Measured Enough: How Academic Knowledge Workers Negotiate Data Sharing and Control

Personal informatics (PI) systems support self-tracking and reflection, yet their adoption in work settings remains limited due to concerns about surveillance, loss of control, and misinterpretation of data. We present an exploratory vignette-based interview study with 20 academic knowledge workers that examines how PI systems can support work-related activities while preserving workers’ autonomy. We compare two scenarios: individual use of PI systems for productivity and well-being, and an employer-provided PI system that allows optional sharing of anonymized and aggregated performance reports. Using reflexive thematic analysis, we identify three conditions shaping acceptance: (1) clear boundaries between work and private contexts and careful control over data modalities; (2) autonomy over system interventions, including their timing and content; and (3) control over if, how, and with whom performance reports are shared. Our findings contribute design insights for workplace PI systems that balance organizational awareness with worker-centered control and autonomy.

Article No.: 457