Digitalisation and platformisation of work processes and products

Within this theme, we look at the legal and organisational aspects of digitalisation in the area of work processes and products. Digitalisation is understood broadly, which means a wide variety of issues related to digital transformations are included in our research and teaching endeavors. Digitalisation can relate to content matter, such as the development of digital products. It can also relate to processes, such as selling products and providing services via online platforms or using digital tools when governing a firm.  

Research on the impact and risks of digitalisation

Application of digital tools can have both advantages and risks. For example, digitalisation may contribute to more efficiency, higher turnover, and the attainment of sustainability goals. But digitalisation may also have unwanted (side-)effects, for example rapid 24/7 small deliveries of groceries facilitated via online platforms is convenient, but not very sustainable and has led to traffic safety issues in cities. Another issue is the accountability (and related liability) for systemic risks. 

Questions that can come up are: what is the impact of digitalisation on organisations and people? How are work-processes affected? What measures should be taken to optimize the results that can be achieved by digitalisation? How can the risks or disadvantages be avoided or minimized? Is the legal framework adequate to facilitate digitalisation and at the same time mitigate the risks? Should the legal framework be adapted and if so, how? 

Accountability, manageability, and optimisation are key topics, which can be related to: 

• creation and governance of legal entities;
• the nature of work processes and their results;
• the mechanisms for trade and service delivery, including the rise of the platform economy; 
• payment for products and services.