Module BUSI3341: The Future of Work and the Gig Economy

Department: Management and Marketing

BUSI3341: The Future of Work and the Gig Economy

Prerequisites

• BUSI1141: People, Management and Organisations AND BUSI2161: Human Resource Management

Corequisites

• None.

Excluded Combination of Modules

• None.

Aims

• The module aims to develop students’ knowledge and understanding of key issues related to the gig economy, new work practices and more generally the future of work.
• The module, in particular, sets out to foster analytical reflections on the origin and growth of the gig economy including coworking, digital nomadism, platform work. This involves exploring what lies behind current manifestations of the gig economy, including coworking, digital nomadism and platform work.
• This module seeks to provide students with a critical appreciation of the gig economy and the future of work through a focus on key concepts, including power, control, autonomy, flexibility, etc.

Content

• The module will start by considering the relation between the ‘so-called’ old and new worlds of work in order to flesh out both continuities and discontinuities. This will be an opportunity to unpack what lies behind the term ‘new’ with regards to work practices. This will be followed by a detailed examination of how the gig economy operates (i.e. its logic, main systems, economic rationale, etc.). The module will then analyse recent developments in the gig economy through the concepts of language, power and control. These three concepts will play a key role in this module, as they will form the basis of a critical evaluation of the gig economy. This will be followed by an in-depth exploration of the four key dimensions seen at the heart of the gig economy, namely collaboration, independence, flexibility and mobility. These will be analysed through the aforementioned concepts (language, power and control) and illustrated through current phenomena encountered in the new world of work (e.g. coworking spaces, platform work, digital nomadism). Finally, the module will consider the relation between the gig economy and formal organisations and reflect over what the future of work might look like.

Learning Outcomes

• Contextualise and make sense of current discussions on the work of world and critically assess the main trends connected to the future of work.
• Appreciate and be familiar with a range of theoretical perspectives for understanding changes happening to the world of work and organisations in general
• Understand the role of language, power and control in current manifestations of the gig economy.
• Reflect on the relations between individuals, organisations and society.

• Critcally reflect on the development of the gig economy and what it might tell us about the future of work
• Apply critical thinking to contemporary work issues
• Understand the role of micro, macro and meso forces in the shaping of work activities

• Critical thinking and anlysis
• Interpersonal and teamworking skills
• Oral presentation skills
• Ability of communicate effectively in writing on specialised subject areas
• Time management

Modes of Teaching, Learning and Assessment and how these contribute to the learning outcomes of the module

• Learning will occur through preparation and attendance at lectures and seminars, together with private self-directed study
• Seminar classes will provide a series of structured activities (including case/journal article analysis and group exercises) in order to provide support, reinforce knowledge and encourage independent private study.
• Formative assessment will involve drafting a structured plan (max 2 pages) of the answer to the summative assignment. This will help students with their summative assignment.
• Summative assessment will involve a 20-minute group presentation to take place in the final seminar of the term as well as a 3000-word individual piece of work. The group presentation will be based around the reading and critical analysis of a research paper on new ways of working. The 3000-word individual piece of work will involve drawing from concepts and theories (studied in the lectures) as well as empirical examples (explored during the lectures and seminars) to address a question on the gig economy. Both assignments will test the depth and breadth of students’ analytical skills, together with their conceptual and empirical understanding of the gig economy.

Teaching Methods and Learning Hours

Summative Assessment

Formative Assessment:

The formative assessment will take the form of a structured plan of the answer to the summative assessment. Feedback on the formative assessment will directly help students with the summative assessment.

■ Attendance at all activities marked with this symbol will be monitored. Students who fail to attend these activities, or to complete the summative or formative assessment specified above, will be subject to the procedures defined in the University's General Regulation V, and may be required to leave the University