Evaluative infrastructures: Accounting for platform organization

May combine two claims.

The platform seeks to provide a complex set of possibilities for making connections, not a clear and parsimonious ranking or rating.

“Possibly as a feature intended to continue to offer competition and lower the barriers for entry, the picture which the platform seeks to provide is not the clear and parsimonious one of ranking and ratings (Pollock & D'Adderio, 2012: 258), but rather a complex set of possibilities for making connections which may not immediately be clear.”

• cites Pollock & D'Adderio, 2012 sourceCould not verify

  The indexed passage labeled “1 Finished” discusses how a graphical ranking device shapes IT markets, but does not describe the citing document’s platform or its possibilities for making connections. Searches for the claimed contrast with clear rankings and ratings, and for platform connections and barriers to entry, found no passage addressing it. The indexed passages provide no page number. (LLM, conf=0.72)

  Experimental — accuracy not yet measured

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S2 (checkable). May combine two claims.

Value is not an objective property of a good, nor a subjective preference of a person, but the outcome of practices and processes of valuation.

“This scholarship shares the premise that value is not an objective property of a good, nor a subjective preference of a person, but the outcome of practices and processes of valuation.”

• cites Karpik, 2010Not matched

  Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

• cites Vollmer et al, 2009 sourcePartly supported

  The sections “Financial cognition, calculative agency, performativity, and sets of participants” and “Accounting intersections” describe value as collectively assigned through valuation mechanisms and organizational or market processes (page numbers unavailable). They do not explicitly support the further claim that value is neither an objective property of a good nor a person's subjective preference. (LLM, conf=0.82)

  Experimental — accuracy not yet measured
• cites Beckert & Aspers, 2011Not checked — no full text of the source

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

Economists are puzzled that evaluative infrastructures sustain markets despite factual inaccuracies, misleading claims, and unrepresentative assessments.

“This is highlighted by the puzzlement of economists that find evaluative infrastructures to be capable of sustaining markets despite being plagued by factual inaccuracies, misleading claims, and unrepresentative assessments (Tadelis, 2016;Resnick, et al., 2006).”

• cites Tadelis, 2016 sourcePartly supported

  The Introduction describes the success of online marketplaces as surprising to early skeptics and says feedback and reputation systems are central to those markets. Section 5, “Biases in Online Feedback Systems,” reports that ratings can be biased and unrepresentative, and the discussion of fake reputations describes misleading assessments. But the paper does not specifically say economists are puzzled that markets persist *despite inaccuracies in those assessments*; its stated surprise concerns trust in anonymous online trade. (LLM, conf=0.83)

  Experimental — accuracy not yet measured
• cites Resnick, et al., 2006 sourcePartly supported

  The Conclusion (page unavailable) calls eBay feedback a system that works despite apparent weaknesses: only half of buyers leave feedback, raising concern about selection bias, yet large numbers of items sell. This supports the puzzlement about markets functioning with potentially unrepresentative assessments. The paper does not establish that the feedback system is plagued by factual inaccuracies or misleading claims; its Additional information section instead suggests that serious seller misrepresentation is uncommon. (LLM, conf=0.87)

  Experimental — accuracy not yet measured

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S4 (based). May combine two claims.

eBay can be read as a more or less traditional hierarchical firm with 12,000 employees; yet its value creation occurs on a platform mobilising hundreds of millions of users and billions of dollars without eBay controlling fundamental activities through its traditional accounting regime.

“As already alluded to above, it is important to note that eBay can be read as a more or less traditional hierarchal firm with 12,000 employees; yet, what we are interested in is the fact that its value creation occurs on a platform which mobilises hundreds of millions of users and billions of dollars of transactions without eBay being able to control any of these fundamental activities through its”

May combine two claims.

Platform owners centrally collect information, enabling them to analyse, mine, and sell data, and to use data to drive certain transactions (e.g., Uber surge).

“there is the important caveat that information is centrally collected by the platform owner who is thus in a position to analyse, mine and sell data (Facebook or Google ads); equally, the platform owner is in a position to use the data to drive certain transactions (e.g.Uber surge).”

May combine two claims.

eBay added features: a system allowing users to review each other as positive, neutral, or negative; aggregation into numerical scores; specific categories for reviews; and distinctions like coloured stars, power seller status, and punishments like NARU.

“This started with a system allowing users to review each other as “positive”, “neutral” or “negative” and to leave a line of feedback or description (such as that at the bottom of Figure 2).Next, these reviews were aggregated into numerical scores for each user (positive reviews added a point, negative reviews subtracted one, and neutral reviews had no effect), and presented in terms of different”

• cites Klein et al, 2009 sourceNot checked — no full text of the source
• cites Zervas et al, 2015 sourceNot checked — no full text of the source

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S4 (based). May combine two claims.

The written feedback on eBay has no discernible structure but can be cast around any possible subject of concern.

“Likewise, the written feedback that has no discernible structure but can be cast around any possible subject of concern.”

May combine two claims.

eBay's user profiles do not define what is 'good' or 'bad'; the overall score measures volume of positive transactions rather than consistency.

