A1 Journal article (refereed)
Algorithms and Organizing (2022)

Laapotti, T., & Raappana, M. (2022). Algorithms and Organizing. Human Communication Research, 48(3), 491-515. https://doi.org/10.1093/hcr/hqac013

JYU authors or editors

Publication details

All authors or editors: Laapotti, Tomi; Raappana, Mitra

Journal or series: Human Communication Research

ISSN: 0360-3989

eISSN: 1468-2958

Publication year: 2022

Publication date: 19/05/2022

Volume: 48

Issue number: 3

Pages range: 491-515

Publisher: Wiley-Blackwell

Publication country: United States

Publication language: English

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/hcr/hqac013

Publication open access: Openly available

Publication channel open access: Partially open access channel

Publication is parallel published (JYX): https://jyx.jyu.fi/handle/123456789/81230

Abstract

Algorithms are a ubiquitous part of organizations as they enable, guide, and restrict organizing at the level of everyday interactions. This essay focuses on algorithms and organizing by reviewing the literature on algorithms in organizations, examining the viewpoint of relationality and relational agency on algorithms and organizing, exploring the properties of algorithms, and concluding what these mean from an organizational communication viewpoint. Algorithms need data to be collected. The data are always biased, and algorithms exclude everything that is not in their code. They define what is seen as important. Their operating principles are opaque, and they are political due to human interference. Algorithms are not just used. Rather, they are co-actors in organizing. We argue that algorithms demand rethinking communication in the communicative constitution of organizations and call for more empirical research emphasizing the properties of algorithms, the relationality of algorithms, and the temporality of the materialization of algorithms.

Keywords: algorithms; artificial intelligence; materiality; human agency; organising; organisation of work; organisational communication and public relations

Free keywords: agency; algorithms; artificial intelligence; communicative constitution of organization; organizational communication; materiality; organizing; relational agency; sociomaterialism

Contributing organizations

Ministry reporting: Yes

Reporting Year: 2022

Preliminary JUFO rating: 3