Understanding CSR, Psychological Contract and Employee Engagement in the Gig Economy: An Analysis of

Overview of the gig economy and its impact on workers

Task:

Choose one of the following questions, based on the material that you will find under the heading ‘materials for coursework’ on Weblearn.

1.Briefly explain the ‘stakeholder’ concept as it is applied in the field of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR). Drawing on the material provided, identify and discuss the different stakeholder groups with an interest in the operations of Uber, and the CSR issues that are associated with these groups.

2.Supporters of the ‘gig economy’ emphasise that, compared to conventional employment, it offers more opportunities for workers to exercise control over their working lives. From the material provided, identify and discuss the mechanisms of power, control and surveillance that apply to the work of Uber drivers.

3.Drawing on the material provided, critically discuss the relevance of the concepts of the psychological contract and employee engagement to workers, such as Uber drivers, employed in the ‘gig economy’.

Please note that you are not asked to write an essay on Uber as a company. The material on Weblearn relating to the assignment should be the starting point for your exploration of issues relevant to the essay question that you have chosen.  You should not undertake any further research into Uber, or include additional background material on the company in your essay. Instead, you should critically examine the issues that you have identified and, in building your analysis and arguments, you should draw on a minimum of two journal articles in addition to textbooks and other appropriate sources, from within the field of Management and Organisational Behaviour. Further guidance will be given later in the semester.

Assessment Criteria for the Individual Essay:

Clearly focused on the chosen essay question/topic
Identifies issues from within the material provided that are relevant to the chosen topic
Applies relevant theory and concepts to discuss and explain the issues
Evidence of engaging with a range of relevant literature (including academic journal articles)
Coherent and logical structure.