Crowdworkers Find Success and Happiness through Online Communities and Job Crafting, Study Finds
Crowdworkers, who are often associated with precarious working conditions, have found a way to achieve success and happiness in their work. According to a study conducted by researchers from the University of Passau and Deakin Business School in Melbourne, online communities and job crafting play a crucial role in distinguishing these workers from others.
In today’s modern labor market, crowdworkers have emerged as a small but growing segment. These task-oriented freelancers offer their services on online platforms and typically work from home without being employed by an organization. While the working conditions in crowdwork are often precarious, not all workers face the same challenges. Some crowdworkers are able to make a good income and find this way of working advantageous.
The researchers set out to understand what sets these successful and happy crowdworkers apart from others. The study, which analyzed 675 interactions in crowdwork online forums, revealed that crowdworkers utilize online communities as a means of emotional support and professional advancement. Even when discussing critical topics, users engaged with each other in a constructive manner. The forums served as a space for freelancers to actively seek out challenges and develop their professional skills.
Additionally, crowdworkers use job crafting methods to align their tasks with their skills, thereby improving their working conditions and driving their professional development. The online communities serve as a holding environment, providing validation and support to compensate for the lack of a corporate culture. The ability to organize themselves and create their own structures to help each other was found to be a fascinating aspect of crowdwork.
The researchers also refined the concept of job crafting to better describe crowdworker behavior. They identified a form of job crafting called integrated crafting, where successful crowdworkers develop their professional vision over the long term and actively work towards professionalization. This form of job crafting was found to be key for crowdworkers to thrive in their working environment.
The study, titled Building professional holding environments for crowd work job crafting through online communities, was published in the Information Systems Journal (ISJ), a renowned journal specializing in digitalization, business informatics, and information systems. The researchers believe that this study not only contributes to scientific literature but also highlights the potential of online communities for improving collaboration between companies and crowdworkers.
Dr. Kim Strunk, a research associate at the Chair of Management, People, and Information at the University of Passau, conducted the study. His research focuses on new work forms, organizational sustainability, and the impact of social support in platform work. Dr. Franz Strich, a psychologist, also contributed to the study. His research revolves around the psychological aspects of human-AI interaction and the impact of AI on work processes and employee behavior.
The findings of this study shed light on the important role online communities and job crafting play in the success and happiness of crowdworkers. By leveraging these resources, crowdworkers are able to navigate their work environment more effectively and advance professionally. The study serves as a reminder of the potential that online communities hold for improving collaborations in modern labor markets.
