Beyond algorithmic management: a systematic review and strategic reconceptualisation of human resource management in the gig economy

Abstract

This review examines how the expansion of gig and remote work reshapes human resource management (HRM) frameworks. It aims to reconceptualise HRM in the gig economy by highlighting sustainable practices that enhance worker well-being and long-term career development, while addressing the Western-centric bias in existing research. The study conducted a systematic literature review following PRISMA 2020 guidelines. It analysed 144 peer-reviewed English-language articles published between 1995 and January 2026 from the Web of Science database, with emphasis on post-2014 studies reflecting the rise of digital platforms. The findings were synthesised using the antecedents–mediators–outcomes (AMO) framework. The review identifies four antecedents shaping gig work participation: algorithmic management, work design, cognitive framing and identity, and social and technological infrastructure. Algorithmic governance and perceived autonomy are found to act as central mediators linking these antecedents to worker outcomes. The literature is observed to primarily draw on Self-Determination Theory and Social Exchange Theory but remains concentrated in Western contexts. The review is limited to English-language, Web of Science-indexed publications, highlighting the need for broader geographical and database coverage in future studies. This study provides insights for policymakers to help balance efficiency gains from algorithmic management with fair working conditions and sustainable worker well-being. The review's originality lies primarily in its integrative reframing rather than in proposing a wholly new causal mechanism. Specifically, synthesising the gig-HRM literature through an explicit Antecedents–Mediators–Outcomes framework and sharpening a “consumer perspective” that positions gig workers as recipients and evaluators of HRM services. It aims to bring together research on platform-ecosystems, algorithmic-management, and digitally mediated work within a single service-oriented account of sustainable gig HRM.