Page - 73 - in Critical Issues in Science, Technology and Society Studies - Conference Proceedings of the 17th STS Conference Graz 2018

work, as well as about the work load, self-determination, communication and development of online workers (Leimeister et al. 2015, 35). In addition, the different forms of online work present new technological, organisational, ethical, legal, social and ergonomic challenges for industry and politics, which have also not yet been researched (Leimeister et al., 77; Adolph et al. 2017, 3). On top there is the difficulty that online workers as a group are hardly included in the current discourse (Pongratz & Borman 2017, 174). A goal-oriented discussion that addresses the needs and desires of online workers is difficult. Hence, there is hardly any scientific research in the area yet (Zink 2017, 98). Therefore, a concept for the investigation of the field on platform-based work is presented in the following. 4. Own Conception Looking at the explanations made here from a theoretical point of view, it can be concluded that the area of online work is in the process of differentiating itself as an independent system. The socio-technical work in the area of virtual space created by digitization represents autopoietic and self-contained units. This new differentiating system is different from its environment insofar as it has its own logics and rules (e.g. general terms and conditions) of the corresponding subsystems (clickworker and crowdworker etc.). At the same time, it is in a reciprocal determinism with other systems such as economy, law, science and politics. According to this, it is possible to speak of interpenetration. The problem, however, is that these other systems discuss, do research and do business on the system of online work; in other words, communicate without including the system itself in the discourse (Pongratz & Borman 2017, 174). This leads to a false expectation towards the system of online work. In order to support a positive differentiation of the system, communication with the system as well as communication between the systems is important. In this context, the system of science can act as a link between online work and economy, law and politics. Science can translate its results from the field of online work into a generally understandable language and thereby support decision- makers in economics, law and politics. It is precisely at this point that the integration of Industrial Engineering and Future and Innovation Research is proving to be effective. Existing instruments of Industrial Engineering will be used on the phenomena of online work in order to analyse current problems and risks in depth. In practice, the methods of Industrial Engineering are used to analyse the current state of online work. The analysis will be deepened by implementing the methods of Industrial Engineering in the toolboxes of innovation and future research. At the same time, assessments, for example in the form of scenarios relating to the future development of the field, will be sharpened. The approach provides a testing and application in the field in order to interact with the relevant actors. One goal is to use methods of Industrial Engineering and the toolboxes technology forecasting, foresight and technology assessment to investigate the need for action for law, politics and business. A second objective is of theoretical nature. An implementation and validation of the methods of Industrial Engineering in Future and Innovation Research is planned. A process of verification or falsification and modification of the theoretical constructs behind the methods accompany this. A preparation for further areas of application is planned. This approach should help Future and Innovation Research to strengthen itself as an independent science. 73