Designing Inclusive Platforms for the Gig Economy

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The entry of platform-based digital marketplaces has disrupted and transformed labour marketplaces. They have been successful in drawing customers by offering cheaper, more convenient services. This has been accomplished by streamlining access to goods and services through algorithmic management. However, algorithmic management takes control away from workers and create precarious labour conditions where the lack of safety nets shift risk and uncertainty onto workers, disproportionally affecting those from marginalized communities. Further, the proprietary 'black-box' nature of these platforms and the underlying algorithms make it hard for the research community and policymakers to study and improve these platforms. The objective of this research program is developing and prototyping tools that will address the concerns of worker communities. The program will a) study how algorithmic management affects workers, b) design information environments to counteract information asymmetry, and c) design and deploy digital marketplace platforms that are fair, inclusive, and equitable. The program will use justice-oriented design methodologies from human-computer interaction (HCI) research consisting of an iterative design process that incorporates participatory design methods and is informed by the Design Justice framework focusing on community participation and shared ownership. These methods will incorporate the voices of worker communities in the design of tools and platforms and identify existing inequalities, exclusionary practices and unintentional discrimination, and help empower marginalized community members. The overarching objective of this research program is designing, building, and implementing open-source worker-centric tools and marketplace platforms that create fair and equitable work environments and decrease potential avenues of exploitation. The research will concurrently look at digital market platforms in Canada and in Global South contexts, such as India, and consist of the following three objectives: Research Objective 1. Develop an understanding of how algorithmic management shapes work practices and how workers navigate existing digital platforms Research Objective 2: Implement human-centred data-driven information environments to support better decision-making in existing marketplaces Research Objective 3: Design and prototype new digital marketplace platforms that are fair, inclusive, and equitable: The research will shape the design and use of digital platforms and contribute to the design of worker-centric tools related to platform work, and positively impact the lives of millions of workers across the world.