Workers' perception of gig platform governance: scale development and validation

Purpose Gig platforms are progressively accepted as the potential catalyst for redefining the employment landscape. Studies call for exploring how well the platforms govern and connect users to create value. The literature explores platform governance through diverse facets; however, it lacks a comprehensive measurement tool to study the attributes of the Gig Platform Governance (GPG) and the workforce perception. This research aims to develop and validate a scale that measures workers' perception of the web-based GPG. Design/methodology/approach This study follows a robust scale development process – construct conceptualisation, item generation, content validity, factor exploration and confirmation using exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis and nomological testing. Data collected in phases across multiple gig platforms (total n = 1,432, comprising 9 samples) were used for scale validation. Scale testing and validation were conducted on IBM SPSS and SmartPLS 4.1. Findings Twenty-two items subsumed in 4 dimensions – (1) platform strategies and policies, (2) technical architecture standards, (3) participation and community building and (4) the platform ecosystem – represent the higher-order GPG scale. Subsequent analysis revealed that workers' perception of GPG positively influences the attributes of dignity. Results demonstrate the suitability of the proposed scale in measuring workers' perception of GPG with good reliability and validity. Originality/value This study contributes a novel scale for measuring workers' perception of GPG. The scale captures structural, technological, participatory and ecosystem regulation perspectives of GPG. The scale can be used as a valuable tool by research scholars, practitioners and policy makers for advancing theoretical knowledge and applications in the domain of the gig platform landscape.