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The Productivity Vampires

Author

Listed:
  • John Leslie King

    (University of Michigan)

  • Andrew J. Ehrenberg

    (University of Michigan)

Abstract

The four decade old Productivity Puzzler (sometimes called the Productivity Paradox) asks why the massive investment in information technology (IT) is not accompanied by equally massive productivity improvements. The belief that IT does improve productivity is foiled by faulty measurement, but improved measurement will, at some point, demonstrate conclusively that IT improves productivity. Another view is that “Productivity Vampires” use IT to suck productivity out of organizations through mechanisms such as moving the goalposts, making things not forbidden required, and increasing cognitive load on workers.

Suggested Citation

  • John Leslie King & Andrew J. Ehrenberg, 2020. "The Productivity Vampires," Information Systems Frontiers, Springer, vol. 22(1), pages 11-15, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:infosf:v:22:y:2020:i:1:d:10.1007_s10796-019-09943-9
    DOI: 10.1007/s10796-019-09943-9
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Ajay Agrawal & Joshua Gans & Avi Goldfarb, 2019. "The Economics of Artificial Intelligence: An Agenda," NBER Books, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc, number agra-1, February.
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    4. David, Paul A, 1990. "The Dynamo and the Computer: An Historical Perspective on the Modern Productivity Paradox," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 80(2), pages 355-361, May.
    5. Agrawal, Ajay & Gans, Joshua & Goldfarb, Avi (ed.), 2019. "The Economics of Artificial Intelligence," National Bureau of Economic Research Books, University of Chicago Press, number 9780226613338, April.
    6. Hammer, Michael & Champy, James, 1993. "Reengineering the corporation: A manifesto for business revolution," Business Horizons, Elsevier, vol. 36(5), pages 90-91.
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    Cited by:

    1. R. Ramesh & H. R. Rao, 2020. "ISF Editorial 2020," Information Systems Frontiers, Springer, vol. 22(1), pages 1-9, February.

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