Doctoral thesis: A theory of coworking: Entrepreneurial communities, immaterial commons and working futurs

The contemporary landscape of work is undergoing profound transformations, marked by accelerating globalization, technological disruption, and the ascendance of knowledge-intensive economies. Within this dynamic environment, new organisational forms and work practices are emerging, presenting both opportunities and complex challenges. This thesis delves into the phenomenon of coworking, examining it not merely as a physical space but as a crucible for new entrepreneurial communities. It seeks to understand how these communities operate, generate shared value through immaterial labour, and navigate the complexities of managing collective resources, ultimately shaping working futures in a rapidly evolving world.

Academics and researchers in organizational studies, management, sociology of work, entrepreneurship, and urban studies; policymakers; and coworking space operators interested in the dynamics of collaborative work environments.

This thesis offers a comprehensive theoretical and empirical investigation into the evolving nature of entrepreneurial knowledge work through the lens of coworking. It posits coworking as a multifaceted social phenomenon that has emerged in response to significant shifts in global work practices and cultures, including the digital transformation of economic activity and the rise of non-standard work arrangements. Through a rigorous grounded theory ethnography conducted over five years (2012-2017) within a pioneering coworking community in Melbourne, Australia, the research explores why individuals choose to cowork, how they engage in coworking practices, and how their experiences evolve over time. Methodologically, the study draws on theories of communities of practice, immaterial labour, and the commons to conceptualize the collective output of coworking as an 'immaterial commons'. The central finding highlights that these entrepreneurial communities, while fostering innovation and collaboration, inherently produce shared immaterial commons that necessitate appropriate governance arrangements for their sustainability and renewal. This work contributes significantly to scholarly literature by providing a detailed empirical account of social practices within a coworking community and offering a novel theoretical framework for understanding the collective product of immaterial labour as a commonly pooled resource. The implications extend to informing future research on organizational and governance dilemmas within entrepreneurial settings and the broader domain of knowledge work, suggesting pathways for designing more effective collaborative environments.