lECTURE 6: Contral and Extraction in Amazon

Question 1

Mechanic Dispossesion

Answer 1

Mechanic dispossession refers to the process in which workers become subordinate to machinery and algorithms, with their labor being incorporated into the digital systems that control and direct their work.

Under mechanic dispossession, workers are reduced to “living appendages” of the labor process, with their actions and knowledge being captured, analyzed, and utilized by central software systems.

This process of datafication and capture of worker activity separates workers from the knowledge generated by their labor, as it is stored and analyzed in computers that workers cannot access or influence.
The incorporation of worker knowledge into machinery does not eliminate the need for control over living labor, but rather increases the necessity for capital to integrate human workers into the technological processes.

Mechanic dispossession is a key aspect of Amazon’s warehouse operations, where algorithms and digital tools are used to secure workers’ cooperation and enforce a form of despotism mediated by digital tools and cultures

Question 2

Algorithmic Management

Answer 2

Algorithmic management in Amazon’s warehouses standardizes and taskifies the labor process, allowing for strict control over workers.

Algorithms assign tasks to workers and surveil their activity, incorporating it into machinery. This datafication of worker activity enables management to exert control over workers.

The incorporation of knowledge into the machine allows Amazon to efficiently assign tasks to specific workers, further enhancing control over their actions.

Question 3

How does gamification affect workers’ productivity?

Answer 3

Gamification techniques, such as power hours, are used to increase productivity levels from workers. During power hours, workers are required to work as fast as they can, and in exchange, they may receive petty prizes and public recognition.

The pressure to meet the demands of gamified work rhythms can contribute to workers accepting the hustle and flexibility required by fulfillment processes

Question 4

Barcode Gun

Answer 4

The barcode gun serves as a tool of surveillance and communication in Amazon’s warehouses. It tasks workers with retrieving commodities and sends instructions to them.
The scanner on the barcode gun triggers a cascade of effects based on customer orders, allowing for the tracking and monitoring of worker performance.

Question 5

go over pic in slide 3