Organisations increasingly rely on process-oriented information systems to structure, monitor, and coordinate work. Recent technological developments have significantly expanded the range of systems capable of directing human labour, raising new questions about how control is exercised, experienced, and negotiated in digitally mediated work environments.

However, the literature on organisational control in process-oriented systems remains fragmented across multiple research traditions. These traditions employ distinct theoretical frameworks and terminologies, yet may describe overlapping or structurally related phenomena. A systematic conceptual investigation is therefore needed to examine the degree to which existing research converges on common mechanisms of control and compliance, and to identify where theoretical integration across traditions could advance the field.

The goal of this thesis is to investigate organisational control mechanisms in process-oriented information systems through a structured conceptual analysis. Existing research will be examined to identify how control is conceptualised, operationalised, and experienced across different instantiations of process-oriented systems, with particular attention to how workers navigate the boundaries between prescribed and actual work practices.

Based on this analysis, key conceptual similarities and differences across research traditions will be identified, and the findings will be synthesised into a structured overview of the current state of knowledge. The analysis will further identify theoretical gaps and discuss directions for advancing research on control and compliance in digitally mediated work.

If you are interested, please send your current transcript of records together with a brief statement of motivation.