Algorithmic management – the use of software, which may include artificial intelligence (AI), to fully or partially automate tasks traditionally carried out by human managers – has received increased attention in recent years.

On the other hand, there is growing evidence from other studies of its potential detrimental impacts on workers. As policymakers grapple with how to respond to the challenges that algorithmic management presents, additional evidence is needed.

The findings show that algorithmic management tools are already commonly used in most countries studied. While managers perceive that algorithmic management often improves the quality of their decisions as well as their own job satisfaction, they also perceive certain trustworthiness concerns with the use of such tools.

A Harvard Business Review article published in 2021 explains: "Companies are increasingly using algorithms to manage and control individuals not by force, but rather by nudging them into desirable behavior — in other words, learning from their personalized data and altering their choices in some subtle way."