The Impact of Algorithmic Control on Different Delivery Service Behaviors of Food Delivery Riders: The Moderating Role of Work Gamification in Enhancing Human-Machine Collaboration Services

Online meal delivery services commonly use algorithmic systems to guide riders' work. It is not yet clear in the existing literature how food delivery algorithm systems specifically impact the various service behaviors of delivery riders. This study constructs a moderated dual-mediation model based on the theories of goal-setting and cognitive evaluation of stress to analyze the impact of algorithmic control on the behavior of takeaway riders. The empirical study shows that, on the one hand, algorithmic control positively influences takeaway riders’ workaround use through challenging appraisal and Job crafting; on the other hand, algorithmic control positively affects takeaway riders’ unsafe behavior through hindrance appraisal and Job anxiety. Additionally, work gamification can enhance the impact of algorithmic control on workaround use, but it does not mitigate the influence of algorithmic control on unsafe behaviors. The study has identified the mechanisms and boundary conditions underlying the occurrence of Workaround use and unsafe behaviors among takeaway riders under the algorithmic system.