A4 Refereed article in a conference publication
Freedom is not Free : Tensions of Entrepreneurial Work in Information System Development Consultancies
Authors: Laato, Samuli; Birkstedt, Teemu; Mäntymäki, Matti
Conference name: Americas Conference on Information Systems
Publisher: Association for Information Systems
Publication year: 2025
Journal: Americas Conference on Information Systems
Book title : AMCIS 2025 Proceedings
First page : 1937
Last page: 1941
ISBN: 978-83-313-2774-4
ISSN: 3066-8743
eISSN: 3066-876X
Publication's open availability at the time of reporting: No Open Access
Publication channel's open availability : No Open Access publication channel
Web address : https://aisel.aisnet.org/amcis2025/sig_dite/sig_dite/23
Abstract
On a surface level, information system development (ISD) consultancies adopting entrepreneurial and minimalist characteristics offer a disruptive alternative to software professionals. These companies typically minimize company overhead costs, and their workers maintain entrepreneurial status, enabling e.g., staff augmentation workforce to keep a larger portion of their billable hours to themselves. In this study, we examine this emerging form of employment through interviews with company founders. Through reflexive thematic analysis we discover the following tensions within the workforce who have migrated to the new work arrangements: (1) while workers are looking to maximize the compensation for their work, most still require and seek job security; (2) while workers do not wish to spend money on social gatherings, they still value a sense of belonging at their workplace; and (3) while workers gravitate towards working with skills they already have, most still feel a need to develop themselves as programmers.
On a surface level, information system development (ISD) consultancies adopting entrepreneurial and minimalist characteristics offer a disruptive alternative to software professionals. These companies typically minimize company overhead costs, and their workers maintain entrepreneurial status, enabling e.g., staff augmentation workforce to keep a larger portion of their billable hours to themselves. In this study, we examine this emerging form of employment through interviews with company founders. Through reflexive thematic analysis we discover the following tensions within the workforce who have migrated to the new work arrangements: (1) while workers are looking to maximize the compensation for their work, most still require and seek job security; (2) while workers do not wish to spend money on social gatherings, they still value a sense of belonging at their workplace; and (3) while workers gravitate towards working with skills they already have, most still feel a need to develop themselves as programmers.
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