HRMARS - This study maps and analyses the research landscape of algorithmic management in the gig economy, focusing on workers’ interpretations, responses, agency, and coping strategies within platform-based environments. A bibliometric analysis of 72 Scopus-indexed articles published between 2019 and 2025 was conducted to assess publication trends, thematic development, citation impact, and collaboration patterns. The findings reveal a shift in the literature from an early focus on algorithmic control, surveillance, and managerial power to a more nuanced understanding of worker agency, resistance, and adaptive behaviour. The study also identifies the United Kingdom and Australia as leading contributors, supported by strong institutional and international collaboration networks. Overall, this research provides a comprehensive overview of the intellectual structure surrounding worker perspectives in algorithmic human resource management, highlighting issues of power, autonomy, and adaptation. It further underscores important social implications, including concerns about worker autonomy, equity, governance, and the evolving nature of employment relationships in digitally mediated gig work contexts.

Source: International Journal of Academic Research in Business and Social Sciences

DOI: 10.6007/ijarbss/v16-i6/28395

Authors: Nivakan Sritharan, Lee Ming Ha, Heng Kiat Sing, Lisa Ngui Lee Hua

Institution: Swinburne University of Technology Sarawak Campus

Language: English

Topic: Digital Economy and Work Transformation

Subfield: Sociology and Political Science

Field: Social Sciences

Domain: Social Sciences

SDG: Decent work and economic growth

Open Access status: diamond

OpenAlex ID: W7165148361