“An inspection of the ecology of devices that make up the feedback forum and user profile (Figures 2 and 3 above) shows that although one can discern an overall score for each user, in the case shown in figure 3 it is 558, linked with a star colour, the profiles do not define what is 'good' or 'bad'.This happens because the overall score measures the volume of positive transactions rather than”

May combine two claims.

eBay did not seek to extend accounting as a means of territorialisation from the centre; rather, it mobilized accounting through constant experimentation and mining of information endogenous to the site.

“As platform owners, eBay did not seek to extend accounting as a means of territorialisation from the centre.Rather, they mobilized accounting throughout constant and continued experimentation (Ungerleider, 2014) and mining of information endogenous to the site.”

• cites Ungerleider, 2014Not matched

  Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

May combine two claims.

In developing its infrastructure, eBay did not seek to judge participants' characters or fact check the quality of their offerings.

“In developing its infrastructure, eBay did not seek to judge participant's characters or fact check the quality of their offerings.”

May combine two claims.

eBay was concerned not to figure out for itself what 'reputation' was; a thorough investigation of what lurked behind the numbers would have challenged its status as merely the 'modern incarnation of the traditional newspaper classified advertisement'.

“In fact, eBay was concerned not to figure out for itself what “reputation” was; a thorough investigation of what lurked behind the numbers (the pursuit of referentiality) would have challenged its status, so essential to its business model, as merely the “modern incarnation of the traditional newspaper classified advertisement and automated and accelerated for the twenty-first century” (Gentry v”

• cites Gentry v eBay in Cohen, 2002Not matched

  Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

eBay has sought to manage the development of its 'community' throughout its history.

“eBay has also sought to manage the development of its 'community' throughout its history.”

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S2 (checkable).

Evaluative infrastructures are accounting practices that enable platform-based organization.

“this paper develops the concept of evaluative infrastructure which describes accounting practices that enable platform based organization.”

May combine two claims.

Over the past decades two specific strands of accounting literature have challenged hierarchical orientation and explored accounting in non-hierarchical settings.

“over the past decades two specific strands of accounting literature have challenged this hierarchical orientation and explored accounting in non-hierarchical settings.”

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S2 (checkable).

The accounting literature suffers from a hierarchical consciousness that must be escaped.

“the need to escape what Hopwood (1996) describes as its “hierarchical consciousness”.”

• cites Hopwood (1996) sourceNot checked — no full text of the source

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S4 (based).

Platform organizations' business models rest on their ability to ensure trust between buyers and sellers.

“Platform organizations' business models rest on their ability to ensure trust between these buyers and sellers.”

May combine two claims.

Supply chain and network accounting are lateral in principle, but often in practice concerned with the formation of relative hierarchies between powerful and less powerful firms.

“Therefore, supply chain and network accounting are lateral in principle, but often, as research shows, in practice such accounting is concerned with the formation of relative hierarchies between a powerful and a less powerful (set of) firms”

• cites Frances & Garnsey, 1996 sourceNot checked — no full text of the source
• cites Seal et al., 2004 sourceNot checked — no full text of the source
• cites Kraus & Strömsten, 2016 sourceNot checked — no full text of the source

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S4 (based).

The first body of literature on inter-organizational networks remains wedded to notions of hierarchy and the visible hand searching for efficiencies in closed supply chains.

“this literature remains wedded to notions of hierarchy and the visible hand searching for efficiencies in closed supply chains.”

May combine two claims.

Platforms hold limited fixed assets, hire only few employees, and externalize the value creation process.

“Platforms hold limited fixed assets, hire only few employees, and externalize the value creation process”

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S2 (checkable).

Accounting as infrastructure may be simultaneously a means of disclosing a new world, exploring, opening up, generating new opportunities and new subjectivities.

“accounting as infrastructure may be simultaneously a means of disclosing a new world, of exploring, opening up, generating new opportunities and new subjectivities”

Classified as probably not a substantial claim.

Platforms rely on a specific accounting regime described as evaluative infrastructure.

“What allows them to do so is a specific accounting regimea regime that this paper sets out to describe as evaluative infrastructure.”

May combine two claims.

In contrast with networks, platforms are more market-based as they invite millions of hitherto unknown producers and consumers to transact; platforms do not extend or enlarge a set of relations, but populate a place with possibilities for relations to form.

“In contrast with such networks, platforms are more market-based as they invite literally millions of hitherto unknown producers and consumers to transact with each other; the difference is quantitative but also qualitative: platforms do not extend or enlarge a set of relations, but populate a place with the possibilities for relations to form.”

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

The topography of space upon which accounting has been shown to be assembled has a distinctive centre and periphery, exemplified in territorialization.

“The topography of space upon which accounting has been shown to be assembled is one with a distinctive centre and periphery, exemplified in the notion of territorialization”

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing). May combine two claims.

Digital technology and the move towards access rather than ownership are fuelling the rapid growth of platforms.

“Digital technology and the move towards access rather than ownership (Rifkin, 2001), among other factors, are fuelling the rapid growth of platforms.”

• cites Rifkin, 2001Not checked — no full text of the source

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S2 (checkable), S4 (based). May combine two claims.

Control in evaluative infrastructures is radically distributed whilst power remains centralized.

“control in evaluative infrastructures is radically distributed whilst power remains centralized”

May combine two claims.

Platforms are distinct from hierarchies, markets and networks and challenge their status as opposing and exclusive forms of organization.

