Exploring the boundaries and processes of digital platforms for knowledge work: A review of information systems research

digital-work
Author

Wagner, Gerit and Prester, Julian and Paré, Guy

Published

2021

Doi

10.1016/J.JSIS.2021.101694

Keywords

digital-work

Summary

Digital platforms for knowledge work (DPKW), such as Upwork, Freelancer, and Fiverr, connect clients with millions of workers for a range of knowledge work services, including app development, graphic design, and data analytics. Research on this emergent phenomenon has recently gained traction in terms of publication volume and research diversity. Focusing on the contributions of information systems research, we conducted a literature review to distinguish papers on DPKW from related types of digital platforms, to synthesize what we know about knowledge work on DPKW, and to guide future research. Based on a comprehensive literature search, we derived five boundary conditions, which constitute our definition of DPKW: digitality, value network paradigm, centralized governance, contractual work, and knowledge work. We further developed a conceptual process framework of the constituent processes of DPKW. With this framework, we elaborate on an established process model to distinguish the three macro­level processes of matching, contracting, and executing. We further examined micro­level processes suggested in extant research based on a process linking approach in order to understand how they synchronically instantiate each macro­level process. Emphasizing the significance of the micro­ and macro­level processes and the emergent stage of the literature on DPKW, we offer an agenda for future research and outline implications for practice.

Article / DOI link Author copy

Citation (APA style)

Wagner, G., Prester, J., & Paré, G. (2021). Exploring the boundaries and processes of digital platforms for knowledge work: A review of information systems research. The Journal of Strategic Information Systems 30(4), 101694. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.JSIS.2021.101694

Citation: BibTeX

@article{WagnerPresterPare2021,
  doi        = {10.1016/J.JSIS.2021.101694},
  author     = {Wagner, Gerit and Prester, Julian and Paré, Guy},
  journal    = {The Journal of Strategic Information Systems},
  title      = {Exploring the boundaries and processes of digital platforms for knowledge work: A review of information systems research},
  year       = {2021},
  volume     = {30},
  number     = {4},
  pages      = {101694},
  url        = {https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S096386872100041X},
  abstract   = {Digital platforms for knowledge work (DPKW), such as Upwork, Freelancer, and Fiverr, connect clients with millions of workers for a range of knowledge work services, including app development, graphic design, and data analytics. Research on this emergent phenomenon has recently gained traction in terms of publication volume and research diversity. Focusing on the contributions of information systems research, we conducted a literature review to distinguish papers on DPKW from related types of digital platforms, to synthesize what we know about knowledge work on DPKW, and to guide future research. Based on a comprehensive literature search, we derived five boundary conditions, which constitute our definition of DPKW: digitality, value network paradigm, centralized governance, contractual work, and knowledge work. We further developed a conceptual process framework of the constituent processes of DPKW. With this framework, we elaborate on an established process model to distinguish the three macro­level processes of matching, contracting, and executing. We further examined micro­level processes suggested in extant research based on a process linking approach in order to understand how they synchronically instantiate each macro­level process. Emphasizing the significance of the micro­ and macro­level processes and the emergent stage of the literature on DPKW, we offer an agenda for future research and outline implications for practice.}
}

Citation: RIS

TY  - JOUR
AU  - Wagner, Gerit
AU  - Prester, Julian
AU  - Paré, Guy
TI  - Exploring the boundaries and processes of digital platforms for knowledge work: A review of information systems research
T2  - The Journal of Strategic Information Systems
PY  - 2021
VL  - 30
IS  - 4
SP  - 101694
DO  - 10.1016/J.JSIS.2021.101694
UR  - https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S096386872100041X
ER  -