Riding Against the Algorithm: Algorithmic Management in On-Demand Food Delivery

Aarni Tuomi*, Brana Jianu, Maartje Roelofsen, Mário Passos Ascenção

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference paperAcademicpeer-review

5 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

In many countries, on-demand food delivery platforms (e.g. Deliveroo, Wolt, Uber Eats) have become an inseparable part of the hospitality and tourism ecosystem. A key area of interest in technology research has been how platforms algorithmically manage the interaction between task requesters (e.g. customers, tourists) and task fulfillers (e.g. restaurants and delivery couriers). However, there is a lack of research on how such algorithmic management practices impact workers and what strategies workers adopt to counteract the algorithm. To that end, this qualitative study explores forms of expressing algoactivism in the context of on-demand food delivery platforms by conducting interviews with delivery couriers (n = 5) and restaurant workers and managers (n = 7). It is found that both couriers and hospitality employees adopt specific behaviors to optimize and game the platforms’ algorithms, and that some algorithmic management practices are perceived more negatively than others. Implications for e-tourism management and research are discussed.

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationInformation and Communication Technologies in Tourism 2023 - Proceedings of the ENTER 2023 eTourism Conference
EditorsBerta Ferrer-Rosell, David Massimo, Katerina Berezina
Place of PublicationCham
PublisherSpringer
Pages28-39
Number of pages12
ISBN (Electronic)9783031257520
ISBN (Print)9783031257513
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 15 Jan 2023
Externally publishedYes
Event30th Annual International eTourism Conference, ENTER 2023 - Johannesburg, South Africa
Duration: 18 Jan 202320 Jan 2023

Publication series

NameSpringer Proceedings in Business and Economics
ISSN (Print)2198-7246
ISSN (Electronic)2198-7254

Conference/symposium

Conference/symposium30th Annual International eTourism Conference, ENTER 2023
Country/TerritorySouth Africa
CityJohannesburg
Period18/01/2320/01/23

Keywords

  • AlgoActivism
  • Algorithmic management
  • Food delivery
  • Platform

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Riding Against the Algorithm: Algorithmic Management in On-Demand Food Delivery'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this