“Platforms are distinct from hierarchies, markets and networks and challenge their status as opposing and exclusive forms of organization (Powell, 1990).”

• cites Powell, 1990Not matched

  Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

Classified as probably not a substantial claim. May combine two claims.

Singular accounting devices function like obligatory points of passage; they format and edit things and people brought through them, while remaining static filters.

“These singular devices function like obligatory points of passage; they format and edit the things and people that are brought through them, while they remain static filters.”

Classified as probably not a substantial claim.

Accounting, understood as long distance control, is seen to reconstitute its objects through translation, transposition, reframing, or interessement.

“accounting is seen to reconstitute its objects through its capacity to “translate” (Robson, 1992), “transpose” (Knorr-Cetina & Grimpe, 2008), “reframe” (Miller & Power, 2013), or “interess” (Chua, 1995).”

• cites Robson, 1992 sourceNot checked — no full text of the source
• cites Knorr-Cetina & Grimpe, 2008 sourceNot checked — no full text of the source
• cites Miller & Power, 2013 sourceNot checked — no full text of the source

Classified as probably not a substantial claim. May combine two claims.

Accounting is argued to remake its objects through the ability to corner, capture, stabilize, or close; it envelops its objects and territorializes by fencing in.

“Accounting, understood this way, is argued to remake its objects through the ability to corner, capture, stabilize, or close: accounting “envelops” its objects (Miller & Power, 2013: 562); it territorializes by fencing in.”

• cites Miller & Power, 2013: 562 sourceNot checked — no full text of the source

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S2 (checkable).

Evaluative infrastructures provide invisible yet essential mechanisms for the flow of economic activity and exchange on platforms.

“They are infrastructures because they provide the invisible yet essential mechanisms for the flow of economic activity and exchange on platforms.”

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S4 (based). May combine two claims.

Platforms' value-add is to provide an interface for interaction and a controlling mechanism for transactions between many buyers and sellers who might never meet in person.

“platforms' value-add is to provide an interface for interaction and controlling mechanism for transactions between tens of thousands, sometimes even millions of buyers and sellers who might never meet in person.”

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S4 (based).

The second, more critical, strand of accounting literature remains tied to a centralist notion of power.

“the second, more critical, strand of literature remains tied to a centralist notion of power”

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S4 (based).

Because value creation itself is accomplished by hundreds of thousands of people outside hierarchical relationships, the specificity of the accounting regime underpinning decentralized production needs investigation.

“Because value creation itself is accomplished by hundreds of thousands of people outside hierarchical relationships we need to investigate the specificity of the accounting regime that underpins such decentralized production.”

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

Heterarchical accounting regimes would not replace more traditional hierarchical forms of accounting.

“this proposition which we will explore in this paper does not suggest heterarchical accounting regimes would replace more traditional hierarchical forms of accounting.”

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S4 (based). May combine two claims.

In supply chains and networks, production is decentralized but still attributable; the boundary of the firm is extended, but only to include a finite number of other firms.

“In supply chains and networks, production is decentralized but still attributable; the boundary of the firm is extended, but only to include a finite number of other firms.”

Classified as probably not a substantial claim.

Evaluative infrastructures deploy interacting devices including rankings, ratings, reviews, and audits to establish orders of worth.

“They are evaluative because they deploy a plethora of interacting devices, including rankings, ratings, reviews, and audits to establish orders of worth.”

Classified as probably not a substantial claim.

Platforms are a new type of firm that provide digital infrastructure to intermediate between different groups.

“Platforms are a “new type of firm”, which provide “the [digital] infrastructure to intermediate between different groups” (Srnicek, 2016: 12).”

• cites Srnicek, 2016: 12Not matched

  Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S2 (checkable), S4 (based).

Evaluative infrastructures do not territorialize from a center but disclose new worlds.

“evaluative infrastructures do not territorialize from a center, but instead disclose new worlds.”

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing), S4 (based).

Internally platform organizations may resemble hierarchically organized firms.

“internally platform organizations may resemble hierarchically organized firms.”

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S4 (based). May combine two claims.

Platform organizations such as Uber, eBay and Airbnb are a growing disruptive phenomenon in contemporary capitalism, transforming economic organization, the nature of work, and the distribution of wealth.

“Platform organizations such as Uber, eBay and Airbnb represent a growing disruptive phenomenon in contemporary capitalism, transforming economic organization, the nature of work, and the distribution of wealth.”

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S2 (checkable).

Infrastructures are assemblages of technical artefacts, institutional arrangements, cultural habits, and social conventions.

“In reality, they are assemblages of technical artefacts, institutional arrangements, cultural habits and social conventions (Hughes, 1983;Bijker et al., 1987).”

• cites Hughes, 1983Not matched

  Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

• cites Bijker et al., 1987Not matched

  Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

Protocol emphasizes the intricate, perhaps paradoxical, relationship between distributed control and centralized power.

“In contradistinction, protocol puts emphasis on the intricate, perhaps even paradoxical, relationship between distributed control and centralized power.”

May combine two claims.

In platforms' accounting regime, control of goods and services is radically decentralized, while power is concentrated in the hands of the platform owner.

“Hence, we face intricate power relations in platforms' accounting regime: whilst control of goods and services is radically decentralized, power is concentrated in the hands of the platform owner.”

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S2 (checkable), S4 (based).

