Giving Employees a Voice in Times of Digital Transformation: Modelling Employee Representation Voice in Algorithm-Based Decision-Making

Abstract

Digital transformation goes hand in hand with profound changes to company structures. One aspect of digital transformation are algorithm-based decisions which strongly affect decision-making processes in general but also those between the company and employee representatives. This changes where employee representation can be introduced in decision-making, as well as how it is implemented and what competencies are required to do so. This conceptual article looks into how employee representation voice can be kept alive in organisational algorithm-based decision-making processes. To do this, employee (representation) voice will be derived from the German co-determination model. Analogue decision-making is then initially described as a social negotiation process, and modelling is used to show how it is linked to sensemaking in order to back up this claim. In contrast, it is highlighted how algorithm-based decision-making influences this analogue process. To face the resulting changes and challenges, the concept of “big judgement” is described. This concept proposes both structural problem-solving approaches as well as employee representative qualification requirements to provide scope for employee representation voice in algorithm-based decision-making and to avoid a culture of silence.