TY - JOUR
T1 - Counting Sleep
T2 - Ambiguity, aspirational control and the politics of digital self-tracking at work
AU - Elmholdt, Kasper Trolle
AU - Elmholdt, Claus Westergård
AU - Haahr, Lars
PY - 2021
Y1 - 2021
N2 - Existing perspectives on normative and aspirational control have undertheorised how digital technologies such as digital self-tracking might alter what kinds of control is possible in the workplace. This article remedies this lack by studying the affordances of digital self-tracking in the workplace. Empirically, we draw on a case study of digital sleeptracking in relation to a well-being initiative in a private energy company, Encorp. Our analysis reveals how digital self-tracking affords body visibility and remote management but also creates affordance opacity and an ambiguous space of autonomy and control. We theorise how digital self-tracking in the workplace both enables new forms of aspirational control, and creates ambiguity and new limits to control. We conclude by discussing challenges and opportunities for future research on digital self-tracking in the workplace.
AB - Existing perspectives on normative and aspirational control have undertheorised how digital technologies such as digital self-tracking might alter what kinds of control is possible in the workplace. This article remedies this lack by studying the affordances of digital self-tracking in the workplace. Empirically, we draw on a case study of digital sleeptracking in relation to a well-being initiative in a private energy company, Encorp. Our analysis reveals how digital self-tracking affords body visibility and remote management but also creates affordance opacity and an ambiguous space of autonomy and control. We theorise how digital self-tracking in the workplace both enables new forms of aspirational control, and creates ambiguity and new limits to control. We conclude by discussing challenges and opportunities for future research on digital self-tracking in the workplace.
KW - Algorithmic recording
KW - algorithmic technologies
KW - aspirational control
KW - control
KW - datafication
KW - digital selftracking
KW - normative control
KW - technology affordances
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85096891653&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1177/1350508420970475
DO - 10.1177/1350508420970475
M3 - Journal article
SN - 1350-5084
VL - 28
SP - 164
EP - 185
JO - Organization
JF - Organization
IS - 1
ER -