Accounting operates by creating relations between actions, behaviours and preferences, so as to engineer possibilities of a match.

“Accounting, in other words, operates by creating relations between actions, behaviours and preferences, so as to engineer possibilities of a match.”

May combine two claims.

eBay's early development of evaluative infrastructures was central to its story; Stone et al. describe it as the world's largest and most widely imitated management control system.

“Central to eBay's story has been its early development of evaluative infrastructures (Baron, 2001), which Stone et al. (2014: 357) describe as “the world's largest and most widely imitated MCS [management control system]”.”

• cites Baron, 2001Not matched

  Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

• cites Stone et al., 2014 sourceNot checked — no full text of the source

May combine two claims.

On the Feedback Forum, members established informal standards, provided feedback on other members' performance, and policed the site.

“On the Feedback Forum, Baron (2001: 246) notes, “members established informal standards, provided feedback on other members' performance, and policed the site”.”

• cites Baron, 2001Not matched

  Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

May combine two claims.

Categorical infrastructures shape perceptions, guide attention, and pattern structures of intentionality.

“But not only physical infrastructures exercise power; categorical infrastructures (Schneiberg & Berk, 2010) shape perceptions, guide attention and pattern “structures of intentionality” (Goodwin quoted in Bowker & Star, 1999: 287).”

• cites Schneiberg & Berk, 2010 sourceNot checked — no full text of the source
• cites Goodwin quoted in Bowker & Star, 1999Not matched

  Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

The authors gathered data for the eBay section from a wide variety of primary and secondary sources such as investigatory journalism and academic research.

“Therefore, while well aware of the potential for some bias and also the need for further in depth studies, we have gathered data for this section from a wide variety of primary and secondary sources such as investigatory journalism and academic research.”

May combine two claims.

Evaluative infrastructures disclose new worlds: they do not simply measure what is there, nor territorialize life-worlds; they create objects from a surplus of data and traces, producing new possibilities of discovery and invention.

“We capture this quality through arguing that evaluative infrastructures disclose new worlds: they do not simply measure (capture, calculate) what is there, or what a centre imagines there to be, nor do they territorialize (fence in, colonize) life-worlds.”

• Also stated in: § Summary and critical appreciation: going beyond accounting's hierarchical consciousness · plain

  “Translated into the context of platform organization: evaluative infrastructures do not calculate what is there but disclose new worlds through creating objects that are not so much the outcomes of programmatic aspirations, but of a surplus of data and traces, which produce new possibilities of discovery and invention.”

May combine two claims.

In evaluative infrastructures, power is centralized while control is radically decentralized.

“We argue that in evaluative infrastructures power is centralized, while control is radically decentralized.”

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S2 (checkable).

Evaluative infrastructures generate relations (not references) between things, people and ideas, rather than being singular mediating devices that strive for referentiality between objects and representations.

“This highlights the relational aspect of infrastructures: infrastructures are not singular mediating devices that strive for referentiatlity between objects and representations; rather, evaluative infrastructures generate relations (not references) between things, people and ideas.”

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S2 (checkable), S3 (load-bearing), S4 (based).

Infrastructure is a dynamic assemblage that is evolving and changing.

“This alludes to the temporal dimension of infrastructure: it is a dynamic assemblage that is evolving and changing.”

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S2 (checkable).

Infrastructures are a form of control that determines the potentiality of any place within the network, defining what is possible and actual.

“Rather, infrastructures are a form of control that determines the potentiality of any place within the network, defining what is possible and actual (to paraphrase Hopwood, 1987).”

• cites Hopwood, 1987 sourceNot checked — no full text of the source

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing). May combine two claims.

The eBay section was sent to and informally discussed with a member of eBay Labs to check accuracy and explore its propositions.

“This section has also been sent to and informally discussed with a member of eBay Labs with the aim to check accuracy and explore its propositions.”

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S2 (checkable), S4 (based).

The relational character of feedback makes it potentially surprising and generative of new issues and possibilities.

“The relational character of feedback makes it potentially surprising and generative of new issues and possibilities.”

Classified as probably not a substantial claim. May combine two claims.

A private ordering emerged on eBay; trust was high and it was common for sellers to ship items before receiving payments.

“A private ordering emerged; it was said (perhaps overstated) that “trust on the site was so high and the feeling of community so strong that it was common for sellers to ship items even before they had received bidders' payments” (Baron, 2001: 26).”

• cites Baron, 2001Not matched

  Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

Classified as probably not a substantial claim.

In infrastructure, the technical and the social are inextricably intertwined.

“Hence, in infrastructure, the technical and the social are inextricably intertwined (Larkin, 2013).”

• cites Larkin, 2013 sourceNot checked — no full text of the source

Classified as probably not a substantial claim. May combine two claims.

Disciplinary power is about enclosure (territorialisation) of things and people, while control is about managing flows.

“Disciplinary power as defined by Foucault is about enclosure (territorialisation) of things and people, whilst control is about managing flows (Deleuze, 1992).”

• cites Deleuze, 1992Not matched

  Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

Hopwood's diagnosis that even new management accountings still tend to maintain hierarchical orientation is echoed by our reading.

“Our reading of extant research echoes Hopwood's diagnosis that even “the so called new management accountings still tend to maintain this hierarchical orientation””

• cites HopwoodNot matched

  Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

Classified as probably not a substantial claim.

