On Thursday, November 13, 2025, the Master of Science and Doctoral Program (MD) at the Faculty of Economics and Business, Universitas Gadjah Mada (FEB)
held a Brown Bag Seminar on “Algorithmic Management and Resistance among Gig Workers” with Novika Grasiaswaty, a PhD student in Management at the University of Glasgow and LPDP Scholarship recipient, as the keynote speaker. This offline event took place from 9:00 to 11:00 a.m. WIB in Room 101, 1st Floor of the Master of Science and Doctoral Building, FEB UGM.
In this session, Novika Grasiaswaty shared the results of her research, which focuses on resistance among gig workers, or the forms of activism that emerge among gig workers against algorithm-based management systems. She explained how digital platforms like Gojek and Grab implement algorithmic management to regulate, monitor, and assess worker performance through data and technology. Using a qualitative approach, Novika highlighted how gig workers develop adaptive strategies to maintain autonomy and work dignity amidst increasingly stringent algorithmic control. She also shared her experiences in the dissertation writing process, from developing a theoretical framework to collecting data, as well as the importance of social sensitivity in researching digital labor issues.
Following the presentation, the event continued with an interactive discussion involving master’s and doctoral students from the Faculty of Economics and Business, Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM). Participants enthusiastically asked questions about methodological challenges, the dynamics of research ethics, and the relevance of research findings to labor policy in the digital age. Novika answered frankly and reflectively, sharing various real-life examples from her research experience. This lively discussion not only enriched participants’ insights into the relationship between humans and technology in the modern workplace but also emphasized the importance of critical research in understanding the social implications of digital transformation.
