Judging in the Dark: How Delivery Riders Form Fairness Perceptions Under Algorithmic Management

Yuan Xiang (), Jing Du (), Xue Ni Zheng (), Li Rong Long () and Huan Yan Xie ()
Additional contact information
Yuan Xiang: Wuhan University
Jing Du: Wuhan University
Xue Ni Zheng: Wuhan University
Li Rong Long: Huazhong University of Science and Technology
Huan Yan Xie: Wuhan University

Journal of Business Ethics, 2025, vol. 199, issue 3, No 10, 653-670

Abstract: Abstract The application of algorithms in organizations is becoming more widespread. Previous research has aimed to enhance employees’ perceptions of algorithmic fairness by focusing on technical features. However, individuals often struggle to observe and comprehend these features, hindering their ability to form rational fairness judgments. Drawing upon fairness heuristic theory, this study explores how individuals perceive algorithmic fairness when technical features are invisible because of algorithmic opacity. Research conducted with food delivery riders in China suggests that, in the absence of transparent algorithmic information, riders heuristically form perceptions of algorithmic fairness based on more salient and accessible distributive fairness information. These heuristic perceptions of algorithmic fairness further predict outcomes such as task performance and helping behavior. We also found that different distributive fairness information holds varying importance in the process of shaping heuristic perceptions of algorithmic fairness and that algorithmic transparency perceptions and tenure moderate this process. The findings extend fairness heuristic theory and have practical implications.

Keywords: Algorithmic management; Algorithmic fairness perceptions; Fairness heuristic theory; Delivery riders; Algorithmic transparency (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
References: Add references at CitEc
Citations:

Downloads: (external link)
http://link.springer.com/10.1007/s10551-024-05883-w Abstract (text/html)
Access to full text is restricted to subscribers.

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:kap:jbuset:v:199:y:2025:i:3:d:10.1007_s10551-024-05883-w

Ordering information: This journal article can be ordered from
http://www.springer. ... cs/journal/10551/PS2

DOI: 10.1007/s10551-024-05883-w

Access Statistics for this article

Journal of Business Ethics is currently edited by Michelle Greenwood and R. Edward Freeman

More articles in Journal of Business Ethics from Springer
Bibliographic data for series maintained by Sonal Shukla () and Springer Nature Abstracting and Indexing ().