The concept of evaluative infrastructures emphasizes the distributed, systematic nature of valuation processes that underpin platform organization.

“Whilst much extant research has focused on moments of valuation (Antal et al., 2015) or singular valuation devices (Muniesa et al., 2007) the concept of evaluative infrastructures puts emphasis on the distributed, systematic nature of valuation processes that underpin platform organization.”

• cites Antal et al., 2015Not matched

  Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

• cites Muniesa et al., 2007 sourceNot checked — no full text of the source

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S2 (checkable), S3 (load-bearing).

Infrastructure occurs when the tension between local and global is resolved.

“As Star and Ruhleder (1996: 114) argued, an “infrastructure occurs when the tension between local and global is resolved.””

• cites Star and Ruhleder, 1996 sourceNot checked — no full text of the source

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S2 (checkable).

Evaluative infrastructures include rankings, ratings, reviews, tests, audits, assessments, and other evaluation mechanisms.

“Evaluative infrastructures include rankings, ratings, reviews, tests, audits, assessments and other evaluation mechanisms (Antal et al., 2015;Kornberger et al., 2015).”

• cites Antal et al., 2015Not matched

  Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

• cites Kornberger et al., 2015Not matched

  Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S2 (checkable).

Infrastructures need to be understood as ecologies.

“First, because of this radically relational character infrastructures need to be understood as ecologies (Star & Ruhleder, 1996, referencing Bateson, 1972;Star, 1999;Bowker et al., 2010;Monteiro et al., 2013).”

• cites Star & Ruhleder, 1996 sourceNot checked — no full text of the source
• cites Bateson, 1972Not matched

  Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

• cites Star, 1999 sourceNot checked — no full text of the source

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S2 (checkable).

Departing from focus on singular mediating instruments, an ecology of devices should be thought of as infrastructure.

“Hence, departing from the focus on singular mediating instruments, we propose thinking of an “ecology of devices” that Star and Ruhleder (1996;Star, 1999;Monteiro et al., 2013) describe as “infrastructure”.”

• cites Star and Ruhleder (1996;Star, 1999;Monteiro et al., 2013)Not matched

  Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

Classified as probably not a substantial claim. May combine two claims.

Even if there is no single actor in the centre, there is a centre that controls activities and exercises power.

“Whilst there may be no single actor in the centre, there is a centre that controls activities and exercises power.”

May combine two claims.

In the case of eBay, reputation is not 'there' to facilitate exchange; rather, reputation is the result of evaluative infrastructure's disclosing, constituting an asset described as 'ubercapital'.

“In the case of eBay, reputation is not “there” to facilitate exchange; rather, reputation is the result of evaluative infrastructure's disclosing, constituting an asset which Fourcade and Healy (2013;2016) described as “ubercapital”-the form of capital arising from the “digital record” which evaluative infrastructure unfurls.”

• cites Fourcade and Healy, 2013 sourceNot checked — no full text of the source
• cites Fourcade and Healy, 2016 sourceNot checked — no full text of the source

May combine two claims.

eBay users become the auditors of platform activities, and in-house fraud investigation and protection becomes only a reluctantly-used last resort.

“eBay users become the auditors of platform activities, and in-house fraud investigation and protection becomes only a reluctantly-used last resort (Stone, Nikitkov, & Miller, 2014: 368).”

• cites Stone, Nikitkov, & Miller, 2014 sourceNot checked — no full text of the source

May combine two claims.

By virtue of its ownership of the platform and the possibilities that the data generates, eBay is able to draw boundaries on what can and cannot be traded, outlawing the sale of firearms, drugs, body parts, and alcohol and cigarettes, and determining how trade can take place, including establishing PayPal as the site's de-facto payment mechanism.

“By virtue of its ownership of the platform (as well as the possibilities that the data generates), eBay is able to draw boundaries on what can and cannot be traded, outlawing, for instance, the sale of firearms, drugs, body parts, and alcohol and cigarettes, as well as determining how trade can take place, by, for instance, establishing PayPal as the site's de-facto payment mechanism (Cohen, 2002;”

• cites Cohen, 2002Not matched

  Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

• cites Long, 2010Not matched

  Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

May combine two claims.

Sellers engage in gaming activities such as 'shrilling' and 'feedback bombing', and initial negative feedback increases the chances of receiving subsequent negative feedback.

“Consistent with the accounting literature, sellers engage in gaming activities (Argyris, 1990) such as “shrilling” and “feedback bombing”, as well as getting caught up in self-fulfilling prophecies, whereby initial negative feedback increases the chances of receiving subsequent negative feedback (Cabral & Hortacsu, 2004: Saeedi et al, 2013).”

• cites Argyris, 1990 sourceNot checked — no full text of the source
• cites Cabral & Hortacsu, 2004 sourceNot checked — no full text of the source
• cites Saeedi et al, 2013Not matched

  Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

May combine two claims.

eBay's proprietary interfaces, from discussion boards to the feedback forum and even its fraud detection system, depend upon its users to work, and they require users to evaluate, assess, control, and follow up what their fellow users do, creating much of the information that eBay's evaluative infrastructure collects, analyses and uses to organize its platform.

