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Download (2410Kb) A Thesis Submitted for the Degree of PhD at the University of Warwick Permanent WRAP URL: http://wrap.warwick.ac.uk/132957 Copyright and reuse: This thesis is made available online and is protected by original copyright. Please scroll down to view the document itself. Please refer to the repository record for this item for information to help you to cite it. Our policy information is available from the repository home page. For more information, please contact the WRAP Team at: [email protected] warwick.ac.uk/lib-publications The Politics of Algorithmic Management Class Composition and Everyday Struggle in Distribution Work By Craig Gent BA (Hons.) (Lond.), PGCert (Warw.), MA (Sus.) A thesis submitted for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Interdisciplinary Studies The University of Warwick Centre for Interdisciplinary Methodologies September 2018 Contents Figures ........................................................................................................... 1 Acknowledgements ...................................................................................... 2 Declaration of authorship ............................................................................ 8 Abstract ......................................................................................................... 9 Abbreviations and acronyms ..................................................................... 11 Introduction ................................................................................................. 12 Laboratories of resistance ......................................................................... 13 The future world of work ............................................................................ 15 Technology and the ‘deeper unrest’ .......................................................... 17 Glimmers in the algorithmic curtain............................................................ 21 Chapter outline .......................................................................................... 24 1. Reading Technology Politically ............................................................. 28 Introduction ................................................................................................ 29 Technology and class struggle .................................................................. 29 Class society .......................................................................................... 29 Marxisms on technology ......................................................................... 32 Labour process theory ............................................................................ 35 Operaismo and autonomist Marxism (autonomism) ............................... 38 The offer of autonomy ................................................................................ 43 A political tradition .................................................................................. 43 Political framework: technology as struggle ............................................ 45 Strategic framework: locating the potential for autonomy ....................... 47 Ontological framework: class composition.............................................. 49 Methodological history: the workers inquiry ............................................ 53 Class composition analysis ........................................................................ 55 Uncovering the political .......................................................................... 55 Proletarian sociology? ............................................................................ 58 Using inquiry to develop strategy ........................................................... 59 Class composition today: immaterial inquiry? ............................................ 61 Labour in cognitive capitalism ................................................................ 61 Political organization in the digital age ................................................... 65 ii No politics without inquiry ....................................................................... 68 Conclusion ................................................................................................. 70 2. The Managerial Endeavour .................................................................... 72 Introduction ................................................................................................ 73 Humans at the centre of the algorithm? ..................................................... 76 Problems arising ..................................................................................... 77 Trust through transparency .................................................................... 78 Better work ............................................................................................. 80 Management .............................................................................................. 83 The indeterminacy of labour power ........................................................ 84 Cooperation ............................................................................................ 86 Control: the early years .......................................................................... 90 Management as strategy ........................................................................ 93 From continuous improvement to adaptive systems .................................. 95 Kaizen .................................................................................................... 95 Total (quality) control .............................................................................. 96 From knowledge to performance .......................................................... 100 Managerial systems ............................................................................. 102 Data-driven ........................................................................................... 105 Algorithm + management = ? .................................................................. 108 Ubiquitous management?..................................................................... 108 3. Means of Distribution ........................................................................... 112 Introduction .............................................................................................. 113 Logistics of inquiry ................................................................................... 113 From warehouse to their house ............................................................ 113 Technical composition .......................................................................... 115 Workers inquiry .................................................................................... 116 Approach and challenges ..................................................................... 118 Cases ...................................................................................................... 122 Supermarket distribution centre, Greater London (Lorenzo) ................ 122 Amazon fulfilment centre ...................................................................... 128 E-commerce distribution centre, Yorkshire (Elaine) ............................. 131 iii E-commerce distribution centre, Hertfordshire (José) .......................... 133 Online supermarket distribution centre, Sussex (Todd) ........................ 135 Online supermarket delivery, Greater London (Lorenzo) ..................... 137 E-commerce delivery platform, Greater London (José) ........................ 141 Food delivery platform, south coast (Jamie and Noah) ........................ 142 Technical composition in distribution ....................................................... 146 Tracking ................................................................................................ 146 Transmission ........................................................................................ 148 Management interfaces ........................................................................ 149 Conclusion ............................................................................................... 152 4. The Meaning of Algorithmic Management .......................................... 153 Introduction .............................................................................................. 154 What algorithmic management means for work ....................................... 155 Labour demand .................................................................................... 155 Work flow .............................................................................................. 161 Communication .................................................................................... 166 Space ................................................................................................... 172 What algorithmic management means for authority ................................ 175 The algorithmic frontier ......................................................................... 175 Algorithmic authority ............................................................................. 177 Managerial distantiation ....................................................................... 178 In the system we trust .......................................................................... 180 Black-box management: reflections on a new terrain .............................. 184 Taylorism for the twenty-first century .................................................... 185
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