The Rise of the platform society? Organization in the digital transformation and bearings for a digital sociology Kommt jetzt die Plattformgesellschaft? Organisation in der digitalen Transformation und Impulse für eine Soziologie der Digitalisierung
Kirchner S (2022)
Publication Type: Journal article
Publication year: 2022
Journal
Book Volume: 73
Pages Range: 514-545
Journal Issue: 3
DOI: 10.5771/0038-6073-2022-3-514
Abstract
Digital platforms such as Uber or Airbnb mark the end of the organization society that was shaped by large bureaucratic organizations. This is at least what current contributions on the platform economy claim. However, in the debate about digitalization, there are surprisingly few conceptual clues as to how exactly digitization enables substantial change. Diagnoses such as “platform capitalism”, “platform society” or “platformization” so far lack a comprehensive conceptual foundation. Against this background, the article introduces mechanisms of digitalization that enable altered organizational structures. As a social form, digital platforms follow an architecture made up of core, periphery and interfaces that create and maintain specific social orders enabled by digital technology. On this basis, digital platforms are more precisely defined as platform organizations. Digital platforms establish a specific form of domination that is associated with social inequalities and effects for social integration. In this respect, the cornerstones of the classic organizational society are shifting away from large bureaucratic organizations to platform organizations, which are increasingly shaping work, the economy and society. The analysis of digital platforms underlines the importance of social forms and social orders to establish bearings for a digital sociology.
Involved external institutions
Germany (DE)How to cite
APA:
Kirchner, S. (2022). The Rise of the platform society? Organization in the digital transformation and bearings for a digital sociology Kommt jetzt die Plattformgesellschaft? Organisation in der digitalen Transformation und Impulse für eine Soziologie der Digitalisierung. Soziale Welt - Zeitschrift für sozialwissenschaftliche Forschung und Praxis, 73(3), 514-545. https://doi.org/10.5771/0038-6073-2022-3-514
MLA:
Kirchner, Stefan. "The Rise of the platform society? Organization in the digital transformation and bearings for a digital sociology Kommt jetzt die Plattformgesellschaft? Organisation in der digitalen Transformation und Impulse für eine Soziologie der Digitalisierung." Soziale Welt - Zeitschrift für sozialwissenschaftliche Forschung und Praxis 73.3 (2022): 514-545.
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