“Crucially, eBay's proprietary interfaces, from discussion boards to the feedback forum and even its fraud detection system, depend upon its users to work.They require that users evaluate, assess, control, and follow up what their fellow users do, creating much of the information that eBay's evaluative infrastructure collects, analysis and uses to organize its platform.”

May combine two claims.

Such adjudication would have limited eBay's ability to scale, because of resources required and because it would make the company liable for claims made on its site.

“Such adjudication would have limited eBay's ability to scale, because of the resources required and because doing so would make the company liable for the claims made in its site.”

May combine two claims.

Platforms rely upon two types of accounting: conventionally hierarchical accounting of firm profits, assets, costs and hierarchical control of in-house employees, and accounting that makes up the platform's ability to connect and relate millions of suppliers and buyers.

“The hidden cursor directs attention to the point that platforms rely upon two types of accounting.One type of accounting is conventionally hierarchical: as a firm, eBay accounts for its profits, assets and costs and controls hierarchically its in-house employees.Another type is the accounting that makes up the platform's ability to connect and relate millions of suppliers and buyers.”

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S2 (checkable), S4 (based). May combine two claims.

Organizations constitute, control and commodify capital from digital traces.

“Attention to the elaboration of evaluative infrastructure highlights that problematic way in which organizations constitute, control and commodify capital from digital traces.”

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S2 (checkable).

The relationship between power and control can be described analytically as protocol.

“This relationship between power and control can be described analytically as protocol (Deleuze, 1992;Lessig, 1999;Galloway, 2004).”

• cites Deleuze, 1992Not matched

  Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

• cites Lessig, 1999Not matched

  Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

• cites Galloway, 2004Not matched

  Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

May combine two claims.

Evaluative infrastructures constitute not only economic value but also life chances.

“Thirdly, evaluative infrastructures are problematic because they constitute not only economic value but also life chances.”

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S2 (checkable), S4 (based).

As a platform, eBay's accounting mechanisms make it a producer of classifications looking for traces and combinations which can be pulled together to disclose the world in a new way.

“As a platform, eBay's accounting mechanisms make it a producer of classifications looking for traces and combinations which can be pulled together to disclose the world in a new way.”

Classified as probably not a substantial claim.

Evaluative infrastructures operate without a stable referent.

“Unfolding in this way, evaluative infrastructures operate without a stable referent.”

May combine two claims.

Even though eBay asserts no responsibility for claims made on its platform, it maintains strict control over the infrastructure and the data which it generates.

“Even though eBay asserts no responsibility for the claims made on its platform, it maintains strict control over the infrastructure and the data which it generates.”

May combine two claims.

Reputations are bought and sold on eBay, and sellers have sued buyers for leaving negative feedback.

“This is the reason why reputations are bought and sold on eBay and why sellers have sued buyers for leaving negative feedback (Med Express Inc. v Amy Nicholls and eBay Inc.; Baron, 2001).”

• cites Med Express Inc. v Amy Nicholls and eBay Inc.Not matched

  Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

• cites Baron, 2001Not matched

  Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing), S4 (based).

Online platforms such as traity.com exist to manage users' various forms of 'ubercapital'.

“There are even online platforms (such as traity.com)whose sole purpose is to manage users' various forms of “ubercapital” which they acquire on other platforms, in social media, in computer games, and elsewhere.”

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S2 (checkable). May combine two claims.

Hierarchies and markets live on, even within platform organizations, and management accounting and its hierarchical consciousness have a significant place in theorizing the prevalent patterns of organizational change.

“Hierarchies and markets, of course live on, even within platform organizations; managers, not history, confront managerial dilemmas and choose how and on what terms to respond to them.As such, management accounting and its hierarchical consciousness have a significant-and in our rendering a perhaps sometimes deemphasized-place in theorizing the prevalent patterns of organizational change.”

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S4 (based).

The case of eBay highlights the infrastructural character of a heterarchical mode of accounting.

“The case of eBay highlights the infrastructural character of a heterachical mode of accounting.”

May combine two claims.

Platforms do not necessarily have to control users as individuals; rather, with each new user, eBay recruits an additional auditor (in disguise) of platform activity.

“But, they do not necessarily have to be controlled as individuals; rather, with each new user, eBay recruits an additional auditor (in disguise) of platform activity.”

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S4 (based).

Buyers and sellers who were once anonymous and remote and wary of online commerce had become multi-dimensional representations (usernames, histories, feedback ratings, points, stars, and other descriptors) transacting at a significant scale.

“What were once anonymous and remote buyers and sellers wary of online commerce, had become multi-dimensional representations (usernames, histories, feedback ratings, points, stars, and other descriptors) transacting at a significant scale,”

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S2 (checkable). May combine two claims.

In the context of evaluative infrastructures, disclosing is about creating the condition for the possibility of hitherto unknown things to surface; it is about exploration, not exposure.

“Instead, it is about creating the condition for the possibility of hitherto unknown things to surface.In this sense, disclosing is about exploration, not exposure.”

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing), S4 (based).

This mutual dependency was highlighted by a series of insurgencies led by disgruntled users in response to changes to the Feedback Forum throughout its development.

“This mutual dependency was highlighted by a series of insurgencies led by disgruntled users in response to changes to the Feedback Forum throughout its development.”

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

In Admiral's scheme, the use of many exclamation marks was read as indicative of assertiveness and hence aggressive driving behaviour.

