How Organizational Behavior Concepts Change in Gig Economy

RESEARCH PAPER PROMPT

In the last decade, the US economy has moved more toward a “gig economy,” what the Oxford Dictionary defines as “A labour market characterized by the prevalence of short-term contracts or freelance work as opposed to permanent jobs.” Companies like Uber, TaskRabbit, Thumbtack, and Fiverr are examples of contributors to the gig economy. Addressing the importance of the gig economy, the International Labor Association writes, “Companies that are part of the gig economy are on the verge of overtaking the traditional economy. A driver, a musician, a freelance videographer or anything in between, the concept has caught on and is a major factor in how sectors are organised and how people view work. And while one-off jobs are not new, the increasing use of technology has substantially contributed to a wide proliferation of “gig” work.” This shifting economy has important implications for how we think about organizational behavior concepts and theories.

You’ve been recently approached by a manager of a company that operates in the gig economy. This manager formerly worked at a traditional company with non-gig employees. She has asked you to provide her insights about how managing gig economy employees may differ from those in a traditional organization. Pick two OB concepts and write a whitepaper to explain how these concepts or theories will apply differently in the gig economy than in a traditional organization. 

Draf Format

1. Intro: attention-getter, define gig economy, thesis, lay out the structure of your paper (1 pg)
2. Body section 1: define first OB concept, explain why and how it’s different in the gig economy, explain how that changes what the manager should do (2-2.5 pgs)
3. Body section 2: repeat, with your second OB concept (2-2.5 pgs)
4. Conclusion: summarize your paper, clincher (0.5-1 pg)

**Please follow exactly same format as what is written above**

***** Remember to respond to the prompt! You are writing to a new manager at a gig economy company. Your thesis should start with something along the lines of “In the gig economy, _____ and _____ will be different…” You are choosing two OB concepts (Culture & Team cohesion) to discuss. In the body, each main section should (a) explain the OB concept you chose, (b) explain why and how it’s applied differently in the gig economy, and (c) explain why that’s important to the new manager and what she should differently as a result.

**For the references: only allow to use scholarly sources ( ex) scholarly articles )!!