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A comparative study of algorithmic management and control mechanisms. A platform-centric review, comparing food delivery platforms in the UK and Sweden

Challender, Luke LU and Viskum, Theobald LU (2025) MGTN59 20251
Department of Business Administration
Abstract
This thesis conducts a comparative analysis of algorithmic management in the food delivery platform sector, focusing on platforms operating in the United Kingdom and Sweden. Drawing upon Institutional Theory, Labour Process Theory and Discourse Analysis, the study investigates how platforms such as Uber Eats, Deliveroo, Foodora and Wolt implement, regulate and communicate algorithmic control in distinct institutional environments. By analysing corporate communications, legal frameworks, union documents and media source, the research identifies key similarities in the technological use of algorithmic management, particularly in task allocation and performance monitoring. However, significant differences emerge in employment models,... (More)
This thesis conducts a comparative analysis of algorithmic management in the food delivery platform sector, focusing on platforms operating in the United Kingdom and Sweden. Drawing upon Institutional Theory, Labour Process Theory and Discourse Analysis, the study investigates how platforms such as Uber Eats, Deliveroo, Foodora and Wolt implement, regulate and communicate algorithmic control in distinct institutional environments. By analysing corporate communications, legal frameworks, union documents and media source, the research identifies key similarities in the technological use of algorithmic management, particularly in task allocation and performance monitoring. However, significant differences emerge in employment models, regulations and contestation shaped by national labour regimes. Sweden’s coordinate market economy fosters greater institutional negotiation and worker protections, whilst the UK’s liberal market economy permits more precarious, unregulated platform practices. The findings highlight how platform governance is embedded within broader socio-economic structures and demonstrate that algorithmic management cannot be disentangled from the institutional contexts in which it operates. (Less)
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author
Challender, Luke LU and Viskum, Theobald LU
supervisor
organization
course
MGTN59 20251
year
type
H1 - Master's Degree (One Year)
subject
language
English
id
9194346
date added to LUP
2025-06-27 14:04:58
date last changed
2025-06-27 14:04:58
@misc{9194346,
  abstract     = {{This thesis conducts a comparative analysis of algorithmic management in the food delivery platform sector, focusing on platforms operating in the United Kingdom and Sweden. Drawing upon Institutional Theory, Labour Process Theory and Discourse Analysis, the study investigates how platforms such as Uber Eats, Deliveroo, Foodora and Wolt implement, regulate and communicate algorithmic control in distinct institutional environments. By analysing corporate communications, legal frameworks, union documents and media source, the research identifies key similarities in the technological use of algorithmic management, particularly in task allocation and performance monitoring. However, significant differences emerge in employment models, regulations and contestation shaped by national labour regimes. Sweden’s coordinate market economy fosters greater institutional negotiation and worker protections, whilst the UK’s liberal market economy permits more precarious, unregulated platform practices. The findings highlight how platform governance is embedded within broader socio-economic structures and demonstrate that algorithmic management cannot be disentangled from the institutional contexts in which it operates.}},
  author       = {{Challender, Luke and Viskum, Theobald}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  note         = {{Student Paper}},
  title        = {{A comparative study of algorithmic management and control mechanisms. A platform-centric review, comparing food delivery platforms in the UK and Sweden}},
  year         = {{2025}},
}