“the use of many exclamation marks for instance was read as indicative of assertiveness and hence aggressive driving behaviour.”

• cites https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2016/nov/02/admiral-to-price-car-insurance-based-on-facebook-postsNot matched

  Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S2 (checkable), S4 (based). May combine two claims.

Past buying behaviour leads to personalized recommendations for future purchases: evaluative infrastructure creates patterns, relentlessly connecting, comparing, and contextualizing, leading to an endogenous ordering as infrastructure-immanent activity as opposed to external categorizations.

“Past buying behaviour leads to personalized recommendations for future purchases: evaluative infrastructure creates patterns, relentlessly connecting, comparing, and contextualizing.This leads to an endogenous ordering as infrastructure-immanent activity as opposed to external categorizations.”

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing). May combine two claims.

Today's platform based firms, such as eBay, Uber and Airbnb but also its smaller siblings in the emerging fintech industry or blockchain banking, are big data firms: their competence is data creation, collection, experimentation, and analysis.

“Today's platform based firms, such as eBay, Uber and Airbnb but also its smaller siblings in the emerging fintech industry or blockchain banking are big data firms: their competence is data creation, collection, experimentation, and analysis (McAfee & Brynjolfsson, 2012).”

• cites McAfee & Brynjolfsson, 2012Not checked — no full text of the source

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S2 (checkable), S3 (load-bearing), S4 (based). May combine two claims.

eBay, like other platform organizations, is notoriously secretive about its evaluative infrastructure; it is as if the evaluation seemed to be premised on the fact that its production has to remain secret in order to stay truthful.

“In fact, eBay, like other platform organizations, is notoriously secretive about its evaluative infrastructure; it is as if the evaluation seemed to be premised on the fact that its production has to remain secret in order to stay truthful.”

May combine two claims.

Emerging spaces of values (trust in eBay; skills in LinkedIn; reputation in Airbnb) are disclosed through evaluative infrastructures; as over time different infrastructures are layered on top of each other, they will give rise to a layering of spaces which interfere or resonate with each other in multiple ways.

“These topographies neither represent calculative spaces (bookkeeping), nor concrete spaces (such as the factory floor) nor abstract spaces (such as the brand); rather, they are emerging spaces of values (trust in eBay; skills in LinkedIn; reputation in Airbnb) that are disclosed through evaluative infrastructures.As over time different infrastructures are layered on top of each other, they will”

• cites Dourish & Bell, 2007 sourceNot checked — no full text of the source

May combine two claims.

Power and control do not flow in only one direction but develop at the same time, and in different directions.

“Firstly, power and control do not flow in only one direction (as in, for instance, the development of rules within an outsourced network) but develop at the same time, and in different directions.”

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S2 (checkable), S4 (based). May combine two claims.

Evaluative infrastructures are assemblages of heterogeneous elements that create relations between elements across space and time; they are not singular mediating devices that strive for referentiality between objects and representations, but ecologies of interacting devices that generate relations (not references) between people's actions, behaviours, experiences and objects.

“Evaluative infrastructures are assemblages of heterogeneous elements that create relations between elements across space and time.As such, we showed that they are not singular mediating devices that strive for referentiality between objects and representations.Rather, they are ecologies of interacting devices that generate relations (not references) between people's actions, behaviours, experi”

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S2 (checkable), S4 (based).

Evaluative infrastructures are contextualizing machines: they constantly link events, actions, behaviours, decisions (clicks), assessments and other traces left unintentionally and unconsciously, all of which are used to build a web of context around objects and subjects.

“Hence, evaluative infrastructures are contextualizing machines: they constantly link events, actions, behaviours, decisions (clicks), assessments and other traces left unintentionally and unconsciously (such as speed of typing, time of access, or browser used to access site)all of which are used to build a web of context around objects and subjects.”

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

After a public outcry on privacy grounds, Admiral had to shelf its idea for now.

“After a public outcry on privacy grounds Admiral had to shelf its ideafor now.”

• cites https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2016/nov/02/admiral-to-price-car-insurance-based-on-facebook-postsNot matched

  Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

May combine two claims.

Evaluative infrastructures disclose values that represent the resource base of economic activity; eBay's evaluative infrastructure discloses trust as key currency without which it could not operate, and through its evaluative infrastructure eBay creates the non-economic values it relies on for its economic success.

“In so doing, evaluative infrastructures disclose values that represent the resource base of economic activity.As shown, eBay's evaluative infrastructure discloses trust as key currency without which it could not operate.Through its evaluative infrastructure, eBay creates the non-economic values it relies on for its economic success.”

May combine two claims.

It is unsatisfactory to say that evaluative infrastructures reframe or constitute preexisting types of trust, and equally unsatisfactory to argue that trust is socially constructed: at eBay trust is the result not of constructions but of infrastructural disclosure that brings into being a plane of possibilities that did not exist beforehand.

“Hence, it is unsatisfactory to say that evaluative infrastructures reframe or constitute preexisting types of trust because it is formed and disclosed via evaluative infrastructures that , generate opportunities to connect just like a new highway built into wilderness discloses the opportunity to travel, visit and settle.It is equally unsatisfactory to argue that trust is socially constructed: at”

• cites Lury & Marres, 2015 sourceNot checked — no full text of the source

May combine two claims.

