Paper Number
ICIS2025-1492
Paper Type
Short
Abstract
Online labor platforms (OLPs) have gained significant popularity as a viable form of employment. However, despite their growth, these platforms often restrict the temporal flexibility and autonomy of workers. This study explores the rhythm of work on platforms and how workers navigate and adapt to technology and various temporal complexities within platforms. Drawing on the novel concept of Eigenzeit, we analyze four distinct temporal modes—entrained, ambitemporal, agile, and pluritemporal—and explore their characteristics and implications within platform work. This research contributes to IS literature by applying a temporal lens to study platform labor and showing that despite popular opinion regarding temporal flexibility, OLPs often conform to very clear rhythmic patterns. It will also show the importance of aligning the rhythm of the platform with both the rhythmic tendencies of the work owners and the workers themselves, as well as the implications when these are not aligned.
Recommended Citation
Umair, Azka; Ostovar, Mahya; and Conboy, Kieran, "Rhythm of Work: Understanding the Dynamics of Rhythm in Online Labor Platforms" (2025). ICIS 2025 Proceedings. 9.
https://aisel.aisnet.org/icis2025/is_transformwork/is_transformwork/9
Rhythm of Work: Understanding the Dynamics of Rhythm in Online Labor Platforms
Online labor platforms (OLPs) have gained significant popularity as a viable form of employment. However, despite their growth, these platforms often restrict the temporal flexibility and autonomy of workers. This study explores the rhythm of work on platforms and how workers navigate and adapt to technology and various temporal complexities within platforms. Drawing on the novel concept of Eigenzeit, we analyze four distinct temporal modes—entrained, ambitemporal, agile, and pluritemporal—and explore their characteristics and implications within platform work. This research contributes to IS literature by applying a temporal lens to study platform labor and showing that despite popular opinion regarding temporal flexibility, OLPs often conform to very clear rhythmic patterns. It will also show the importance of aligning the rhythm of the platform with both the rhythmic tendencies of the work owners and the workers themselves, as well as the implications when these are not aligned.
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Comments
03-Transformation