An Introduction to the Digital Work Group
We live in a time defined by rapid technological advancements and a changing work landscape. So our interdisciplinary research group has sought to understand the implications of these changes to workers and organizations. In this post, I’ll share a bit about who we are and what we have learned over five years of digital work research:
What is the Digital Work Group?
The Digital Work Group is a collaboration between researchers at Syracuse University and Skidmore College. We focus on exploring the intersection of changes in work, information technologies, and new ways of organizing. We have adopted a multidisciplinary approach to study digital work, drawing from Sociology, Organizational Studies, Labor Economics, Science and Technology Studies (STS), and Human-Computer Interaction.
Who’s involved?
The Digital Work Group is home to undergraduate students, graduate students, senior researchers and faculty from Syracuse University’s iSchool and Skidmore College’s Management and Business Department. This group has included 20+ undergraduate students and several PhD students under the direction of principal investigators Dr. Steve Sawyer and Dr. Michael Dunn.
What we’re working on
Longitudinal Freelancing Panel: In 2019, we launched a panel study (which is ongoing) to investigate shifts in digital freelance work. With the rise of the gig economy, and the proliferation of digital work platforms, the focus was on understanding how digital technologies are shaping work structures and the inevitable implications to the workforce.
The panel study has included 4 annual rounds of interviews with the same online freelance workers. To date, we have spoken with 108 digital workers and have gathered more than 1,500 data points from interviews and surveys with these workers.
Digital Entrepreneurship: More recently, the group has also started investigating experiences of digital entrepreneurs.
What we’re learning
If you are interested in learning about the gig economy, remote work, and labor platforms, we will be sharing more in weeks to come. However, here are some of our recent academic publications, with a brief summary of each.
- “Platform-mediated Markets, Online Freelance Workers and Deconstructed Identities”: This article delves into how digital labor platforms reshape the identities of online workers, impacting their agency and control over their work.
- “Freelancing Online During the COVID-19 Pandemic”: This paper examines the effects of the pandemic on freelancing trends, offering insights into the changing livelihood of online workers during the crisis.
- “New Futures of Work or Continued Marginalization?”: This position paper explores the rise of online freelance work and digital platforms, analyzing the implications for workers’ well-being and job opportunities.
- “Digital Work: New Opportunities or Lost Wages?”: This publication examines the opportunities and challenges presented by digital work, highlighting the broader impact on labor markets.
Stay connected
Follow our page: Digital Work Group. We’re hoping to share new insights each week! Find our latest post here: https://medium.com/digitalwork
Follow my personal Medium page here: medium.com/@iisabelmun