In eBay's evaluative infrastructure control is decentralized, whereas power remains centralized; eBay exercises power through its infrastructural design, maintaining standards, imposing what counts and how to count, excluding users, and introducing rules.

“In eBay's evaluative infrastructure control is decentralized, whereas power remains centralized.eBay exercises power through its infrastructural design, maintaining standards, imposing what counts and how to count, excluding users, and introducing rules.”

May combine two claims.

Whilst there can be no doubt of the centralized power of eBay as a firm, control itself is decentralized and distributed alongside the production processes of eBay as a platform; as a firm, eBay might reproduce accounting's hierarchical consciousness, but as a platform, eBay's evaluative infrastructure illustrates a heterarchical mode of accounting.

“Whilst there can be no doubt of the centralized power of eBay as a firm, control itself is decentralized and distributed alongside the production processes of eBay as a platform.As a firm, eBay might reproduce accounting's hierarchical consciousness; however, as a platform, eBay's evaluative infrastructure illustrates a heterarchical mode of accounting.”

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing), S4 (based). May combine two claims.

Big data is an important precondition to and outcome of the development of evaluative infrastructures.

“Big data for instance is an important precondition to and outcome of the development of evaluative infrastructures.”

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S4 (based). May combine two claims.

Through connecting events, actions, behaviours, decisions (clicks) and assessments by third parties on eBay, new qualities such as reputation or trust come to the fore; these qualities are not a result of referencing or trailing, but of relations that the infrastructure engenders without altering the connected objects themselves.

“Through connecting events, actions, behaviours, decisions (clicks) and assessments by third parties on eBay, new qualities such as reputation or trust come to the fore.These qualities are not a result of referencing or trailing, but of relations that the infrastructure engenders without altering the connected objects themselves.”

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S2 (checkable), S4 (based). May combine two claims. The quote only partly states this claim.

Evaluative infrastructures embody expectations about the future, which can lead to self-fulfilling prophecies and other forms of reversed causality in which expectations of future behaviour shape present behaviour; network effects might turn infrastructures that have grown to critical mass into de-facto standards; and because infrastructures require substantive political, cognitive and financial,

“Evaluative infrastructures embody expectations about the future.This can lead to self-fulfilling prophecies and other forms of reversed causality in which expectations of future behaviour shape present behaviour.A second important temporal dynamic are network effects that might turn infrastructures that have grown to critical mass into de-facto standards.”

May combine two claims.

Evaluative infrastructures produce novel apparatuses of power: they are not centres of calculation that allow action at distance, projecting power to the periphery; rather, they produce a more differentiated regime in which control is radically distributed whilst power remains centralized.

“Evaluative infrastructures produce novel apparatuses of power: they are not centres of calculation that allow action at distance, projecting power to the periphery.Rather, evaluative infrastructures produce a more differentiated regime: in evaluative infrastructures control is radically distributed, whilst power remains centralized.”

May combine two claims.

Platform owners gain ever more power to make use of platform data and to design protocol rules, and they gain this power through the distribution of control.

“On the one hand, the platform owners gain ever more power to make use of platform data and to design protocol rules.On the other hand, the platform owners gain this power through the distribution of control.”

May combine two claims.

eBay's evaluative infrastructure disclosed a new form of relationality in which trust between anonymous actors could come into existence: through feedback loops, ratings, comments, and other evaluation mechanisms trust came into existence as a quantification.

“Rather, eBay's evaluative infrastructure disclosed a new form of relationality in which trust between anonymous actors could come into existence: through feedback loops, ratings, comments, and other evaluation mechanisms trust came into existence as a quantification.”

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S2 (checkable).

The concept of evaluative infrastructures serves as reminder for the relentless background work that has to be accomplished in order to turn 0/1s into voices and values.

“The concept of evaluative infrastructures serves as reminder for the relentless background work that has to be accomplished in order to turn 0/1s into voices and values.”

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S2 (checkable).

The difference between purporting and provoking has been conflated in the disclosing powers of platform accounting.

“Even for the benevolent observer it must have become obvious that the difference between purporting and provoking has been conflated in the disclosing powers of platform accounting.”

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S1 (asserted).

The Facebook experiment aimed to determine whether the company could alter the emotional state of its users.

“The experiment aimed to determine whether the company could alter the emotional state of its users.”

• cites GuardianNot matched

  Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

May combine two claims.

Users may gain control but, because the emergence of evaluative infrastructure as protocol creates ever bigger network effects, users lose power to resist or even exit the platforms as switching costs increase with every new user.

“Users may gain control but, because the emergence evaluative infrastructure as protocol creates ever bigger network effects (Haucap and Heimeshoff, 2014), users lose power to resist or even exit the platforms as switching costs increase with every new user.”

• cites Haucap and Heimeshoff, 2014 sourceNot checked — no full text of the source

May combine two claims.

Evaluative infrastructures are at play at Uber just as well as at its cooperative twin, the mobility platform LaZooz; they span ideological boundaries, suggesting that rhetorical disagreements are in reality based on shared intellectual and material investments.

“indeed, evaluative infrastructures are at play at Uber just as well as at its cooperative twin, the mobility platform LaZooz.As such evaluative infrastructures span ideological boundaries, suggesting that rhetorical disagreements are in reality based on a shared intellectual and material investments.”